The first human heart was transplanted in 1961. The first partial face transplant took place in 2005. Science marched forward again in March 2018 when the first complex penis transplant was completed.
The surgery took 14 hours and replaced the patient’s entire penis as well as his scrotum and part of his surrounding muscle tissue. While the scrotum was included in the operation for aesthetic reasons, doctors removed the testes inside. This means the new recipient can’t use the donor’s DNA to father children.
It’s not a guarantee that the patient will be able to resume sexual activities with his new organ. He’ll have to wait several months for nerves to grow from his body to the transplanted penis. Doctors estimate that a new inch of nerve growth occurs each month after transplant.
The patient must take a regimen of drugs to prevent rejection of his new parts. He also takes testosterone to keep his body working smoothly after the loss of the hormone-producing testicles. He’ll also be given an erectile dysfunction drug to encourage the organ to start working fully.
Science doesn’t come cheaply. According to the New York Times, the surgery costs as much as $400,000 and isn’t covered by insurance. Because this type of injury is typically found among wounded veterans, the Department of Defense has paid for some of the medical investigations. The hospital where this initial surgery took place, Johns Hopkins, paid for the operation, and the physicians involved donated their time.
Preparing the penis and tissue for transplant was a difficult procedure. The donor was deceased, and his family had to give permission for his penis to be used in the transplant surgery. They were happy to help a wounded veteran. Next, a team of doctors had to fly to the decedent’s state and remove the tissue. Up to 25 staff filled the operating room to ensure the procedure went smoothly.
As for the patient, he plans to continue his life of service by heading to medical school. Having experienced the life-changing impact of medicine, he wants to bring that relief to others. After years of shying away from relationships out of fear of showing his injury, he’s finally ready to start looking for a partner.
