Penis whitening: What is it? Why are men doing it? And what are the dangers?
A CONTROVERSIAL clinic is at the centre of new storm over its penis-whitening service.
GETTY
Around 100 men a month undergo the treatment which costs £500 for five sessions and is carried out by plastic surgeons at the Lelux Hospital in Thai capital Bangkok.
Bleaching procedures are particularly sought after in Thailand but the latest skin-whitening ads have caused outrage, accusations of racism and now public health warnings.
Health officials have urged people to think twice before undergoing the procedure, which they warn can lead to scarring, inflammation and "nasty looking spots."
Dr Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn of the Thai health ministry said: “Penis laser whitening is not necessary, wastes money and may give more negative effects than positive ones.”
GETTY
We have to be careful because it’s a sensitive part of the body
The Lelux Hospital said it began offering the unconventional treatment six months ago after a male customer complained of “dark parts” on his groin.
Lelux marketing manager Popol Tansakul said: "They are popular among gay men and transvestites who take good care of their private parts. They want to look good in all areas."
Bunthita Wattanasiri, a manager for the clinic’s skin and laser department, said: “These days a lot of people are asking about it.
“We get around 100 clients a month, three to four clients a day.
“We have to be careful because it’s a sensitive part of the body.”
Related articles
He said most clients were aged between 22 and 55 years old with many from Thailand’s LGBTQ community.
The controversial procedure, which uses high-tech lasers to achieve skin whitening, hit the headlines on Thai television and social media after the hospital released images of a man undergoing the treatment.
The hospital sparked outrage last year when it promoted a beautification treatment called a “3D Vagina” in which the customer’s own body fat is used to make genitalia more plump.
Mr Bunthita said: “I think it’s a good market to enter so we offer the ultimate body treatment to our clients, either men and women.”
GETTY
Whitening and bleaching are not uncommon in other parts of the world and are widely offered online.
But they are particularly sought after in Thailand, where skin-whitening ads have caused outrage and accusations of racism on social media.
One Facebook user posted: “The obsession. People nowadays can’t embrace their own skin colour.”
Another posted: “Oh God! Whatever happened to the world?”
But a patient who had his penis whitened said: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs.”
