Glans Adipodermal Augmentation for Management of Neophallus Fat Atrophy After Penile Implant Insertion: Surgical Technique and Outcomes

Abstract

Objective: To describe our surgical technique and outcomes of glans augmentation with autologous adipodermal or acellular dermal matrix (ADM) interposition grafts for fat atrophy of the neophallus following penile implant insertion.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of glans augmentation in phalloplasty patients presenting with fat atrophy following penile prosthesis insertion. Glans augmentation is performed by making a small posterior coronal incision to preserve the shaft-to-glans dermal blood supply. A plane is made between the glans skin and the capsule of the distal penile implant cylinder. An adipodermal graft or ADM sheet graft is then sized to the glans dissection space and inserted, covering the implant capsule and filling the glans. The graft harvest site and posterior coronal incisions are then closed. The primary postoperative outcome was the recurrence of implant glans skin impingement or erosion.

Results: From October 2017 through January 2023, 15 patients underwent glans augmentation after penile prosthesis insertion. The mean follow-up was 20 months. Adipodermal grafts were placed in 12 (80%) patients and ADM grafts in 3 (20%) patients. Two patients developed complications requiring surgical revision and 3 patients are considering a secondary glans augmentation, for a potential surgical revision rate of 33% (5/15). There were no wound infections, implant infections, or erosions.

Conclusion: Glans augmentation with adipodermal or ADM graft interposition between the glans skin and implant capsule improves the neophallus appearance and may help prevent future implant erosion in phalloplasty patients who develop fat atrophy after penile implant insertion.