Phallo Time

Welcome to phallotime.univer.se, made by a trans man, for trans people. I’m your host, and I’m here to introduce you to the world of phalloplasty.

The term phalloplasty can be broken up into phallo- and -plasty. Phallo- or phall- is derivative of the Greek word phallos, meaning penis. And

-plasty meaning surgery, specifically repair, restoration, or replacement. Which is derivative of the Greek word plassein, meaning to mold or shape.

The first phalloplasty was performed in 1936 by Nikolaj A. Bogoraz (1874–1952), a Russian surgeon and pioneer of phalloplasty and penile implant surgery. If you want to learn more about him, click here. It was performed on a cis man and Bogoraz’s method involved a tubed abdominal flap and multiple surgeries, including implanting rib cartilage to allow for penetration. His patients were those with birth defects and trauma related injuries. (Though other reasons for phallo include war injuries, cancer, and botched circumcisions.)

The first phalloplasty done on a trans man was performed in 1945 by Harold Gillies (1882–1960). He was a plastic surgeon from New Zealand, though his work was based in London. He worked primarily with WWI veterans doing facial reconstruction. There’s a book about that, The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris, and in the back she talks about the first FTM phalloplasty performed by Gillies. The patient was none other than Michael Dillon (1915-1962), an important figure in trans history. Dillion started his transition in the 1930s and was able to access testosterone pills and have top surgery. He was even able to legally change his birth certificate. His phalloplasty journey started in 1945 and ended in 1949. It consisted of thirteen surgeries. Fitzharris writes that Gillies’s “pioneering technique laid the foundation on which modern phalloplasty is based.”

Source: A Surgeon for WWI and WWII Vets Also Helped a Trans Man

In late 1960s Russia, Innokenty contacted Dr. Viktors Kalnbērzs in hope of getting phalloplasty. Honestly I just recommend you read the whole article linked, it’s far better than any summary I could provide. Some of the language and ideas around trans people is outdated, though the article does mention this.

Source: The Trans Man Whose Pioneering Surgery Was A State Secret For Decades

Phalloplasty is a series of multiple complex surgeries, with many options. There’s no such thing as “the surgery.”

Phallo is not the only method of bottom surgery for AFAB (assigned female at birth) people. Metoidioplasty uses the T dick and sort of enhances it, often by cutting a suspensory ligament. UL, scrotoplasty, and vectomy are also optional with this surgery. Both phallo and meta create penises, their methodology and outcomes are different but both are good options. Find out more about meta here.

Not everyone who gets phalloplasty is a man. Plenty of nonbinary people pursue bottom surgery. In this house we stand with our nonbinary siblings, period.

Genitals do not equal gender. Plenty of binary trans men keep their canal and get phalloplasty, plenty also don’t get any surgery. On the flip side, nonbinary people can get all the bells (or balls) and whistles and all natal parts removed. There’s no one way to be trans and I want to destroy the idea of binary and nonbinary surgeries. Anyone of any identity can have any body.

A lot of people, myself included, don’t like the term “results” in the context of bottom surgery. It can feel dehumanizing and dismissive. It’s okay to say dick/penis/cock.

That behind said, everyone’s terminology and language they use to describe their own bodies is different.

Regret is a hot topic, and 99% of the regret people get after bottom surgery is due to surgeon choice or complications.