A Savior for Bent Penises? A Complete Guide to Penile Straightening and the “Dragon-Rising” Surgery

Hello everyone, I’m Dr. Chu Hsin Cheng, a specialist in male enhancement and girth-enhancement surgery.

Most penises aren’t perfectly straight like a ruler to begin with.
Curving to the left or right, pointing upward, or drooping downward are all common physical variations.

There’s even a saying that “an upward-curving penis is the best kind,” because the upward angle may better stimulate the G-spot or prostate in certain positions. Some men with straight penises even want to make them curve to enhance their sexual performance.

But some people are born with a more pronounced curve, or their penis may have been injured, hit, or pulled, damaging the tunica albuginea and causing it to curve later in life. This can affect not only penetration but also appearance and self-confidence.

That’s when you should see a doctor for an evaluation to find out whether corrective surgery is needed.

Understanding the Corpora Cavernosa and Tunica Albuginea

To understand why a penis curves, let’s first look at its internal structure:

Corpora cavernosa (two): Primarily responsible for erection firmness
Tunica albuginea: Encloses the two corpora cavernosa and holds their shape; it’s as strong as a rubber band
Corpus spongiosum (one): Surrounds the urethra and forms the glans at its tip

Penile curvature is often related to deformation of the tunica albuginea or uneven tension.

How Do You Measure the Angle of Penile Curvature?

Want to know just how curved your penis is? Measuring the angle is key!
The process is simple. Just follow these three steps:

1. Get a full erection
Measurements taken when you’re only semi-erect or going soft and hard aren’t accurate. For photos or observation, make sure your penis is fully erect.

2. Take photos of your penis
Take one photo from above, then another from the side.
Identify the “axis” of your penis
Imagine your penis is a straight rod
Draw two lines along its axis, from the base to the tip of the glans (the first half vs. the second half)
The curve is usually where the axis changes direction, around the middle.

3. Use an app or analyze the photos
You can use “Angle Meter 360” (available for both iOS and Android)
Measure the angle between the two lines to find your penis’s curvature angle
Highly recommended—it’s free and easy to use

How Much Curvature Counts as Curved?

A slight curve is completely normal. In most cases, curvature of less than 20–30 degrees doesn’t significantly affect sexual activity.
But if the curve is too pronounced, you may experience the following:
●Difficulty with penetration
●Uncomfortable or awkward sex
●Thrusting may cause discomfort for your partner
●You may also have pain or be unable to achieve a full erection

Feel a Hard Lump in Your Penis? What Is Peyronie’s Disease?

If you notice that your penis curves unnaturally and has a hard lump, or even hurts when erect, you may have Peyronie’s disease.

There are many possible causes:
●Vigorous masturbation
●Rough sex
●A strain or tear in the tunica albuginea
●Or chronic inflammation with no known cause

After the tunica albuginea is injured, plaques can form. These plaques may harden and calcify, making one side of the penis less flexible and causing it to curve. They may even affect erection firmness.

How Is Peyronie’s Disease Treated?

1. Conservative treatment
During the acute phase, monitor the condition for 3–12 months
Take oral medication to control inflammation and fibrosis

2. Minimally invasive treatment
Low-intensity shockwave therapy + PRP growth factor injections
May soften plaques and improve pain and curvature

3. Surgical treatment
If the first two methods don’t work, corrective surgery may be considered.

What Types of Penile Straightening Surgery Are There?

1. Tunical plication
This is the most common corrective surgery. Depending on the direction of the curve, the longer side of the tunica albuginea is folded and sutured to straighten the penis.

Advantages: Erection firmness remains unchanged, it’s less invasive, and recovery is faster. It’s suitable for penises with less complex curvature.
Disadvantages: The erect penis may be shorter, and you may be able to feel the knots in the sutures.

2. Short-side tunical lengthening (graft repair) Simply put, this is like taking from one side to make up for the other.
It’s suitable for people with a severe curve or more complex deformity.
The “short side” of the tunica albuginea is incised and lengthened, then repaired with a graft (commonly a vein from the thigh or fascia).

Advantages: Preserves the most length
Disadvantages: The surgery is technically demanding and requires an additional incision in the thigh. Erection firmness may decrease somewhat.

3. Penile implant
Suitable for patients with severe erectile dysfunction whose penis curves and won’t become erect.
It is combined with tunical lengthening to address both length and firmness in one go.

Advantages: Erect length increases, and the penile implant guarantees firmness, so you no longer have to worry about firmness or length.
Disadvantages: More invasive, higher risk of infection, and expensive

How Long Is the Recovery Period?

Recovery time varies depending on the type of surgery:
Simple plication: You can return to daily activities in 1–3 days and resume sexual activity in 4–6 weeks.
Graft repair / penile implant: You can return to daily activities in 3–5 days and resume sexual activity in 4–6 weeks.
Avoid sex and excessive erections during recovery to give the tunica albuginea time to heal.

How Much Does the Surgery Cost?

Surgery costs vary based on the procedure, its complexity, the surgeon’s experience, and the medical facility:
Tunical plication: NT$50,000–150,000
Short-side tunical lengthening +/- graft repair: NT$50,000–150,000
Penile implant: NT$250,000–500,000 (depending on brand and specifications)

Can a Straight Penis Be Made to Curve Upward? The So-Called “Dragon-Rising” Surgery

Someone once asked me, “Doctor, I’d like my penis to curve upward a little more so sex feels more stimulating. Can that be done?”

The answer is: in theory, yes. But you need a thorough evaluation first—not everyone is a suitable candidate for this “dragon-rising” surgery.

This reminds me of an episode of *The Chinese Chef* (“Chūka Ichiban!”) featuring “Rising Dragon Dumplings.” The dumplings curl upward like a dragon because the two types of wrapper expand at different rates.

The principle behind “dragon-rising” surgery is similar.

A few sutures are placed along the dorsal (upper) side of the penis to create a controlled restriction. When the penis is erect, this allows the ventral (lower) corpora cavernosa to expand more, creating a natural upward curve. This is what’s known as “dragon-rising” surgery.

Which Surgery Is Right for Me?

Every penis has a different curvature angle, erection firmness, and plaque location, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

※Here’s a simple comparison chart:

Prioritize firmness → Tunical plication
Complex curvature → Short-side tunical lengthening + graft repair
Complex curvature and poor erection firmness → Tunical lengthening + penile implant
Have a sufficient budget → Penile implant or an advanced combined procedure
Want an upward curve → Tunical plication (“dragon-rising” surgery)

Before surgery, take one photo of your erect penis from the front and one from the side.
Discuss the following with your doctor:

How firm are your erections?
Does your partner experience any discomfort?
What do you want to improve: appearance, function, or confidence?
What are your sexual habits and expectations?

That way, after surgery you can achieve your ideal “dragon-rising” result!