For the first time in the history of medicine, a penis transplant has been declared a big success, the Tygerberg Hospital and the Stellenbosch University in South Africa tweeted today.
The subject lost the organ three years ago due to complications following a circumcision procedure, the Bloomberg reported. However, per announcement, he appears to have fully recovered fro a nine-hour-long surgery in December 2014. The doctors who have executed the operation said that his male organ is now "fully-functional".
"We've proved that it can be done - we can give someone an organ that is just as good as the one that he had. It was a privilege to be part of this first successful penis transplant in the world," the head of the Division of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery at Stellenbosch University, Frank Graewe, said in a statement.
This is the world's second male organ transplant attempt. The first try happened in China, nine years ago; however, it had to be brought back to original two weeks after due to a psychological turmoil that the patient suffered after the operation.
The surgeons expected him to gain the full efficiency of the transplanted organ in 24 months, but he healed sooner than what his doctors have expected.
"We are very surprised by his rapid recovery," shared Andre Van der Merwe, the lead surgeon and head of the Stellenbosch University's Urology Department.
"Penis amputations are common in Southern Africa because traditional circumcisions could be risky," he added.
The lead surgeon has also said that the real heroes of the event are the donor and his family. Aside from the penis, the family of the donor also donated the person's corneas, skin, liver, kidney, lungs, and heart.