The procedure at the Hanoi hospital took six hours on July 27 and was the sixth penis transplants that have been documented worldwide, with the latest reported in 2018, according to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duong Duc Hung, director of the hospital.
The recipient, a 43-year-old man, had previously undergone partial removal of his penis at the hospital's Andrology Center. While he had recovered well over four years of treatment and maintained normal urinary function, the remaining tissue was too short for normal sexual activity, severely affecting his confidence and quality of life.
To restore both appearance and function, the patient underwent a thorough assessment by a multidisciplinary team. Doctors evaluated his medical condition, immune compatibility, psychological readiness and ethical considerations before determining that he was a suitable candidate for the transplant.
Doctors perform a penis transplant at Viet Duc University Hospital in Hanoi, July 27, 2026. Photo by Thao My
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang, Director of the Andrology Center, said the surgery was technically demanding. Surgeons had to rebuild the urinary passage and erectile tissues while reconnecting tiny blood vessels and nerves using microsurgical techniques.
