Peyronie’s Disease: Curvature of the Penis
The penis bending to one side during an erection, often with pain. The disease has an active and a settled phase, and the decision about treatment depends on which one you are in.
Last medically reviewed: October 4, 2026 — Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müslüm Ergün
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- Procedure time
- Surgery 60–120 minutes
- Anesthesia
- General or spinal anaesthesia
- Hospital stay
- Day case or 1 night
- Stay in Türkiye
- 5–7 days
- Return to work
- 1 week
- Flight clearance
- 5–7 days
About the condition
Peyronie’s disease is the formation of a hardened plaque — tissue rather like a callus — in the sheath surrounding the erectile tissue of the penis. Because the plaque does not stretch, the penis bends towards it during an erection. The curve may be upwards, downwards or to the side; some men also have an hourglass narrowing or shortening.
THE DISEASE HAS TWO PHASES AND THAT DISTINCTION DETERMINES TREATMENT. In the active (inflammatory) phase there is pain and the curve keeps changing from week to week. In the settled (stable) phase the pain has gone and the curve has stayed the same for at least three to six months.
SURGERY IS NOT PERFORMED IN THE ACTIVE PHASE. The reason is simple: if the curve is still changing, an angle corrected today may distort again six months later. The disease is therefore allowed to settle first. That waiting time is not empty; controlling the pain and monitoring the curve are part of it.
The cause is not fully known. It is thought that small repeated strains during intercourse disturb the healing process in men who are predisposed, leading to the plaque. Diabetes, Dupuytren’s contracture (a similar hardening of tissue in the palm) and certain connective tissue traits have been linked with predisposition.
A REALISTIC EXPECTATION: the aim of surgery is not to return the penis to how it was before the disease. The aim is to straighten it enough to make intercourse possible. A slight residual curve is not a failure. Be wary of anyone who tells you it will be completely corrected.
Who is it suitable for?
May be suitable
- Men whose disease has entered the settled phase — pain gone, curve unchanged for at least 3–6 months
- Men whose curve is severe enough to prevent intercourse
- Men who experience buckling at the tip during erection because of an hourglass narrowing
- Men with adequate erectile function and a problem of shape alone — plication or grafting is suitable
- Men with both a marked curve and erectile difficulty unresponsive to tablets — correction with a prosthesis comes into consideration
May not be suitable
- MEN IN THE ACTIVE PHASE — if pain persists or the curve is still changing, surgery is postponed
- Men whose curve is slight and who have no difficulty with intercourse — no operation is needed
- Men whose expectation is cosmetic perfection
- Men with erectile difficulty that has not been assessed — this must be clarified first, as it changes the choice of method
- Men with a bleeding disorder or an uncontrolled accompanying illness
Technology used
- Penile colour Doppler ultrasound — assessing the site of the plaque, calcification and blood flow
- Measurement of the angle under artificial erection (during surgery)
- Plication (shortening) techniques
- Widening the plaque with a graft
- Simultaneous correction with a penile prosthesis where required
Surgeon's experience
Verifiable information
- Surgeon's experience
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müslüm Ergün121270
Step-by-step journey
- Step 1
Establishing the phase
Whether there is pain, and whether the curve has changed in recent months, are asked about. This is the single most important piece of information for timing surgery.
- Step 2
Measurement and imaging
The angle is measured from a photograph of the erect penis or at examination under artificial erection. Doppler ultrasound assesses the site of the plaque, any calcification and the blood flow.
- Step 3
Monitoring and support in the active phase
If the disease is active, surgery is postponed. During this time the pain is controlled and the curve is re-measured at intervals. Settling usually takes months.
- Step 4
Choosing the method
The decision is made in the settled phase: plication if the curve is moderate and penile length is adequate; a graft if the curve is severe or there is an hourglass deformity; correction with a prosthesis if erectile function is also impaired.
- After surgery
Recovery and return to sexual activity
Swelling and bruising are expected in the first weeks. A return to sexual activity is usually planned after 6–8 weeks with the surgeon’s approval.
