A South Korean man has been awarded significant compensation after a penis enlargement procedure left him with life-altering injuries. The 35-year-old patient suffered catastrophic damage when the surgeon accidentally severed his penis horizontally, cutting through both the corpus cavernosum and corpus spongiosum—the erectile tissues essential for sexual function and urination.
The operation, performed in Seoul in 2020, resulted in permanent loss of sexual function, difficulties urinating, and psychological distress for the patient. In January 2024, a court ordered the urologist responsible to pay the equivalent of approximately £13,100 in damages. After losing an appeal in August, the doctor was further ordered to pay an additional £3,000 in medical negligence compensation.
During the trial, it emerged that the patient may not have been fully informed of the procedure’s risks—a claim denied by the doctor. Complications were heightened by the patient’s previous penis implant, which had fused to the surrounding tissue. The court concluded that proper caution and attention during surgery could have prevented the injury, noting that “dissection should have been halted before causing injury, and suturing considered to prevent complications.”
The case highlights broader concerns about risky genital cosmetic procedures. An insider from Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital in the UK noted an increase in men seeking penis enhancement through unregulated clinics offering Botox or fillers. Some have suffered severe complications, including one patient who required amputation after injecting a Vaseline-like substance.
Experts warn that these procedures carry serious medical risks, and patients should exercise caution and ensure treatments are performed by qualified professionals in regulated medical settings.
