The internet is rife with products, devices, exercises, weights, pills, and surgeries that promise to increase the size of a man’s penis. In reality, there is no safe, reliable way for a man to make his penis larger.

Some products and techniques that purport to enlarge the penis are vacuum penis pumps, penis weights, stretching exercises (called jelqing), penis traction devices, supplements, and creams.

There is no scientific evidence that supports the use of any of nonsurgical method to increase the length and/or girth of a man’s penis, and penis enlargement procedures come with the risk of complications that can seriously damage the penis. As such, these procedures are not recommended for cosmetic purposes and are generally reserved for individuals who have had a problem with their penis since birth, or those who have experienced a serious penile injury.

One procedure that may be done in an attempt to increase penis size is the injection of silicone, soft tissue fillers, or fat from another part of the body into the penis. This technique can lead to unsatisfactory results for patients as the substances may be spread unevenly or move within the penis, sometimes leading to penile curvature or deformities. Injections can also cause issues with erection firmness, scarring, and/or penile sensitivity.

Tissue grafting is another procedure that may be used to make the penis thicker. For this procedure, a skin graft is taken from another area of the body and sewn onto the shaft of the penis. Again, this surgery can cause complications such as erectile dysfunction (ED), scarring, penile deformities, and infection.

Penile implants that are designed to enhance the size of the penis may lead to ED, penile curving and/or infection, and scarring. (This does not apply to inflatable penile implants, which are a treatment for ED).

Lastly, cutting the suspensory ligament that attaches the penis to the pubic bone may make the penis appear longer as more of the penis hangs down, but this can cause erections to become less stable and increase a person’s risk of penile injury, especially during sex. Additionally, sometimes the ligament repairs itself, the result of which may cause the penis to look even shorter than it did originally.

Given all the major complications associated with penile enhancement procedures, they are not recommended for men who are dissatisfied with the size of their penis unless they have a medical condition such as micropenis that prohibits them from being able to have penetrative sex.

Furthermore, many men who are not satisfied with the size of their penis actually have a perfectly normal-sized penis. The average penis length is between 4.7 to 6.3 inches when erect. Therefore, better treatment alternatives for men who are unhappy with the size of their normal-sized penis may include talking with their sexual partners, exercising regularly to reduce body fat that may be making the penis look shorter than it is, and psychological counseling.

References:

• Cleveland Clinic. (2022, July 25). Penis Enlargement Surgery. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23530-penis-enlargement-surgery
  
  
• Furr, J., Hebert, K., Wisenbaugh, E., & Gelman, J. (2018). Complications of genital enlargement surgery. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 15(12), 1811-1817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.10.007
  
  
• Mayo Clinic. (2022, June 10). Penis-enlargement products: Do they work? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/sexual-health/in-depth/penis/art-20045363
  
  
• Vardi, Y., Harshai, Y., Gil, T., & Gruenwald, I. (2008). A critical analysis of penile enhancement procedures for patients with normal penile size: surgical techniques, success, and complications. European urology, 54(5), 1042-1050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2008.07.080