PENIS TRANSPLANT

World's first successful PENIS transplant: Man, 21, has organ restored after it was amputated due to a botched circumcision

A 21-year-old man has undergone the world's first successful penis transplant.

The 'ground-breaking' operation took South African surgeons nine hours to perform, and allowed the patient to urinate normally and become sexually active again.

Three years ago the man, who remains unidentified, was forced to have his penis amputated after a botched circumcision.

Each year thousands of young men, mainly from the Xhosa tribe in South Africa, have their foreskins removed in traditional rituals, with experts estimating around 250 losing their penises each year to medical complications

The operation was carried out by surgeons from Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, using a penis donated from a deceased person.

They said the procedure allowed the man to regain all function in the newly transplanted organ.

Nine more patients will now receive penile transplants.

Professor André van der Merwe, head of the University's Division of Urology, said they were surprised by the patient's rapid recovery.

The operation was carried out by surgeons from Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, using a penis donated from a deceased person.

They said the procedure allowed the man to regain all function in the newly transplanted organ.

Nine more patients will now receive penile transplants.

Professor André van der Merwe, head of the University's Division of Urology, said they were surprised by the patient's rapid recovery.