For patients in South Africa

Peyronie’s disease treatment in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

A curved penis can make erections painful and sex difficult or impossible. It may be present from birth or, more often in adult life, caused by Peyronie’s disease. This page explains how the curve is assessed and corrected surgically, what the risks are, and what South African patients need to plan for the trip.

What causes a curved penis

A curve can be present from birth, or it can develop later. When it develops in adult life it is most often caused by Peyronie’s disease, in which scar tissue (a plaque) forms in the tough sheath around the erectile tissue and pulls the penis to one side during an erection. The treatment offered is described on the penile curvature treatment page.

See a doctor if you have:

• Pain or discomfort during erections
• Difficulty getting or keeping an erection
• Discomfort for you or your partner during sex
• A curve that makes intercourse difficult or impossible

Assessment comes first

A urologist examines you and reviews your history before any treatment is planned. The surgeon will usually want the curve to have stopped changing before operating; when Peyronie’s disease is still active, surgery is normally postponed. Photographs of the erect penis help with the first review.

Erection problems that come with a curve can have other medical causes, including heart and blood-vessel disease or diabetes, so it is sensible to have your own doctor check your general health too. The erectile dysfunction guide and the wider men’s health guide cover related treatment.

How the operation straightens the penis

Treatment here is surgical. The surgeon reshapes the sheath that surrounds the erectile tubes so that the penis is straight during an erection. Broadly, this is done either by tightening the longer side of the sheath, or by releasing the plaque on the shorter side and covering the gap with a graft. Tightening is simpler but can make the penis slightly shorter. Where there is also severe erectile dysfunction, a penile prosthesis is sometimes discussed instead. The surgeon explains which approach suits you and why.

Possible risks include bleeding, infection, a change in sensation, some loss of length, a curve that returns, and new or worse erection problems. The aim is a penis straight enough for comfortable intercourse; perfectly straight is not guaranteed.

Recovery and the trip from South Africa

There are direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul of around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir, where treatment takes place. South Africans need an e-Visa, explained in the e-Visa guide. Turkey is only one hour ahead of South Africa, so follow-up calls are easy to arrange. How long you stay is set out in your written treatment plan; allow time for a wound check before the long flight home.

• Follow the surgeon’s instructions strictly; no sexual activity until the surgeon clears you, usually several weeks
• Contact us at once if you notice severe swelling, redness, high fever, shortness of breath or any other sign of infection
• Take your operation notes home and share them with your GP or a local urologist
• South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad; check with your scheme, and note that travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad

Follow-up and the guarantee

Follow-up continues by message and video call. Medical complications and clinically necessary revisions within one year are covered by our treatment guarantee: that treatment is carried out in İzmir at no charge, though flights and accommodation remain your own cost. It is not a promise of a particular result. The clinic facts page explains how we work, and the complaints page how problems are handled.

What we will not do

We will not book surgery before a urologist has assessed you, we will not operate while the curve is still changing, and we will not promise a perfectly straight result or any gain in size. If surgery is not the right step for you yet, we will say so.

Frequently asked questions

What is Peyronie’s disease?

It is a condition in which scar tissue forms in the sheath around the erectile tissue and makes the penis bend during an erection. A curve can also be present from birth.

Can a curved penis be straightened without surgery?

The treatment offered through us is surgical. Your own doctor or urologist can tell you whether a non-surgical approach is worth trying first.

Will Peyronie’s surgery make my penis shorter?

It can. Tightening the longer side of the sheath may shorten the penis slightly, and the surgeon will explain the expected effect of the technique chosen for you.

When can I have sex after penile curvature surgery?

Only when the surgeon clears you, usually after several weeks. Follow the instructions strictly to protect the repair.

Will my medical aid cover Peyronie’s surgery in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, and travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad. Ask your scheme directly before you book.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.