A buried penis is a condition where a man's penis becomes hidden inside folds of skin in the belly, thighs, or scrotum.
It's sometimes present at birth but can happen at any age. In adults, a buried penis often occurs in men who are morbidly obese.
A buried penis can cause problems with peeing, having sex, and self-esteem.
Doctors treat a buried penis with surgery.
To make an appointment with the Department of Urology, please contact a location near you.
A buried penis, although normal-sized, gets hidden under skin or fat. Sometimes, the tip of the penis is still visible.
Some babies are born with a buried penis. The ligaments that attach the penis to other structures may have weakened. In kids, it often goes away on its own.
Adult-acquiredburied penis occurs later in life. It's most common in men who are morbidly obese.
Men with this condition may:
Causes of buried penis include:
The major risk factor for a buried penisis being morbidly obese.
Left untreated, a buried penis can lead to complications, such as:
Our team has advanced specialty training in surgery to fix buried penis, led by Paul Rusilko, DO, FACS.
If you think you have a buried penis, you should see a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating it.
Symptoms of a buried penis include:
Your doctor will first ask about your health history. and
They will be able to diagnose a buried penis with a physical exam. You won't need any tests to confirm the diagnosis.
A buried penis is highly treatable with surgery.
Surgeons remove excess skin, fat, or scar tissue to free the penis.
Successful treatment will:
Surgery to treat aburied penis depends on its cause and your overall condition.
Possible techniques include:
Doctors may also do a skin graft if the penis loses skin whey they separate it from surrounding tissues.
Because a buried penis often goes hand in hand with morbid obesity and affects a man's self-esteem, doctors may suggest:
A buried penis may come back, especially if the underlying cause of obesity remains.