We Have The Technology, We Can Rebuild Him - World's First Successful Penile Transplant

We have the technology. We can rebuild him.

Surgeons in South Africa has successfully completed the world's first successful penile transplant.

The marathon nine-hour operation, led by Prof André van der Merwe, head of SU's Division of Urology, was performed on 11 December 2014 at Tygerberg Hospital in Bellville, Cape Town. This is the second time that this type of procedure was attempted, but the first time in history that a successful long-term result was achieved.

The patient, whose identity is being protected for ethical reasons, has made a full recovery and has regained all function in the newly transplanted organ.

"Our goal was that he would be fully functional at two years and we are very surprised by his rapid recovery," says Van der Merwe. The end result of the transplant was the restoration of all the patient's urinary and reproductive functions.

Apparently, experts estimate that nearly 250 men lose their penis annually in South Africa due to infections relating to circumsion.

Nine more men are in line to be part of the study at Tygerberg Hospital.