A team of South African surgeons has performed the world’s first successful penis transplant.

The man lost his penis three years ago from complications following a traditional circumcision procedure, but after a nine-hour operation on 11 December at the Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University, doctors restored “all the patient’s urinary and reproductive functions”.

The surgeons had expected the man to take up to two years to make a full recovery, but declared the operation a success after four months because he recuperated much sooner than expected.

The successful operation follows a similar penis transplant being performed in China in 2006, but in that case the surgery had to be reversed two weeks later because the patient suffered psychological problems following the operation.

However, in this case, the patient has made a full recovery and is reported to be sexually active again following the surgery.

Prof André van der Merwe, head of Stellenbosch University’s Division of Urology, said:

“Our goal was that he would be fully functional at two years and we are very surprised by his rapid recovery”

“It’s a massive breakthrough. 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.”

Prof Jimmy Volmink, Dean of Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, commented:

“South Africa remains at the forefront of medical progress.

“This procedure is another excellent example of how medical research, technical know-how and patient-centred care can be combined in the quest to relieve human suffering. It shows what can be achieved through effective partnerships between academic institutions and government health services.”