Three years later

I’ve added some photos showing how my penis looks three years after the last urethroplasty (pictures from before surgery are here, if you want to compare). One of the most common questions I get from people contacting me through the blog is how the surgeries have affected the appearance and function of my penis.

I’d say there are two main differences in appearance:

  1. The underside of my penis used to have a prominent urethral bulge, that’s no longer there. Instead I think it’s a bit wider and flatter than it used to be.
  2. The sloppy suturing from the first urethroplasty has left some pretty visible scarring. It’s slightly less visible in real life than in the pictures (I blame the flash).

In terms of function I’m still keeping an eye on the urine flow rate. If it seems bad I’ll check using my Uflow funnel. Once every three to six months it’s been a bit too bad and I’ve had to a self-dilation with a catheter. Overall urination is fine.

As far as sexual function goes the only remaining problem is the lack of sensation on the underside of my penis due to the scarring. It’s occasionally a bit annoying but can be worked around without any difficulty.

Assuming there’s no significant worsening I can live happily like this without feeling any need for further treatment.

Two-stage urethroplasty: stage 2, day 4 after surgery

We walked into town for lunch today and the only problem I had was the usual discomfort from the urethral catheter.

I’d had a shower earlier in the morning and my husband changed the dressing for me afterwards. That meant that I got to see how the wound looks and get some pictures.

It’s looking surprisingly good, considering what my penis has been through over the last few years. Not very much bruising and really neat suturing, you can hardly see the stitches. At the foreskin end you can see that the wound veers off to one side; I think that’s where the surgeon took a little bit of skin to repair the fibrotic area from the temporary urethral opening that was there.

Photos from day 19 after first stage of two-stage urethroplasty

The healing wound on my penis, 19 days after the first stage of the two-stage urethroplasty. The graft is looking healthy and the stitches are loosening.
The healing wound on my penis, 19 days after the first stage of the two-stage urethroplasty. The graft is looking healthy and the stitches are loosening.

The healing wound on my penis, 19 days after the first stage of the two-stage urethroplasty. The graft is looking healthy and the stitches are loosening.
The healing wound on my penis, 19 days after the first stage of the two-stage urethroplasty. The graft is looking healthy and the stitches are loosening.

Photos from day 12 after first stage of two-stage urethroplasty

My penis with the dressing over the graft and urethral catheter in place, just before they were removed.
My penis with the dressing over the graft and urethral catheter in place, just before they were removed.

My penis after the catheters and dressing were removed. You can see the temporary urethral outlet at the top of my scrotum, then the pink graft and then the whitish part is the original urethra.
My penis after the catheters and dressing were removed. You can see the temporary urethral outlet at the top of my scrotum, then the pink graft and then the whitish part is the original urethra.

My penis after the catheters and dressing were removed. You can see the temporary urethral outlet at the top of my scrotum, then the pink graft and then the whitish part is the original urethra.
My penis after the catheters and dressing were removed. You can see the temporary urethral outlet at the top of my scrotum, then the pink graft and then the whitish part is the original urethra.

Photos from days 5 and 6 after first stage of two-stage urethroplasty

Penis with stitches and an open wound covering about a third of the underside.
The wound on my penis, on the fifth day after the first stage of my two-stage urethroplasty.

Penis with stitches and an open wound covering about a third of the underside.
The wound on my penis, on the fifth day after the first stage of my two-stage urethroplasty.

Healing wound inside the right cheek, tongue and teeth partially obscuring
The wound inside my mouth on the sixth day after the first stage of my two-stage urethroplasty

48 days after surgery photos

Third week after surgery photos

Before photos