Surgeons are improving a new way to increase the size of micropenises, so that the individuals can achieve a proper urination and a relatively normal sex life.
The technique has been perfomed on nine men. The UCL team has been perforiming a technique called phalloplasty, or penile enlargement.
The technique involves cutting a flap of skin from the patient's forearm and shaping it into a penis four or five inches long.To maintain erogenous sensation, the original penis is incorporated into the surface of the transplanted skin.
Patients also receive an urethra that will be used to urinate, and an inflatable penile prosthesis to allow an erection to engage in sexual intercourse.
UCL surgeons performed the operation on nine men aged 19 to 43 with a variety of medical backgrounds, including three hermaphrodites and two men who had problems with androgen (the group of hormones which includes testosterone), one of whom became deficient in androgen after chemotherapy.
Following surgery, all patients were found to be satisfied with the cosmetic appearance of their penis, with four patients able to urinate standing up and four able to have regular sexual intercourse.
However, in several cases many complications arose, such as an infection or a shift in the prosthesis position, with subsequent revision operations needed.
Dr David Ralph, of UCL's Institute of Urology, said: "This operation can change the life of young men, improving their self-esteem and quality of life and allowing many of them to have sexual intercourse, sometimes for the first time in their life.
"However, patients should be aware of the high risk of complications from this procedure.
More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4071657.stm