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Glans penis augmentation: when, how, and why?

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 34, pages 343–346 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

The growing demand for glans penis augmentation (GPA) makes it a hot topic in the field of andrological surgery, albeit still widely debated. The lack of high supporting evidence and its technically challenging aspects are the main concerns. The aim of this study was to review the current literature about GPA in order to provide an easy and comprehensive overview of the topic. GPA is suitable for managing both cosmetic and functional issues. Counseling should be the cornerstone of the decision-making process. A thorough understanding of the glans anatomy and treatment strategies remain essential to safely and effectively address the patient’s needs. GPA can be performed using injectable fillers or surgical grafting. Glans-shaft penis asymmetries, small glans size, and loss of glans tumescence can be managed by both injectable fillers and surgery. On the other hand, patients with lifelong premature ejaculation can mainly benefit from using injectable fillers. Currently, available studies show promising results but are limited by small sample’s size and non-randomized design. Furthermore, treatment-related complications are poorly reported. The long-term efficacy and safety profiles of GPA techniques should be further investigated.

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Fig. 1: Different injection techniques.
Fig. 2: Shaeer glans augmentation technique.

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Funding

The research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Gianluigi Califano, Claudia Collà Ruvolo & Simone Cilio

  2. Urology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy

    Davide Arcaniolo & Celeste Manfredi

  3. Urology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery, Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”—University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy

    Francesco Smarrazzo & Paolo Verze

Authors
  1. Gianluigi Califano
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  2. Davide Arcaniolo
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  3. Claudia Collà Ruvolo
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  4. Celeste Manfredi
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  5. Francesco Smarrazzo
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  6. Simone Cilio
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  7. Paolo Verze
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Contributions

Gianluigi Califano was responsible for writing the report, conducting the search, screening potentially eligible studies, extracting and analyzing data, and interpreting results. Davide Arcaniolo was responsible for editing the report and provided feedback on the report. Claudia Collà Ruvolo was responsible for writing and editing the report, analyzing data, and interpreting results. Celeste Manfredi was responsible for extracting and analyzing data. Francesco Smarrazzo was responsible for screening potentially eligible studies, updating reference lists. Simone Cilio was responsible for screening potentially eligible studies, updating reference lists. Paolo Verze was responsible for designing the review protocol, provided feedback on the report.

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Correspondence to Paolo Verze.

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Califano, G., Arcaniolo, D., Ruvolo, C.C. et al. Glans penis augmentation: when, how, and why?. Int J Impot Res 34, 343–346 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-021-00464-1

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