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Hidden Penis

A hidden penis is frequently referred to as a buried, concealed, or inconspicuous penis. The penis is partially or completely hidden in the pubic fat and/or scrotum. There are multiple causes of buried penis including obesity with or without weight loss, aging with an overlying fold of abdominal fat and skin, and a shortage of penile skin from chronic inflammation or an overly aggressive circumcision. (See category of Buried Penis under Penile and Scrotal Surgery) Some men are born with a congenital fat pad that tends to make the penis inconspicuous. An underlying etiology is the lack of attachments of the penile skin to the deeper structures of the penis, which causes the skin to stay outside while the penis goes inside.

The penile skin may drape over the hidden penile shaft, giving the appearance of redundant skin overlying the head of the penis. Usually the penis is buried in a large pubic fat pad and scrotum. Pushing around the penis often delivers the penis and penile skin. A circumcision on a man who has already been circumcised in an attempt to improve the hidden penis can actually make it worse. It can cause a shortage of penile skin, thus necessitating the use of a skin graft to expose the shaft. In addition, the incision line can constrict upon healing, further burying the penis by pushing it downward into the pubic fat. A chronic hidden penis can cause chronic penile skin inflammation due to moisture and urine with loss of the remaining penile skin, which may necessitate a skin graft.

The presence of a relative or completely hidden penis can cause severe self-esteem issues. Other men may ridicule the patient, causing feelings of inadequacy in a locker room, social, or dating situation.

If excess skin and fat are present on the lower abdomen and pubis, the skin and fat are excised, elevating the pubic region and giving a more youthful appearance to the penis and genitalia.(Illustrations 1-4) The skin of the pubis is sutured down to the underlying abdominal muscle, which prevents the penis from hiding in the pubic area. If fat only is present, liposuction or open surgical removal of the fat is performed. In almost all cases, the penile skin is stabilized to the penis at the abdominal and scrotal sides, preventing the penis from retracting into fat or into the scrotum. (Click Here to See Examples)

The extent of the operation depends on the severity of the deformity. Surgery is usually done as an outpatient. The improvement in penile and pubic appearance can be dramatic as can the gain in self-esteem and confidence.




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