[Buried Penis: A Comprehensive Review on Aetiology, Classification and Plastic-Surgical Reconstruction].

The buried penis, also called hidden or concealed penis, is associated with morbid obesity or seen after massive weight loss in adults. In highly obese, bariatric patients, the penile shaft invaginates into the pre-pubic fat masses, resulting in voiding problems and urine wetting of the surrounding tissue. This leads to infection, skin maceration, lichen sclerosus and eczema. Sole circumcision without mons pubis plasty or penile fixation does not suffice to alleviate the discomfort and leads to recurrence. In post-bariatric patients, penile retraction is only partially present or absent, but abundant pre-pubic skin tissue forms an apron covering the genitals with problems in hygiene and sexual intercourse. In these cases, plastic-reconstructive interventions include mons pubis plasty with or without penile fixation. This article provides a comprehensive overview on aetiology, a novel classification of the buried penis and plastic-surgical reconstructive interventions matched to the stages of the condition.