Gender reassignment from female to male : Phalloplasty

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of gender dysphoria necessitates an evaluation of the literature of phalloplasty techniques for female to male transgender individuals. The following article provides an overview of the current surgical concepts and complications of phalloplasty, associated urethrogenitoplasty and the implantation of prostheses in phalloplasty. Current international reviews and original publications from 2010 to 2020 were reviewed and correlated with our referral center experience with more than 350 female to male transgender patients over the last 25years. Free radial forearm flap phalloplasty is the most widely used technique, followed by an anterolateral thigh flap (ALT flap) and pedicled or microsurgical transplantation. Hydraulic multicomponent prostheses are given preference and supplementary surgical techniques, such as scrotoplasty and glans sculpturing can make sense or be necessary. The complication rates after phalloplasty and after insertion of penile prostheses are substantial. Nevertheless, the overall patient reported satisfaction rate in the majority of studies is often over 80%. Due to the increasing prevalence of gender dysphoria there is currently a need for interdisciplinary referral centers for gender reassignment surgery. A certain standardization of surgical techniques and timing would be desirable but a review of the current literature shows ahigh heterogeneity so that this cannot be derived from the currently available literature. It is hoped that the recently founded S2K guideline committee on operative treatment of gender dysphoria under the auspices of the German Society for Urology and the Society for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery can report an initial collection of experiences in 2021.