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Effects of FTM Phalloplasty Surgery

A good deal of confusion and many questions surround the details of gender-reassignment surgery, both within the transgender community and without. One of the most common female-to-male genital surgeries, phalloplasty, is complex and often misunderstood. Whether you're considering this surgery for yourself, or just looking to understand the experience of someone who is, it's good to understand the process and its effects.

  1. What Is Phalloplasty?

    • Phalloplasty surgery involves the partial or total surgical creation of a type of artificial penis structure. This may be done as reconstructive surgery on biological men who have experienced serious injury to their penis, but it is also commonly used as a form of gender reassignment surgery for female-to-male (FTM) transsexuals.

    Process

    • With phalloplasty, the artificial penis is constructed using grafts of skin and tissue from other areas of the recipient's body. Commonly, these materials are taken from the leg or arm or from the abdomen. The artificial penis may also include some type of implant to simulate erection.

      With sex-change phalloplasty, surgery also involves efforts made to transform female genitalia. A canal called a "neo-urethra" is made inside the phallus in order to enable urination. Depending on the technique used, phalloplasty can also result in an organ capable of sexual sensation and orgasm.

      FTM phalloplasties are generally also accompanied by procedures that transform the outer labia into artificial testicles.

    Pros

    • Successful phalloplasty can be quite successful in surgical creation of genitals that appear to be male. It will also enable FTMs to urinate while standing and thus, use urinals in public restrooms. Phalloplasty can enable a FTM person to enjoy more aspects of life as a male and to better please sexual partners who desire a male body.

    Cons

    • As with all surgery, phalloplasty has the potential for complications, infections, and surgeries that are less than successful. Urination and sexual sensation may be negatively affected with unsuccessful surgeries. The operation is also very expensive (rarely covered by any insurance), lengthy (requiring several sessions of surgery), painful, and does not always result in genitals that are easily mistaken for those of a biological male.

    Reactions

    • Reactions to phalloplasty surgery within the FTM community vary according to personal experience. Some misgivings surrounding the surgery are based in misconception or outdated information (the surgery has advanced substantially over the years), while other negative reactions are based in the normal complications and risks associated with such a complicated surgery. However, many FTM transsexuals report being very satisfied with the results of their surgeries.

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