Triangular Flap Extension to Create a Meatal Appearance in Phalloplasty Without Urethral Lengthening

Abstract

Objective: To describe an easy-to-perform surgical refinement to create a meatal appearance in phalloplasty without urethral lengthening by using a triangular flap extension.

Methods: Transgender men undergoing phalloplasty without urethral lengthening are candidate for this flap extension. A triangular flap is drawn at the distal part of the flap. When the flap is raised, this triangle is raised with the flap and subsequently folded in the tip of the neophallus, thus creating a neomeatal appearance.

Results: We present this easy-to-perform technique, our experience and postoperative results. Two pitfalls of this technique are: (1) when it is insufficiently trimmed and thinned, it adds too much bulk to the phallic top and (2) when it is insufficiently vascularized, wound healing problems will occur; especially since the neophallus will swell in the immediate postoperative phase.

Conclusion: Using a triangular flap extension is an easy method to create a neomeatal appearance.