Surgical Treatment for Penile Curvature
- Surgical Treatment for Peyronie's Disease
- What Is Peyronie's Disease?
- When Is Surgery Necessary for Peyronie's Disease?
- Goals of Surgical Treatment for Peyronie's Disease
- Surgical Treatment Methods for Peyronie's Disease
- Penile Plication Surgeries (Shortening Surgeries)
- Plate Incision or Excision + Grafting (Lengthening Surgeries)
- Penile Prosthesis Surgery (Advanced Cases)
- Postoperative Process
- Possible Risks and Complications
- Success Rates in Peyronie's Surgery
- The Psychological Aspect of Surgery for Peyronie's Disease
- Conclusion and Overall Assessment
Surgical Treatment for Peyronie's Disease
Permanent and Effective Solutions for Penile Curvature
Peyronie's disease is a significant male sexual health problem that can cause penile curvature, shortening, and deformity—and, in some patients, severe loss of sexual function—due to hard, fibrous plaques that develop within the penile tissue.
Although medical and injection therapies may be considered in the early stages of the disease, surgery is the most effective and long-lasting treatment for advanced-stage Peyronie's disease.
In this article, surgical treatment for Peyronie's disease;
in which patients it is necessary,
surgical techniques used,
preoperative evaluation,
the postoperative period,
success rates,
potential risks
and managing patient expectations
are discussed under these headings.
What Is Peyronie's Disease? (The Basis for the Path to Surgery)
Peyronie's disease results from hard, inelastic plaques that develop within the tunica albuginea of the penis. Because these plaques cannot stretch when the penis becomes erect, they cause:
Curvature
Abbreviation
Narrowing (hourglass deformity)
Notching
Pain during an erection
leads to problems such as these.
The course of the disease is divided into two main phases:
Active (inflammatory) phase
Pain is the main concern
The curvature may progress
The record may be soft
Surgery is definitely not recommended
Stable (chronic) phase
The pain usually goes away
The curvature is fixed
The plaque has hardened
Surgical treatment is planned during this period
When Is Surgery Necessary for Peyronie's Disease?
Not every patient with Peyronie's disease is a candidate for surgery. When the right patients are selected, surgical treatment yields excellent results.
General criteria for surgical treatment
The condition has persisted for at least 12 months
No progression of the curvature in the past 3–6 months
A curvature of the penis that makes sexual intercourse difficult or impossible
Insufficient benefit from medical and injection treatments
The patient's postoperative expectations should be realistic
📌 Surgery is not always necessary if the only issue is a deformity and sexual intercourse is possible.
Goals of Surgical Treatment for Peyronie's Disease
The primary goals of surgery:
Reducing penile curvature to a functional level
To provide an anatomical structure that allows for sexual intercourse
Maintaining erectile function
To achieve an aesthetically acceptable result
📌 The goal isn’t a perfectly straight penis, but a functional and satisfying sex life.
Surgical Treatment Methods for Peyronie's Disease
Choice of surgical technique;
Degree of curvature
Penis length
Erectile function
Plate placement
The patient's expectations
It depends on many factors, such as...
Penile Plication Surgeries (Shortening Surgeries)
Penile plication is one of the most commonly used techniques in Peyronie's surgery.
What is plication?
The penis is straightened by placing sutures in the healthy tissue on the opposite side of the curvature. The plaque is not removed; the curvature is corrected by shortening the penis.
Who is it suitable for?
The curvature is generally less than 60 degrees
Penis size is adequate
Erectile function is normal
Patients without an hourglass deformity
Advantages
The surgery is brief
The complication rate is low
The risk of erectile dysfunction is minimal
The hospital stay is short
Disadvantages
There may be some reduction in penis length
It may not be sufficient for severe curvatures
Plate Incision or Excision + Grafting (Lengthening Surgeries)
This method is preferred for advanced cases of Peyronie's disease.
How is it applied?
The plaque is cut or partially removed
The resulting gap is filled with graft material
Curvature is corrected without shortening the penis
Who is it suitable for?
Curvature greater than 60 degrees
People with severe deformities
Patients with a short penis
Patients in a stable phase
Types of Grafts Used
Autologous grafts (the patient's own tissue)
Biological grafts
Synthetic grafts
Advantages
Penis size is preserved
It is effective in cases of severe deformities
Disadvantages
The surgery is more complex
The risk of erectile dysfunction is higher than that of plication
It requires extensive surgical experience
📌 These surgeries require advanced surgical experience.
Penile Prosthesis Surgery (Advanced Cases)
If Peyronie's disease is accompanied by severe erectile dysfunction, the best option is a penile prosthesis.
Who is it suitable for?
Erectile dysfunction that does not respond to medication
Severe curvature
Patients for whom sexual intercourse is not possible
Advantages
Erectile dysfunction and curvature are treated simultaneously
Patient satisfaction is high
Preoperative Evaluation
A detailed evaluation is required before Peyronie's surgery:
Detailed medical history
Photos of the penis during an erection
Pharmacological erection test, if necessary
Doppler ultrasound
Objective Assessment of Erectile Function
📌 Prof. Dr. Volkan İzol bases his surgical planning on a personalized approach.
Postoperative Process
Usually a 1-night hospital stay
4–6 weeks of sexual abstinence
Mild pain and swelling are normal
Penile rehabilitation may be recommended when necessary
Possible Risks and Complications
As with any surgical procedure, Peyronie's surgery also carries risks:
Decrease in penis length
Erectile dysfunction
Sensory changes
Although rare, infection
📌 Risks are minimized with proper patient selection and an experienced surgeon.
Success Rates in Peyronie's Surgery
Plication surgeries: 85–90% patient satisfaction
Grafting surgeries: 75–85% patient satisfaction
Penile prosthesis surgery: Over 90% patient satisfaction
The Psychological Aspect of Surgery for Peyronie's Disease
Peyronie's disease affects patients not only physically but also psychologically. In many patients following surgical treatment:
Increased self-confidence
A noticeable improvement in sex life
Improvement in partner relationships
is observed.
Conclusion and Overall Assessment
Surgical treatment for Peyronie's disease yields extremely successful results when performed on the right patient, at the right time, and using the right technique.
There is no single correct approach for every patient. Therefore, the treatment plan must be tailored to each individual.
Prof. Dr. Volkan İzol offers safe and effective solutions through his modern, scientific, and patient-centered approach to the surgical treatment of Peyronie's disease.