Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

What is Peyronie’s disease?

 

The disease is characterised

by a plaque, or hard lump,

that forms in the erectile

tissue of the penis.

 

 

 

 

 

It begins as a localised inflammation and can then mature into a hardened scar. There are two erectile cylinders which run the length of the penis. The inner membrane of
each chamber is a sheath of elastic fibres. A connecting tissue, called a septum, runs between the two chambers and attaches at the top and bottom of the penis. If the penis is abnormally squeezed or flexed, the area where the septum attaches to the elastic fibres may over-stretch, injuring the lining of the erectile chamber and rupturing small blood vessels. In older men, diminished elasticity, disease of the arteries and diabetes may further increase the chances of injury.

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Men with Peyronie's often have difficulty achieving a firm erection. Most men with the problem are between the ages of 45 and 60. 

Surgery usually isn't recommended until you've had the condition for nine to 12 months and the curvature of your penis stops increasing and stabilizes for at least three to six months.

 

Plicating

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In a plication procedure, the doctor shortens the long side of the erect penis by operating on the opposite side from where the scar or plaque is located. The procedure straightens the penis and allows the man to keep an erection, but it does cause the erection to be a little shorter.

This procedure is done on an outpatient basis (the patient goes home the same day), and the doctor does not remove any skin. Plication is successful more than 90 percent of the time.

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Removal or expansion of the plaque

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This is followed by placement of a patch of skin, artificial material or vein graft; this may result in partial loss of erectile function. Success rates of 75-96% are quoted for this procedure.

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Implantation of penile prostheses

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Surgically placed penile implants are inserted into the spongy tissue that fills with blood during an erection. The implants might be semirigid — manually bent down most of the time and bent upward for sexual intercourse.

Another type of implant is inflated with a pump implanted in the scrotum. This is only performed when the plaque prevents the normal flow of blood to the tip of the penis, thereby, inhibiting a full erection. It is major surgery and is rarely indicated.