Doctors perform the world's first successful penis transplant

Surgery
(Image credit: iStock)

Doctors have officially given a 21-year-old man in South Africa the world's first successful penile transplant.

Surgeons from Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital spent nine hours completing the operation in December. The patient has apparently regained full penis function, which is a much faster recovery time than the doctors expected — they didn't think the organ would be fully functional until two years after the operation.

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.