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A 21-year-old man has undergone the world’s first successful penis transplant.

The ground-breaking operation took a team of surgeons nine hours and has allowed the patient to be sexually active.

The recipient is reported to have been a 21-year-old man, who had his penis amputated after a circumcision went wrong three years ago, but the identity of the donor has been made public.

But the man lost his penis through a botched circumcision operation three years ago.

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Doctors said he now enjoyed full use of his new organ.

Professor Frank Graewe, who was part of the South African team who carried out the op, said: “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.”

University of Stellenbosch’s surgeons carried out the operation in Cape Town back in December but waited until they could confirm it was successful before they made any public statement.

Professor Jimmy Volmink, Dean of SU’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences said: “It’s the first time success was achieved with such a procedure.

“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.”

The operation was led by Professor Andre van der Merwe and took place on 9th December 014 at Tygerberg Hospital.

“Our goal was that he would be fully functional at two years and we are very surprised by his rapid recovery,” said Van der Merwe.

The university said it was the second time the surgery was performed but the first time that a “successful long-term result” was achieved.

Professor van der Merwe added the patient is now sexually active and is, of course, “very excited”.