In a big medical achievement, doctors in South Africa did the world's first successful penis transplant—and just six months later, the man became a father.
The 21-year-old patient lost his penis during a traditional ceremony called circumcision. In December 2014, a team from Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital did a complex 9-hour surgery. Within three months, he was able to urinate and have sex again. Soon after, he had a healthy baby.
Though the surgery wasn't life-saving, it changed his life in a big way. Many men go through a lot of emotional pain after losing their genitals, often dealing with shame, sadness, and even thoughts of giving up.
Dr. Andre Van der Merwe, the main doctor, said that getting his body back helped the man feel like himself again. The team used methods similar to facial transplants to connect tiny nerves and blood vessels—setting a new example for surgery in areas where these kinds of injuries are common. This shows that healing is not just about living but about feeling whole again.
