Metoidioplasty

Metoidioplasty is one of the surgical techniques for female to male genital reconstruction that involves the transformation of the patient’s vagina into a penis. In this surgery, it is aimed to construct a penis for the person by using the clitoris which is enlarged by various urological arrangements and the effective use of the testosterone hormone. When the testosterone hormone is administered regularly, the clitoris can grow as a natural outcome. Therefore, such surgeries are not artificial limb construction surgeries. The surgical procedure is carried out by using the individual’s biological transformation process. After penis construction surgery, the process is completed by placing prosthetic testicles. Many different gender-affirmative operations can be performed to meet the demands of individuals who wish to ensure the complete integrity of gender reassignment surgeries using genital surgery methods. Surgical interventions to construct a penis for the individual include metoidioplasty and phalloplasty.

During metoidioplasty, clitoral ligaments are separated, allowing the clitoris to grow and reach a structure similar to an organ after childbirth. The length of the penis created after the surgery varies between 5 and 7 cm. Whether it is a good size for sexual intercourse or not is related to the expectations of the person. However, most of the time, this is not a matter of concern. Moreover, additional surgeries may be needed depending on the results that trans men want to achieve, and these additional surgeries can improve the appearance and functional properties of the penis.

Phalloplasty

Another surgical technique of penis construction female to male trans individuals is phalloplasty. Each surgery has its advantages and disadvantages. An advantage of metoidioplasty and phalloplasty is that they are performed in accordance with individuals’ own preferences and the recommendations of the physician in gender reassignment surgeries. It is very important that the person whose gender identity as a man will be affirmed exchanges views on his interests, expectations and priorities in preoperative consultation processes. Although not always considered the best option, metoidioplasty surgery can provide satisfactory results for the trans man.

Advantages:
-More affordable costs for the surgery.
-Single-stage surgery.
-Shorter healing process.
-Low likelihood of complications.
-No big scar remaining after the surgery.
-A natural erection.
-The preservation of the natural sexual sensation of the clitoris in the penis.

By conducting metoidioplasty surgery, it is possible to perform phalloplasty on the trans individual, which provides the individual a penis with a natural appearance. One of the reasons for individuals to prefer metoidioplasty surgery in female to male gender reassignment is wanting to have the ability to urinate standing up. Metoidioplasty can meet the individual’s expectations by providing urethral extension. Although it meets expectations, there is also a risk of creating complications of in the urethral extension process. In some cases, distressing results occur, while complications that are encountered often are small. These are problems such as urinary blockages or fistula formations. Metoidioplasty surgery is generally considered a single-stage operation for gender reassignment. In accordance with the expectations of the individual and the recommendations of the physician, improvements can be achieved in terms of function and appearance with additional surgeries. There are always multiple operations involved in male to female and female to male gender reassignment processes.