Dick Enhancement: Does Penis Enlargement Work?

Ah, yes, one of the most popular topics for internet searches, ads, spam emails, and sex colmns: is my dick big enough?

Men obsess over penis size in unhealthy ways. It’s nothing new. One can imagine that the first metric of measurement could just as easily have been created for scientific purposes as for penis measuring. 

We’re going to assume you’re reading this because, like almost every man, you’re worried about whether you’re big enough. And we’re certain that if you’re not wondering, you’re still here because, for almost everyone, it could always be bigger, right?

Before we launch into the world of penis supplements, surgeries, and gimmicks, we should probably address the elephant in the room: penis size. 

It’s important because, as one Harvard Medical School advice column addressed, penis size is a concern of men and boys alike, from adolescence on.

In the column, a father wrote about his son’s concerns about penis size as a result of having small feet. That link between shoe size and penis size, by the way, has been refuted, but the stigma stands. 

Here’s the truth. The average penis size is probably smaller than you think, and self-measuring may be biased.

According to one 2014 review, the average erect penis length is about 5.2 inches, with a circumference of about 4.6 inches. The average flaccid penis size is around 3.6 inches from base to tip, with a circumference of around 3.7 inches.

But you shouldn’t jump to any conclusions about whether your penis measures above or below these figures. Chances are, your partner doesn’t care as much about your penis size as you do.

For example, according to one survey of 170 women, the majority (55 percent) found the length of the penis “unimportant” and 22 percent “totally unimportant.” Only 20 percent of women found the length of the penis important, and only one percent found it “very” important.

Nonetheless, if you still want to know how to increase the size of your genitals, keep reading to learn about the wonders and woes of penile augmentation.

There are a variety of penis enlargement procedures out there. Some focus on increasing penile length, and others promise more penile girth. 

Some tactics men use to increase their penis size include:

• Pills and lotions

• Vacuum pumps (penis pumps)

• Traction devices

• Jelqing (penis stretching)

• Fillers and injections

• Penile enhancement surgery

Pills and Lotions

Non-surgical options include pills and creams, which typically contain vitamins, minerals, herbs, or hormones that claim to enlarge the penis, but as per an FDA warning, you should be extremely careful when considering these types of enhancement drugs. 

They’re often completely unregulated and generally lack support from the scientific community.

Vacuum Pumps (Penis Pumps)

Other non-surgical options include vacuum devices (penis pumps). These devices use suction to increase blood flow into the penis, helping you to get and maintain an erection for sexual activity.

Though they have some short-term value in treating erectile dysfunction (ED), there’s little evidence they can offer long-term size gain. 

Penis pump users should avoid overusing these devices, which can damage the tissue in the penis and eventually lead to weaker erections. 

Traction Devices

Similar to pumps are traction devices, or penis extenders, which stretch the flaccid penis. These devices hold the penis in a cradle and subject it to traction forces that can result in a longer and straighter penis.

These devices are most effective when treating patients with Peyronie’s disease (penile curvature). Like penis pumps, they also carry risks of side effects, though they’re usually mild and temporary. They include pain, bruising, skin irritation, and swelling.

Jelqing (Penis Stretching)

Jelquing is a stretching method in which you pull or massage the tissue of your penis with light and consistent pressure for up to 20 minutes. The goal is to create micro-tears in the penis (ouch) which are meant to increase penile length when the tears heal.

If you’re wondering why there are no pamphlets in your urology office about jelqing, that’s because no reputable urologist would claim that jelqing works. There’s no scientific evidence backing this technique.

Fillers and Injections

Fillers may seem like a typical plastic surgery procedure you reserve for your face while chasing the fountain of youth. But apparently, you can put them in your penis, too.

During a filler procedure, a provider may inject silicone, hyaluronic acid, or collagen into your penis to increase girth. Or, you can opt for fat injections, in which they inject fat cells into your penis from another site on your body.

Another type of injection is penis growth hormone, but these are typically given to children with testosterone deficiencies and micropenis. There is no evidence that human growth hormone or testosterone injections can effectively increase penis size in adults.

Side effects of fillers and girth injections include infection, swelling, hypersensitivity, redness, and even penile disfigurement.

Penile Enhancement Surgery

Surgical procedures for penis enlargement are varied — and have varying success. 

One type of procedure involves cutting a ligament that attaches the penis to the pubic bone to increase length. But studies show it doesn’t lengthen the penis more than an inch.

Some men turn to penis prosthetics (an inflatable device) or implants (like Penuma®). A Penuma implant is made of silicone and inserted below the skin to create extra girth.

Liposuction is another type of procedure in which fat is removed from around the abdomen, giving the appearance of more penis. This can be helpful for men with buried penis, where the abdomen protrudes over the penis, creating the illusion that it’s not there.

So, is any of this stuff worth it? Probably not. 

In 2020, the journal Sexual Medicine Reviews published a systematic review of both surgical and nonsurgical treatments for penile enhancement, and it’s generous to say that the review was damning. The article stated in no uncertain terms that evidence is “lacking” and many “non-evidence-based” solutions are available.

Of the 21 types of tactics assessed and the over 1,100 men screened, they found very little evidence of success for these treatments and found the quality of these studies to be poor.

It gets worse when you see the details. 

According to the review, non-surgical extenders increased flaccid length (but by less than 2cm). Injectables increased girth but were associated with a high complication rate. And vacuum devices didn’t increase penile size at all.

When it came to surgeries like suspensory ligament incision, tissue grafting, and penile disassembly, some men reported a size increase, but complications were common.

Even more, the study authors concluded that when it was provided, counseling changed minds. The majority of men accepted that their penis was normal and were unwilling to undergo any further treatment after simply talking with a healthcare provider. 

In other words, this review highlights that counseling made most men realize the treatment was unnecessary for their happiness.

Whether you have a micropenis or just think you do, the main takeaway from this study is that you should try counseling first. Leave injectables and surgery as a last resort.

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: penis enlargement is, by and large, an overwhelmingly unnecessary and (in many cases) dangerous undertaking. Remember:

• The average penis size is probably smaller than you think. And some research shows that your partner cares less about your penis size than you do.

• There are many penis enhancement options, but not enough evidence that they improve sexual function. Options include pills, lotions, traction devices, vacuum pumps, fillers, and surgery.

• Penis enhancement methods are either a waste of time or way too risky. A more effective way to deal with penis size issues is to get some counseling and work on raising your self-esteem.

Here’s the thing: Worrying about your penis size can carry some steep consequences. Feelings of inadequacy often lead to performance anxiety, which can be a trigger for an issue that does require medical attention: erectile dysfunction. 

If you have ED, there are treatments that can help. They include therapy, healthy lifestyle changes, and prescription medication.

Instead of focusing on enhancing the way your penis looks, pivot to enhancing your sexual health. Schedule an ED consultation online with a healthcare provider to get started.