Phalloplasty in Females

Phalloplasty is the term for surgical enhancement or modification of the penis. In females, the word is used to describe transgender persons undergoing female-to-male sexual reassignment surgery. Such surgery for persons of either gender is commonly called sex change, or SRS. Not all female-to-male transgender people opt for phalloplasty treatment.

History

• Transgender people have existed throughout history, but the option of phalloplasty for female-to-male transsexuals was not available until the 20th century. The first such surgery was performed by Dr. Michael Gillies in the late 1940s. Since then, various methods have been introduced to improve the procedure and its results.

Methods

• Unlike male-to-female SRS, which involves removal of the penis and creation of an artificial vagina, phalloplasty involves the creation of a penis where none was before. This complicated process generally involves grafts of skin from the forearm, thigh, groin or elsewhere on the patient's body. Additionally, blood vessels must be diverted to the new penis to allow circulation and erectile function.

Emotional Issues

• Transgender persons must undergo intensive emotional therapy to ensure they are not electing SRS for dysfunctional reasons. Most surgeons require a recommendation from a psychologist or therapist before agreeing to perform SRS of any kind. Because of the high expense and drastic physical measures involved with phalloplasty, many female-to-male transsexuals choose to express their preferred gender in other ways.