South African Doctor Team Successfully Performs First Ever Penis Transplant

A university in South Africa said it had successfully completed a transplant surgery of male genitalia. The operation lasted for nine hours, last December, by the surgeons from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Stellenbosch University. The patient lost the sex organ three years ago, after suffering complications from a failed circumcision process in his teenage years that resulted in his penis being amputated.

A 21-year-old patient, whose name has not been made public, is now fully recovered, and his transplant organ is fully functional. Stellenbosch University is not releasing any information on the organ donor but claims finding him is one major obstacle. This is the first time a penis transplant has ended successfully. Previously, a man in China underwent transplantation in 2005. The operation initially seemed successful, but according to the doctor, he then asked his new penis removed because of psychological problems he experienced with his wife.

Prof. André van der Merwe, head of Stellenbosch University Division of Urology and the primary surgeon of this operation, said he previously estimated two years of recovery after the surgery before the patient’s new organ is perfectly functional. “We are very surprised by his rapid recovery” said van der Merwe.