WORLD FIRST SUCCESSFUL PENIS TRANSPLANT PERFORMED IN SOUTH AFRICA

World's first successful penis transplant performed by  South Africans' surgical team.

The recipient, whose identity remains hidden, lost his penis in a botched
circumcision.
Cape Town doctors mentioned operation was successful and the patient was satisfied and healthy.
The team also said that there was a wide debate concerning whether the operation, which is not life-saving just as in a heart transplant, was ethical.
Various attempts have been made before, including one in China. Accounts proposed that the operation went okay, but the penis was rejected later.
The man who was 18 when he had the circumcision was already sexually active.
In parts of South Africa this circumcision procedure is part of the process of change from boyhood to adulthood.
The boy was then left with just 1cm of his penis after the circumcision.
South Africa has some of the greatest desire for penis transplants anywhere in the world as mentioned by doctors.
Report has it that dozens, although some say hundreds, of boys are maimed or die each year during this traditional initiation ceremonies.
Long Surgeons at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital executed a nine-hour operation to connect a donated penis.
Andre Van der Merwe, One of the surgeons who normally performs kidney transplants told BBC news, "This is definitely much more burdensome, the blood vessels are 1.5 mm wide. In the kidney it can be 1 cm."
The doctors used some of the method used in performing the first face transplants in order to join the tiny blood vessels and nerves.
The operation was performed on 11 December 2014. Three months after the operation doctors say the recovery has been quick.
Doctors has suggested that the full sensation of the penis could take two years.
Notwithstanding, the man is able to pass urine, have an erection, orgasm and ejaculate.

Preparation
The operation needed a lot of preparation.
The team made sure the patient was informed of the dangers of a lifetime of immunosuppressant drugs.
Also some patients cannot withstand the transplant if they can not to acknowledge it as part of their body.
"Psychologically, we knew it would have a massive effect on the ego," said Dr Van der Merwe.
It took "a hell of a lot of time" to get ethical approval, he added.

"You may say it doesn't save their life, but many of these young men when they have penile amputations are ostracised, stigmatised and take their own life.
"If you don't have a penis you are essentially dead, if you give a penis back you can bring them back to life." Dr Van der Merwe later told the BBC.
Further try on other patients will hopefully take place in three months time.