One of the funnier scenes in the first Austin Powers movie involves Powers being caught owning a penis enlargement pump. However, penis size, to an active man, isn’t comical at all and it’s estimated that 98% of men would opt for penile enhancement—lengthening or widening—if they could. Can they?

Methods of Enlargement

Products

Penis enlargement products are easy to find—from pumps and pills to weights and exercises—there are numerous products on the market touted as having the potential to enlarge the penis. Whether or not they work is another story.

According to CNN, there are approximately four basic types of non-surgical procedures that men seek out for penis enhancement:

• Stretching or squeezing manually—A regimen of 30 minute a day exercises for an indefinite period. This is seen to be safer then other methods, but can lead to pain, scars and disfiguration.
• Penile weight stretching—May cause permanent damage.
• Vacuum pumps—This method pumps blood into the penis to make it swell and may be helpful with impotence. It creates the look of a larger penis at the time, but isn’t permanent.
• Pills and lotions—Involves taking substances like vitamins, minerals, herbs or hormones like testosterone.

Surgery

In 1991, phalloplasty, or penile enlargement surgeries, started gaining popularity and since that time, thousands of men have sought out surgeons willing to perform the procedure.

Despite the popularity of this procedure, the first thing to understand is that there is no government agency or even the well-known board certified members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) that approve of this procedure unless performed for a medical reason.

Nevertheless, men still seek out penile lengthening and/or widening surgeries.

Lengthening the penis involves snipping the suspensory ligament that attaches to the pubic bone. When that is completed, the surgeon moves the skin from the abdomen to the penile shaft. The ligament stabilizes and gives an upward tilt to an erect penis.

Widening the penis involves suctioning fat from the fleshy part of the body and injecting the fat into the penis. Another method involves grafting fat from the buttocks or abdomen onto the penile shaft.

Warnings

These surgical procedures are considered an optional surgery so they are not covered by insurance most of the times and can cost up to $17,000, depending on the procedure, with the average procedure costing $10,000.

Many statements have been issued by the American Urological Association, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons that are against cosmetic surgery procedures to enlarge the penis.

There are also postoperative complications like infections, damage to the tissue or nerves and side effects from the anesthesia.

Why this Surgery?

According to the Mayo Clinic, many men think their penis is small when, in fact, it’s normal. Men also seem to believe that increasing the size of their penis will make them a better lover.

Most professionals, however, agree that being a better lover involves communicating with your partner, getting in shape, and perhaps even talking to a doctor or counselor about any self-esteem issues. It isn’t always all about size.

(Article by: Donna Corrado)

Considering plastic surgery? Contact a board certified plastic surgeon near you today to schedule a consultation.