Jj. Hage et Fh. Degraaf, ADDRESSING THE IDEAL REQUIREMENTS BY FREE-FLAP PHALLOPLASTY - SOME REFLECTIONS ON REFINEMENTS OF TECHNIQUE, Microsurgery, 14(9), 1993, pp. 592-598
Ideally, in phalloplasty one should aim at 1) a one-stage procedure th
at can be predictably reproduced, 2) creation of a competent neo-ureth
ra to allow for voiding while standing, 3) return of both tactile and
erogenous sensibility, 4) enough bulk to tolerate the insertion of a p
rosthetic stiffener, and 5) a result that is aesthetically acceptable
to the patient. We consider 6) minimal scarring or disfigurement, and
7) no functional loss in the donor area further requirements for any i
deal procedure. Thanks to ongoing refinements, microsurgical free flap
phalloplasty techniques lead to the best results, both functionally a
nd cosmetically. These refinements are presented and discussed, as are
our experiences applying them. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.