The third type of buried penis is a trapped penis, and it’s often caused by an aggressive circumcision that mistakes the shaft’s skin for foreskin. Scar tissue then grows and pushes the penis deeper into the pubic fat pad.

Along with the health-related conditions of a buried penis come psychological problems as well, and not only for the person affected. Parents are faced with the stress and constant worrying about their child’s future. The child, meanwhile, can grow up with the fear of his deformity being discovered by classmates, and feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, which can lead to depression. Those insecurities carry over into adulthood, sometimes making it difficult to maintain romantic relationships.