Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Appearance and body image after orchidectomy | CION Cancer Clinics
After one testicle is removed, the change is small and mostly visible only to you. With clothes on nobody can tell. Undressed, one side of the scrotum looks emptier and there is a scar low in the groin. For many men the feelings matter more than the look. This page explains what changes, how the area heals, and where to turn if it keeps bothering you. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Will I look different after one testicle is removed?
- What do men commonly feel about their body afterwards?
- How does the area change as it heals?
- What do men and families wrongly believe about the change?
- What helps men feel at ease with their body again?
- When should I ask for help with how I feel?
- Common questions about appearance after orchidectomy
The short answer
Will I look different after one testicle is removed?
A little, and mostly only to you. With clothes on, nobody can tell. Undressed, one side of the scrotum looks emptier, and there is a scar in the groin rather than on the scrotum itself.
What actually changes
The scrotum on the operated side sits flatter and may hang slightly differently. The cut is usually made low in the groin, near the crease where the leg meets the body, so the scar is often hidden by underwear or pubic hair once it has faded. In the first weeks, swelling and bruising can make the area look worse than it will in the end.
What does not change
Your penis is not touched by the operation. Your voice, beard, body hair and muscle depend on testosterone, which the remaining testicle usually keeps making. Erections and ejaculation usually carry on as before once you have healed.
Why it can still feel like a big deal
For many men the loss matters more than the look. It can touch on feeling like a man, on marriage plans and on what a partner might think. Those feelings are common, and they tend to ease with time. Having them does not mean something is wrong with you.
This page cannot tell you how you will feel. Men react very differently, and there is no right way to respond.You are not alone
What do men commonly feel about their body afterwards?
These reactions come up again and again in clinic. Most men recognise at least one of them.
Self-conscious undressing
Avoiding gym changing rooms, swimming pools or a shared bathroom, even though other people rarely notice anything.
Worry about a partner
Fear that a wife, fiancée or future partner will see you differently, or lose interest. This is often the heaviest worry for younger and unmarried men.
Checking and comparing
Looking at the area often, or feeling the remaining testicle again and again for new lumps.
Regular self-checks are sensible. Checking many times a day is a sign that worry needs its own help.Feeling less of a man
A sense of loss that is hard to put into words, especially where family talk links manhood to having children.
Relief
Some men mainly feel relieved the cancer is out, and the appearance barely registers. That is just as normal.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistOver the months
How does the area change as it heals?
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The first days
The groin and scrotum are swollen and sore, and bruising can spread down into the scrotum. It often looks alarming. It is not a guide to how things will look once healed.
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The first few weeks
Swelling goes down and the bruising fades from purple to yellow. A firm ridge under the scar is common while the tissue heals, and slowly softens.
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The following months
The scar changes from red or dark to a paler line. On darker skin it can stay darker than the skin around it for longer. The scrotum settles into its new shape.
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Around the end of the first year
The scar has usually faded as much as it will. This is a sensible point to judge how you feel about the look, and whether an implant is something you want to discuss.
Commonly believed
What do men and families wrongly believe about the change?
"Everyone will be able to tell."
With clothes on, nobody can. Even undressed, most people do not look closely enough to notice. The difference is usually far more visible to you than to anyone else.
"He will not be able to satisfy a wife."
Sex drive, erections and orgasm do not depend on having two testicles. Most men have a normal sex life after healing. If something does change, it can usually be looked into and helped.
"An implant is the only way to feel normal again."
An implant helps some men a great deal. Many others feel fine without one once the first months have passed. It is an option, not a requirement, and it can be added later.
"Real men do not need to talk about this."
Keeping it bottled up tends to make the worry bigger, not smaller. Talking to a counsellor, a doctor or one trusted person often takes much of the weight off.
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Small steps
What helps men feel at ease with their body again?
- Give the area time to heal before judging how it looks
- Wear close-fitting underwear, which evens out the shape
- Ask your surgeon about scar care once the wound has closed
- Go back to sport and the gym when you are cleared
- Talk to your partner early rather than avoiding intimacy
- Ask about an implant if the look keeps bothering you
When it does not ease
When should I ask for help with how I feel?
Ask for help when worry about your body is getting in the way of daily life. That might mean avoiding your partner, dropping out of sport, putting off marriage talks, or thinking about it most of the day.
Who you can talk to
Start with your surgeon or oncologist at the next visit. They hear these worries often and can check the physical side, such as the scar, swelling or hormone level. They can also refer you to a counsellor or psychologist who works with people after cancer. Some couples find it easier to go together.
For the family
If you are a parent or a brother, you may notice him going quiet, avoiding friends, or snapping when marriage is mentioned. Pushing him to talk rarely works. Let him know you are there, keep the pressure off wedding plans for a while, and encourage him to raise it with his doctor.
When it is more than body image
Low mood that lasts most days, loss of interest in things he used to enjoy, or poor sleep and appetite over several weeks can be depression. That needs its own treatment, and it responds well to it.
If he talks about harming himself, do not wait for an appointment. Take him to the nearest emergency department the same day.
Did you know
Testicular cancer is most common in young men, often at the age when studies, work and marriage plans are all in motion. That is part of why body image matters so much here, and why it deserves time in clinic, not just a passing mention.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about appearance after orchidectomy
Will people notice I have one testicle?
Not with clothes on, including swimming trunks and fitted trousers. In a changing room most people do not look closely enough to notice. A sexual partner may notice the difference, which is why many men choose to mention it in their own words rather than wait to be asked.
Where will the scar be, and will it show?
For testicular cancer, the cut is usually made low in the groin, not on the scrotum. Once faded, it is normally covered by underwear and often by hair. It starts red or dark and becomes paler over many months. Keloid, a raised thick scar, is possible in some skin types and can be treated.
Will my penis look or work differently?
The penis is not part of the operation, so its size and look do not change. Erections and ejaculation usually carry on as before once you have healed. If things do not return to normal, tell your team. There are several reasons it can happen, and most can be looked into.
Does the other testicle get bigger to make up for it?
It usually stays much the same size. It may work a little harder to keep your testosterone up, but that does not change how it looks. Keep checking it each month for any new lump or change, and report anything new to your doctor rather than waiting.
How do I tell a partner about how I look now?
Choose a calm, private moment, not the moment you undress. Keep it simple: one testicle was removed for cancer, it does not affect sex, and you are recovering. Most partners respond with concern for you rather than the look. Our page on talking about it has more help.
Can an implant be added years later?
Usually, yes. A testicular implant can be placed through a small separate operation long after the original surgery. Many men wait until treatment and follow-up have settled before deciding. Ask your surgeon whether your skin and scar make it suitable, and what it would involve.
Will chemotherapy change how I look as well?
It can, but differently. Some chemotherapy causes hair loss, tiredness and weight change for a time, and these usually recover after treatment ends. Not everyone needs chemotherapy after orchidectomy. Your oncologist will explain what your own plan involves and what to expect from it.
Is counselling available, and does it cost extra?
Counselling support is part of cancer care, and you can ask for it at any stage. Whether a particular session is covered depends on your scheme or insurance. Call the helpline and we will tell you what is available and help you check your cover.
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Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
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Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- Cancer Research UK — Testicular cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Testicular cancer
- National Cancer Institute — Sexual health issues in men with cancer
- NHS — Testicular cancer
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Testicular Prosthesis: Is It Available in India?The option for men who want the shape restoredTalking About It: Young Men and MarriageRaising it with a partner or familyWound, Stitches and ScarsLooking after the scar as it fadesThe Emotional Side of Cancer SurgeryWhen feelings after surgery need support
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