Small Penis

Q. My penis is so small that only the head can be seen when it is soft. When erect it looks normal. Somehow or other, the fatty tissue at the base of the shaft is quite pronounced, and it envelops the shaft, leaving only the head to be seen. Walking around the men’s shower is really embarrassing. I’m 45, and I’ve had this problem all my life. Can anything be done to correct this affliction?

A. The situation you describe may be what is called a “buried penis.” This means that when you were born, the shaft skin did not develop properly, and the penis itself lies buried under the skin of the prepubital fat pad. Many times men with this condition only see the head of their penis until they have an erection and the penis protrudes from the fat pad.

The condition is easy to diagnose by your physician simply looking at the penis and determining if there is sufficient shaft skin. When the doctor pulls on the head of the penis, the shaft skin should be long enough to allow lengthening of the penis without stretching the scrotum or body skin.

Treatment of a buried penis is rather difficult. It may require a plastic surgeon to create new skin for the shaft of the penis to get it out from underneath the fat pad. The results, however, can be excellent, and the penis can look normal.