When there is excess skin on the penis, the scrotum or in the public area, it is called a buried penis. In most cases, the penis has normal function and length. This condition can be caused by fluid retention, complications after circumcision, excess fat and issues with ligaments. Sexual arousal and urination can be affected. Fortunately, this condition can usually be treated through buried penis surgery. In some cases, there is not enough or too much foreskin removed during circumcision. This causes the remaining skin to move forward and hide the penis. Sometimes, there is an abnormal weakness in the ligaments attached to the male sex organ.
The scrotum can swell, causing lymph fluid to build up and bury the penis. If the man is excessively overweight, the penis can be covered by the excess fat. There is no evidence that this condition is caused by hormones or an inherited trait. If a buried penis is suspected in a newborn baby, the circumcision may be delayed. This condition can be diagnosed with a physical exam. It is different from a micropenis or a very small penis.
Treatment for a Buried Penis
Surgery is generally required to treat a buried penis. In small children, the condition may resolve by itself. Weight loss may help for obese adults and children. Sometimes, weight loss will not correct this issue. There are several options when buried penis surgery is necessary. These options are:
• Suction lipectomy, where catheters are used to extract fat cells from the penis area.
• Abdominoplasty, which is a cosmetic surgical procedure that works by removing excess skin and fat from the area.
• Escutheonectomy, which removes the fat pad above the genital area.
To provide the best possible outcome, buried penis surgery should be scheduled as soon as possible. As a male ages, the pubic area has more fat accumulation and the frequency of erections increases. This often adds an additional challenge. There is often no way to be certain if the issue will resolve by itself. This generally makes buried penis surgery the best possible option. The surgery makes a key difference in the life of the male because issues with sexual function and urination are usually eliminated.
Once buried penis surgery has been performed, it is extremely rare for the condition to return. If the issue was obesity, it is important to maintain both good health and a healthy weight after the surgery.
Getting Started
If you are interested in buried penis surgery, please don’t hesitate to schedule your personal consultation at the office of Mark P. Solomon, MD. We have offices located in Beverly Hills and Philadelphia/Bala Cynwyd. Contact us today to book your appointment!