Teen undergoes world’s first known penis reduction surgery

An unidentified 17-year-old in Florida became the first man to undergo penis size reduction — yes it can actually be too big to be healthy folks.

The youth’s 7-inch long, 10-inch wide genitalia was not only above average in size in circumference, his penis had become misshapen after several bouts of prolonged erection known as priapism, a complication of sickle cell disease. In order for him to have normal sexual intercourse, the only option was surgical reduction.

“His penis had inflated like a balloon,” Dr. Rafael Carrion, an urologist at the University of South Florida, who treated the teen, told the Daily Mail. “It sounds like a man’s dream — a tremendously inflated phallus — but unfortunately although it was a generous length, its girth was just massive, especially around the middle. It looked like an American football.”

Chronic bouts of priapism can lead to deformity of the penis, as was the case for the 17-year-old. According to the Sickle Cell Information Center, priapism, a painful erection often requiring hospitalization, is common among individuals with sickle cell disease. Unfortunately, priapism is often unpreventable and can be triggered by nocturnal erections, infection, intercourse, or masturbation.

SEE ALSO: Peyronie’s disease: Abnormal bending in the penis

Thankfully, the teen’s painful condition wasn’t complicated to surgically repair. Using techniques designed to correct Peyronie’s disease–a condition characterized by a severe bend in the penis–doctors were able to remove segments of tissue from each side of the sexual organ, completely bypassing any nerves related to sensation, as well as the urethra. Doctors described it as giving the penis a double “tummy tuck.”

“[The patient’s penis is now] slightly longer and slightly thicker than the average male,” Carrion said, “but now it looks symmetrical, and the patient was very satisfied.”

The youth is reportedly now able to achieve a normal erection and is experiencing full sensation.