Penis Lengthening Surgery
A surprisingly large percentage of men are unhappy with the size (length or girth) of their penis. Taking advantage of this lack of self confidence and self esteem, there are hundreds of treatments available that promise to increase penile length. From pills and creams to exercises and devices, men who are in the market for penile enlargement have a dizzying variety of treatments to choose from. However, unfortunately, most of these treatments do not work. Worse still, some of them can cause serious side effects including erectile dysfunction or impotence. But what about surgical penile lengthening procedures? Can a penis enlargement surgery increase the size of your organ? Is it safe? How much does it cost? Continue reading to get the answers to all your questions.
What is the normal length and girth of a penis?
Penises come in various sizes and shapes and there is nothing that is considered normal or abnormal. However, based on large studies, the average flaccid length of the human penis is 9 cm or 3.5 inches. The average erect penis is roughly 13 cm or 5 inches. The average penis is 9 cm or 3.5 inches in girth when flaccid and roughly 11.5 cm or 4.5 inches when erect.
According to the Urology Care Foundation and the American Urological Association, any penis that is longer than 7.5 cm or 3 inches when stretched is considered normal. Men with a penile length less than 7.5 cm may have a condition called micropenis. For the vast majority of men, a penis enlargement surgery is not medically necessary.
What is penis enhancement surgery?
A penis enlargement surgery is a surgical procedure that is performed to increase penile length and/or girth. Penis enlargement can be achieved in various ways, including fat transfer, silicone implants, and skin grafts.
In most individuals, a penile lengthening surgery is performed for cosmetic reasons. However, in a small number of individuals with a condition called micropenis, the procedure is medically necessary to allow normal standing urination and satisfactory sexual intercourse.
The majority of men who are unhappy with their penile length actually have a penis that functions adequately for urination and sexual intercourse. In such individuals, a penile lengthening procedure is considered a cosmetic surgery.
It is worth noting that a penis enlargement procedure to increase penile length or girth does not treat sexual conditions like erectile dysfunction, which is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
How does the procedure increase penile length?
There are a few different types of penis enlargement surgery by which a surgeon can attempt to increase the length of the penis.
Silicone implants
A silicone sleeve implant can be inserted under the skin of the penis to increase penis size. The implant makes the penis appear longer and wider and enhances a man's self confidence. The Penuma implant for men is an FDA-cleared penile implant that gives natural looking penile lengthening results. The implant does not interfere with penile function. Moreover, the surgeon can contour the implant to the shape and size of an individual's penis. The penile elongation can thus be customized with this type of penis enlargement surgery. What's more, this type of penile lengthening or shaft enhancement surgery is reversible. The procedure itself takes 45-60 minutes to complete and is an outpatient procedure. Most men can return to normal activities after 2-4 days of recovery time.
Autologous fat transfer
This is a type of penis enlargement surgery involves harvesting fat cells from one part of the body and injecting them into the penis shaft to increase its length and width. The fat is usually obtained from the thighs or abdomen, purified, and inserted through small incisions into the penis. It is worth noting that a significant percentage of the injected fat is reabsorbed by the body in the 1-2 months following these types of penile augmentation procedures. Surgeons, therefore, inject increased quantities of fat to take into account this expected partial absorption. A fat transfer penile augmentation surgery is particularly effective for girth enhancement of the penile shaft.
Suspensory ligament division
In this penile elongation procedure, a small incision is made in the lower abdomen and the suspensory ligament which attaches the penis to the pubic bone is cut. The procedure, which is also known as a ligamentolysis, releases the flaccid penis from the pubic bone and makes it appear longer without actually increasing the flaccid or erect penile length. A division of the suspensory ligament is sometimes performed in combination with other procedures like removing fat from around the penis for an illusion of increased penile length, and thereby, improved self esteem.
What to know before penile elongation surgery?
Men who are considering penile lengthening procedures should be aware of certain things, some of which are listed below.
- Men who are not already circumscribed are typically required to undergo circumcision before penile enlargement.
- The penis enhancement surgery usually takes 45-60 minutes to complete and is an outpatient procedure. You can go home the same day of the procedure but will need someone to drive you home.
- Penis enlargement surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia. You will be asleep during the procedure and will not experience any pain. However, you may have some discomfort, pain, and swelling for a few weeks after the procedure during recovery.
- You will need to return to see your surgeon a few days after the penile augmentation to ensure everything is healing up nicely.
- Men who undergo penile lengthening or girth enhancement typically need to abstain from intense physical activity for 4-6 weeks. They also need to avoid masturbation or sexual activity for 6-8 weeks after the procedure to allow the tissues to heal.
Is penile augmentation effective?
According to leading experts in the fields of urology and cosmetic surgery, no penile lengthening surgery is safe and effective. However, when performed by an experience surgeon, serious complications are unlikely, but the risk is not zero.
The Penuma implant for men is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared procedure for increasing penile length and girth. Cosmetic penis enlargement using a combination of silicone implant and fat transfer is also reported to be associated with good patient satisfaction rates.
Fat transfer alone is less effective and many men find that the injected fat is reabsorbed so that any penis enlargement that was achieved is lost in 6-12 months. Similarly, suspensory ligament division has not provided consistent favorable results and is not a procedure that is recommended by leading bodies and experts in the field of cosmetic surgery.
What are the safety concerns and risks of penile lengthening?
Besides the general risks of anesthesia and surgery such as bleeding, infection, swelling, and pain, surgeries performed to increase penis size are associated with additional risks, including:
- Pain with erections.
- Loss of penile sensation.
- Scarring.
- Perforation, rupture, or infection of an implant.
- Formation of blood clots in the penile tissue.
How much does penis enlargement surgery cost?
The Penuma implant for penile elongation costs approximately $15,000 (prices can vary in different parts of the world). It is worth noting that Penuma and other cosmetic penis enlargement surgeries are not covered by insurance since they are elective treatments.
Finding a provider for penis enlargement
If you are one of the many men who are unhappy with their penile length, there are various options available to you. To ensure that you receive the right advice and treatment, it's important to consult an experienced urologist and/or cosmetic surgeon who has performed penis enlargement surgery on many patients. The MeTime app makes it easy to find cosmetic surgeons who offer penile lengthening procedures in your area. You can click and upload pictures with complete confidentiality, chat with experts, schedule a video consult, and have suggestions sent directly to you. Learn more about your options, including fat transfer, silicone implants, or suspensory ligament surgery to increase erect penile length and girth. Download the MeTime app now!