Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Glans resurfacing and reconstruction: keeping the head of the penis | CION Cancer Clinics
Glans resurfacing removes the thin surface layer of skin from the head of the penis, where abnormal cells sit, and replaces it with a skin graft taken from the thigh. The head of the penis keeps its shape and length. It suits changes that have not grown deeper, often called PeIN. This page explains who it suits, what happens during the operation and what to ask your surgeon. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MI
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- What is glans resurfacing?
- Which reconstruction operations might you hear about?
- What actually happens during glans resurfacing?
- What do the words on the report mean?
- What do men often get wrong about this operation?
- What happens afterwards, and what can this page not tell you?
- Common questions about glans resurfacing
The short answer
What is glans resurfacing?
Glans resurfacing removes only the thin top layer of skin from the head of the penis, where the abnormal cells are, and replaces it with a thin skin graft, usually taken from the thigh. The head of the penis itself is kept, along with its shape and length.
Who it is usually offered to
It is mainly used for changes that sit in the surface layer only. On a report these may be called PeIN, which means penile intraepithelial neoplasia: abnormal cells that have not yet grown deeper and are not yet an invasive cancer. It is also used for some very shallow early cancers. Often it is offered after creams or laser treatment have not cleared the changes, or when the changes keep coming back.
Who it does not suit
It is not enough for a cancer that has grown into the deeper tissue of the head of the penis. In that case, removing only the skin would leave cancer behind. Men whose biopsy shows deeper growth are usually offered a glansectomy or a partial penectomy instead. It may also be harder for men whose skin does not heal well, such as heavy smokers.
The biopsy report and the examination decide whether resurfacing is enough. It is not a choice made on appearance alone.The options
Which reconstruction operations might you hear about?
These names get mixed up. They differ in how deep the surgeon goes and how much is removed.
Total glans resurfacing
The whole skin surface of the head of the penis is removed and covered with a graft. Used when the abnormal cells cover most of the head or keep returning in different places.
Partial glans resurfacing
Only the affected part of the surface is removed and grafted. Used where the change is small and well defined, so more of the natural skin can be kept.
Glansectomy with a graft
The head of the penis is removed completely, down to the shaft. The end of the shaft is then covered with a skin graft to make a new rounded tip.
Usually used for
- Cancers that have grown into the head
- Where the shaft beneath is clear
Reconstruction after partial penectomy
Where part of the shaft has been removed, skin grafts and small release procedures can sometimes help the remaining penis look more natural or appear longer.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistThe operation
What actually happens during glans resurfacing?
Anaesthesia and marking
You are given a general or spinal anaesthetic, so you feel nothing during the operation. The surgeon marks the area to be removed, sometimes using a dye that makes abnormal skin easier to see.
Removing the surface
The top layers of skin on the head of the penis are carefully lifted off. Samples from the edges are often sent to the laboratory to check that no abnormal cells remain.
Taking and placing the graft
A very thin layer of skin is shaved from your thigh. It is laid over the head of the penis and stitched in place. The thigh heals on its own, much like a graze.
Dressing and catheter
A firm dressing holds the graft still so it can take. A catheter is placed so urine does not wet the graft. Both usually stay for several days, and you will be asked to rest.
On your report
What do the words on the report mean?
- PeIN
- Abnormal cells in the surface skin of the penis that have not grown deeper. It can turn into cancer if it is left alone.
- Carcinoma in situ
- Another name for cancer cells that are still confined to the surface layer. It is often treated the same way as PeIN.
- Split-thickness skin graft
- A thin shaving of skin, usually from the thigh, that is moved to cover the area where skin was removed.
- Graft take
- Whether the graft has joined its new blood supply and survived. It is checked when the first dressing comes off.
- Margin
- The edge of the tissue that was removed. A clear margin means no abnormal cells were found at that edge.
- Invasive
- Cancer that has grown below the surface layer. It usually needs a larger operation than resurfacing.
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Commonly believed
What do men often get wrong about this operation?
"If it is only on the skin, an ointment will do."
Creams are often tried first for surface changes and they do work for some men. But when the changes do not clear, or keep returning, continuing with ointments only delays treatment. Buying creams without a biopsy is a common reason men arrive late.
"A skin graft means the penis will look very different."
The head of the penis keeps its shape and size. The grafted skin can look slightly different in colour or texture, and this usually becomes less noticeable over the following months.
