Is Phalloplasty Worth It? Examining Reported Satisfaction After Phalloplasty

Without a doubt, more research is needed to better understand the actual outcome of Phalloplasty and how patients feel about their surgery results. While many studies have attempted to measure satisfaction, it's important to recognize that researchers have used different definitions of "satisfaction." A group of International researchers have acknowledged that a critical barrier in assessing outcomes of gender affirmation surgery is the lack of a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) and is setting out to develop a solution—the GENDER-Q—to evaluate outcomes of transgender surgery as well as psychological and hormonal gender-affirming treatments.

In the absence of a better way of analyzing patient-reported satisfaction after Phalloplasty, we can look at previous studies that assessed general satisfaction as well as satisfaction related to sexual activity and cosmetic appearance.

Canadian researchers presented a poster at the 2012 CPATH conference that compiles Phalloplasty research data "in an attempt to weigh the actual outcome of phalloplasty against the stereotypes and perceptions of this surgery" to "better inform trans health care providers as to the actual impact of this surgery on FTM transsexuals." The review analyzes 29 English-language academic studies on FTM Phalloplasty published since 1980. Included are charts showing the popularity of various phalloplasty techniques, the ability to stand to void, and rates of satisfaction and complications.

Adams, N.; & Grenier, F. (2011, September). Is it worth it? what trans healthcare providers should know about phalloplasty. Poster session presented at the 2012 Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Retrieved from www.noahjadams.com/downloads
You can download the poster and review the studies that were referenced here.

Since 2012, a handful of additional studies have attempted to measure patient satisfaction after Phalloplasty:

• A 2014 study looked specifically at post-operative satisfaction with appearance, sexual function, and psychological variables after Abdominal or Suprapubic Phalloplasty.
  "Overall, 95% of patients were satisfied with their choice of phalloplasty, 95% with the appearance, 81% with the length (Mean = 12.83 cm), and 71% with the circumference (Mean = 10.83 cm) of their neophallus."
  Source: Outcomes and Satisfaction with Suprapubic Phalloplasty.
• Also in 2014, researchers from Los Angeles and London collaborated on a study that sought to assess several factors including patient satisfaction and regret. They concluded that Phalloplasty is associated with exceedingly high overall satisfaction and, in this study, without any overall regret.
• A review study was conducted in 2016 that analyzed 248 journal articles to appraise literature on phalloplasty techniques and outcomes. The authors concluded that Phalloplasty is highly effective and beneficial to patients but that while patient satisfaction was high, most studies did not use validated or quantified approaches to address satisfaction.
  
• In 2017, European researchers sought to explore patient satisfaction further. They worked with 51 trans men who underwent surgery in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. The subjects completed a satisfaction questionnaire for each individual procedure they had received. With regards to Phalloplasty, patients reported a 100% satisfaction rate.

Despite the absence of a patient-reported outcome measure to evaluate satisfaction after Phalloplasty, recent research indicates that Phalloplasty is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction. Furthermore, Phalloplasty surgeons play an important role with regards to patient satisfaction: it's especially important for surgeons to inform and help guide patients' Phalloplasty expectations as this helps optimize patient satisfaction.

 

Last updated: 01/03/19