The Gelbard Technique, once described, offered a new alternative for correcting penile curvature without altering the longer side of the penis. Discover how it’s performed.
Interventions on the tunica albuginea for the treatment of acquired curvature have been – and still are – extensively studied to provide patients with good sexual health.
The American Martin Gelbard was one of the professionals dedicated to this study, and in 1995, he described a new surgical technique for penile curvature.
This urologist also developed collagenase, a medication aimed at softening scar tissue caused by fibrosis in the penis to reduce curvature.
Surgeries Recommended for Penile Curvature
There are more than 15 techniques for the surgical procedure that treats penile curvature. They include:
- Nesbit Technique
- Kelami-Nesbit Technique
- Yachia Technique
- Lue “16 Points” Technique
- Essed-Schroeder Technique
- STAGE Technique by Egydio
- Devine-Horton Technique
- Sampaio Techniques
- Gelbard Technique
- H Technique by Lue
- Egydio Geometric Principles
- Sansalone-Egydio Technique
- Miranda Geometric Model
- Gaffney Lengthening Strategy
- Egydio No-Graft Geometric Method
Gelbard Technique
Gelbard’s contribution to the surgical treatment of Peyronie’s Disease and congenital curvature involves making multiple incisions on the shortened side of the penis to treat the curvature with tissue expansion.
This is done through multiple superficial relaxation incisions in the tunica albuginea to produce tissue expansion. These incisions are used to treat thinning, lateral, ventral, and dorsal curvatures.
As the incisions are small, they produce smaller defects, which eliminates the need for grafts that run the risk of not vascularizing properly.
Moreover, the Gelbard Technique is the first to allow for the placement of a penile implant. In fact, one of the conclusions of the doctor’s study is that the relaxation incisions were effective in correcting penile curvature when used in conjunction with a prosthesis.
H Technique by Lue
Surgeries for penile curvature with relaxation incisions, such as the Gelbard Technique, have continued to evolve.
In 1998, Dr. Tom F. Lue (who later described a folding technique to align the penis from the longer side) reported a technique for penile curvature from lengthening the shorter side of the member.
In his technique, he proposes incision models in “I” or “H” shapes. By expanding the tissue of the tunica albuginea, it is possible to align the penis.
Since it involves a considerable size incision, grafting is necessary. The doctor proposes the use of the saphenous vein or the dorsal penile vein to cover the defect, which “provides an anatomical and functional substitute for the tunica,” as described in his work.
Which of these surgeries is better for correcting curvature?
The Gelbard and Lue techniques are encouraging for treating penile curvature, but only the surgeon assessing the patient’s case can determine if one of them is most suitable.
In general, it can be said that the use of grafts tends to present more chances of complications. On the other hand, the placement of a penile implant is ideal for providing vertical firmness to penises that, in addition to curvature, have erectile dysfunction.
Does every penile curvature require surgery?
Not all men with a curved penis should undergo surgery.
This treatment is recommended for those who face some kind of obstacle in their sexual life, such as difficulty or inability to penetrate, limitation of movements during the act, and/or erectile dysfunction.
Generally, these cases are men with more pronounced curvatures, as milder curvatures may be circumvented with some adaptations for sexual intercourse.
How long does recovery from the operation take?
The recovery from penile curvature correction surgery takes at least 45 days, and can vary from organism to organism.
After this period, the patient can resume all normal activities, including sports and sexual life.
However, healing continues to occur. The complete process takes about a year.
Expected Results
With the Gelbard Technique or the H Technique by Lue, the patient can expect improved sexual quality of life. This is because, with a more aligned, erect penis and more self-esteem and confidence for the moment, the man tends to return to enjoying good moments during sexual intercourse.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the penis may exhibit some changes in sensitivity and scarring, especially in cases where grafting is used.
Undergoing surgery for penile curvature using a technique that involves multiple incisions to expand tissues can be an alternative for men with Peyronie’s and/or congenital curvature.
Contact us to determine if one of these surgeries can help your case and learn which is the best option to realign your penis and reclaim your quality of life in the moment.
Read also
- What is penile fracture?
- Surgery for Peyronie’s Disease: Risks and Recommendations
- Egydio’s Technique: Peyronie Disease Treatment
- Does the Egydio Technique Work for Every Penile Curvature?
- Implante de Prótese Peniana | Dr. Paulo Egydio
- Does Small Penis Exist? Check When Size Is a Concern
- 7 Simple Habits to Prevent Prostate Cancer
- Can People with a Penile Prosthesis Play Sports?
- How to Enlarge the Penis: Understanding the Options
- 6 Causes of Penis Fissures: Treatments and Care Tips



