Penis Enlargement
Advice
Penile
Enlargement: Fact or Phallacy?
By Steven Gange , MD, FACS
Ask the Experts
Ads for penis enlargement
aids, such as vacuum devices and pumps, rarely offer scientific
proof, yet many men spend money on such products hoping for
penile enlargement. They are falling prey to one big misconception
that they have a smaller than average penis.
Misconception: The Small Penis
Men in general have a distorted view of what’s normal
for penile size. The fact is, "average" was not
defined until recently. A study published in the September
1996 Journal of Urology concluded that average flaccid penile
length was 8.8 cm (3 1/2 inches), and average erect length
was 12.8 cm (5 inches). Also, according to many women’s
magazine surveys, "size doesn’t matter." But
many men remain fixated on the ideal of the 8- to 10-inch
penis.
Some men don't even realize what they have. For example, obese
men develop a suprapubic fat pad that conceals the penis,
making it look shorter. Pressing firmly on this fatty tissue
reveals the true penile length. I often explain this to patients,
but a man who is convinced his penis is too small is hard
to convince otherwise.
Occasionally a perception
of inadequate penile length is a manifestation of underlying
feelings of inadequacy in general. In these instances, psychological
counseling may prove helpful.
When
Surgery Is Warranted
Certain men suffering from urologic conditions may need plastic
surgery on the penis: those with traumatic defects; those
whose penises have retracted following a spinal cord injury;
those born with a condition called epispadius (a severe penile
deformity with associated shortening); and some men with Peyronie’s
Disease (scarring of the penile shaft resulting in severe
angulation and occasionally shortening). For these men, surgical
procedures are available to give the penis additional length
and a more normal appearance. However, these procedures, even
in the best of hands, often result in wound infection or other
healing complications. Sexual function may be impaired, and
an artificial penile prosthesis may need to be inserted at
the time of such surgery.
Enlargement
Surgery: Still Experimental and Risky
Within the past 10 years, some surgeons have attempted purely
cosmetic penile enlargement surgery on healthy men to enhance
both length and girth of the penis. This surgery usually involves
cutting the band of tissue that holds the penis up against
the pubic bone (the suspensory ligament), and then injecting
fat, harvested by liposuction, beneath the penile skin to
add bulk. The surgery is still experimental: Two recent studies
(one in 1994, the other in 1996) published in the Journal
of Urology reported significant complications resulting from
this surgery -- serious wound infections and penile deformity,
such as lumpiness and asymmetry. In fact, the surgery is still
so controversial and yields such poor results that it is considered
generally unacceptable by both the plastic surgery and urological
communities.
In addition, such procedures are expensive, costing up to
$10,000 in some instances. Penile enlargement is not a simple
undertaking and is usually not medically necessary. If you
choose to pursue surgical enlargement, be sure to check the
credentials of your surgeon (e.g., board certification) and
carefully weigh the risks and potential benefits.
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