Phalloplasty in female to male transsexuals

Phalloplasty with a radial forearm (RF) flap is the global standard for sex reassignment surgery in female to male transsexuals. The RF flap has some advantages such as the pedicle is relatively stable, it applies a pliable and thin skin, it can be made as a sensory flap and the reconstructed penis can recover the sexual and touch sensation. The ulnar side of it is suitable for the urethroplasty because the region is usually hairless. But, there are some disadvantages such as an ugly depressive donor scar of which the patients frequently complain, swelling of the hands such as lymphedema and numbness of the hands. At the penile reconstruction with a RF flap, we need almost three quarters of the circumferential forearm. It is this size that is the cause of these disadvantages.