Method comparison
| Criterion | Plication | Graft | Correction with a prosthesis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | Moderate curve, good erections | Severe curve or hourglass | Curve plus erectile difficulty unresponsive to tablets |
| Penile length | Shortening occurs | Less shortening | Depends on the prosthesis length |
| Effect on erections | Usually preserved | Higher risk of impairment | Erection is produced by the device |
| Technical demand | Simpler | More advanced | Advanced |
| Reversibility | Sutures can be removed | Difficult | None — tissue is removed |
No method is absolutely superior to another. The choice is made by weighing the degree of curve, penile length, erectile function and your own priority together.
Risks
- SHORTENING OF THE PENIS: inherent to the plication technique — the curve is corrected by shortening the longer side. This is not a complication but a known consequence of the method, and it is always discussed before surgery
- The curve not being fully corrected, or partially returning over time
- Impairment of erectile function — more of an issue in men who have a graft
- Altered sensation or numbness in the skin or at the tip of the penis
- Palpable suture knots (after plication)
- Healing problems at the graft site
- Infection and bleeding
- Device-related risks in men who have a prosthesis — set out in detail on its own page
Alternatives
- Surveillance — the right approach if the curve is slight and does not prevent intercourse
- Pain control and waiting for the active phase to pass
- Injection treatments into the plaque — in selected men; the effect varies from person to person
- Traction (stretching) devices — these require regular, prolonged use
- Plication — for a moderate curve where shortening is acceptable
- Widening with a graft — for a severe curve and hourglass deformity
- Penile prosthesis — where there is erectile difficulty as well
Recovery
First week
Swelling and bruising are expected and settle with time. Painkillers are used. Strenuous activity is avoided.
Weeks 2–4
The bruising largely resolves. Daily life resumes. Stretching exercises may be started where the surgeon advises them.
Weeks 6–8
A return to sexual activity is planned during this period with the surgeon’s approval. Returning too early can strain the sutures.
Months 3–6
The outcome is assessed. A slight residual curve is likely and, as long as it does not prevent intercourse, is not counted as a failure.
Frequently asked questions
Is the curve in my penis Peyronie’s disease?
Not every curve is Peyronie’s. Some men have a slight curve from birth, and that is not a disease. Peyronie’s begins later in life, often with pain, and a firm plaque can be felt on examination. History and examination make the distinction.
Can I have surgery straight away?
Not if the disease is in its active phase. If pain persists or the curve has changed in recent months, surgery is postponed, because an angle corrected today may distort again later. The curve should have been stable for at least three to six months.
Will the operation shorten my penis?
With the plication technique, yes — the curve is corrected by shortening the longer side. That is a known and unavoidable consequence of the method, not a complication. With a graft there is less shortening, but the chance of affecting erectile function is greater. Which trade-off you accept is discussed together.
Will my curve be completely corrected?
The aim is not complete correction but enough correction to make intercourse possible. A slight residual curve is usual and counts as success provided it does not get in the way. Be wary of anyone guaranteeing complete correction.
Is there a treatment without surgery?
In selected men, injection treatments into the plaque and traction devices may come into consideration. Their effect varies from person to person and none gives results as predictable as surgery. If the curve is slight and does not prevent intercourse, surveillance is the right approach.
I also have erectile difficulty — what then?
In that case correcting the curve alone is not enough; a straight penis is of no use if an erection cannot be achieved. If tablets do not work, simultaneous correction with a penile prosthesis comes into consideration. Because that decision is irreversible, it is discussed in detail.
Does the disease resolve on its own?
The pain settles over time in most men. The curve, however, usually persists; in some it lessens, in others it stays the same. Complete spontaneous correction is not expected, so a decision to observe is not "doing nothing" but seeing over time whether surgery is needed at all.
When can I return to sexual activity?
Usually after 6–8 weeks, with the surgeon’s approval. Returning early can strain the sutures and spoil the result. This period can be longer for men who have had a graft.
Articles on this topic
Scientific sources
This page is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
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