"Once the skin is replaced, no more check-ups are needed."
Abnormal cells can return in skin nearby. Regular follow-up visits, where the surgeon looks at the area, remain part of the plan for years. Report any new patch or sore early.
"The graft will stop me having sex."
Once it has fully healed and your surgeon agrees, most men can have sex again. Feeling at the head may change. Ask your surgeon when it is safe, rather than guessing.
Being straight with you
What happens afterwards, and what can this page not tell you?
Most of the work of healing happens in the first days, while the dressing holds the graft still. When it is removed, the surgeon checks whether the graft has taken. Small patches sometimes do not take and heal more slowly on their own. Occasionally a further small procedure is needed.
The laboratory result matters as much as the operation
The removed skin is examined under a microscope. Sometimes this shows that the changes went deeper than the first biopsy suggested. If that happens, your team may recommend a further operation. This is not a sign that the first operation went wrong. It is the reason the tissue is checked.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you whether resurfacing is enough for your own changes. That depends on your biopsy, the size and position of the affected area, and your general health. It also cannot tell you how the graft will look on your skin. Ask your surgeon to explain why this operation was chosen over the alternatives, and what happens if the laboratory result changes the picture.
Whether a centre offers resurfacing, and who does it, varies. Ask your centre directly who will carry out the graft.
Did you know
Surface changes on the penis are often mistaken for an infection or a skin allergy and treated with creams for months. A red, shiny or scaly patch that does not settle deserves a biopsy. Found at this stage, far less of the penis needs to be removed.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about glans resurfacing
Is glans resurfacing a big operation?
It is smaller than a glansectomy or a partial penectomy, because only the surface skin is removed. It is still done under anaesthetic in an operating theatre. You usually stay in hospital for a few days while the dressing and catheter are in place, and you will be asked to rest so the graft can take.
Will I be able to pass urine normally?
Yes. The urine opening is not moved in this operation. A catheter is used for the first days only to keep the graft dry. Once it is removed, you pass urine as before. Some men notice mild stinging for a short time, which usually settles on its own.
Will the head of my penis feel the same?
Feeling often changes. Some men find the head is less sensitive, and some find it more sensitive for a while. The deeper tissue that carries much of the feeling is kept, so many men still enjoy sex. Changes can continue to settle over several months.
What about the place the skin is taken from?
The thigh wound feels like a large graze. It is often more sore than the penis in the first days. It is covered with a dressing and heals on its own, leaving a paler patch of skin. Tell the nurse if it becomes red, smelly or keeps weeping.
What if the graft does not take?
Small areas that do not take usually heal by themselves with dressings, though it takes longer. If a larger area fails, your surgeon may suggest another small graft. Smoking makes graft failure more likely, so stopping before the operation helps. Ask your surgeon what to watch for at home.
Can the abnormal cells come back?
They can, sometimes in skin close to the graft. That is why follow-up visits continue after healing. Most returning changes are found early at these visits and can be treated with a small procedure. Check yourself too, and report any new patch without waiting for the next appointment.
Will I need groin node surgery as well?
For changes limited to the surface skin, groin node surgery is not usually needed, because these cells have not grown deep enough to spread. If the laboratory later finds deeper cancer, your team will discuss whether the groin glands need checking. Ask what your own report shows.
Should I try creams before agreeing to surgery?
That is a decision for your treating team, and it depends on your biopsy. For some surface changes, prescribed creams are a reasonable first step. For others, surgery is the better start. Never use creams bought without a prescription on an undiagnosed patch.
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Sources
- Cancer Research UK — Penile cancer: treatment
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Penile cancer
- National Cancer Institute — Penile Cancer Treatment (PDQ) - Patient Version
- NHS — Penile 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
Penile-Sparing Surgery: Glansectomy and Wide ExcisionThe next step up when changes have grown deeperCircumcision as Treatment for Early Penile CancerWhen the changes are on the foreskin onlyFollow-Up After Penile Cancer SurgeryThe check-ups that continue after the graft healsWound, Stitches and ScarsLooking after a graft and the thigh wound at home
Talk to us
Been told about a patch on the penis?
Send us the biopsy report or call the helpline. A surgical oncologist will explain whether surface treatment is likely to be enough and what the next step is. One helpline serves every CION centre.