Surgical Procedures for Improving Performance

Penile enlargement is often associated with improving sexual performance but it is also something that can give men confidence and actually transform their lives. For the many thousands of men who suffer from erectile dysfunction, finding a solution can be a huge relief. Penile enlargement, although potentially very risky, may provide this well needed answer.

Options for Enlarging the Penis

Surgery: Often regarded as the most, and sometimes only method for enlarging the penis, surgery to enlarge the penis, of phalloplasty, is a highly specialised area requiring the patient to discuss at length all of the possible outcomes and associated risks. The types of surgery available can include lengthening the penis, widening the girth, or altering the glands within the penile structures. Often these procedures are performed together, allowing the patient better results post-surgery. To lengthen the penis, the ligament that supports the base of the penis is cut allowing for any penile tissues that have remained inside the body to fall forward. Widening the girth often requires the use of grafts or 'fillers'. The surgery can be performed as a day patient, though each surgeon and anaesthetist will assess each patient individually. The procedures are usually carried out under general anaesthetic but widening procedures have been done under local anaesthetics in some hospitals.

As with all surgeries and anaesthetics there are many risks which are increased if there is any medical history. As the results for this procedure may not be beneficial in all cases the NHS will not normally provide funding for these procedures and private hospital costs can vary significantly depending on location, reputation the surgeon and the type of procedure that has been selected.

Pumps: Penile pumps were designed to help men with erectile dysfunction gain and maintain an erection. The device is normally shaped to fit over the penis and is attached to either a hand pump or an electrical source that applies the suction. Once the erection has been achieved, a penile ring is placed at the base of the penis to sustain the erection allowing the person to enjoy intercourse. The pumps can be bought from sex shops and off the internet and vary in size, colour shape and function. Care must be taken not to apply too much suction as this may cause the blood vessels to weaken or even rupture.

Drugs: There are many drugs available that claim to enlarge the penis. Many of these purely help the man achieve and maintain an erection without actually adding any length or girth increase. These drugs can be bought from magazines, from the internet, from catalogues or from some sex shops. They are not guaranteed to work and may in some cases be very dangerous to use as they have not been regulated or approved by any governing body. They can be expensive and may interact badly with any existing medications that are being taken. These drugs are often advertised as safer, non-invasive and more natural methods of enlarging the penis but this is not necessarily true. Many claim to contain testosterone but there is no scientific evidence that these have any benefit of enlarging the penis.

Exercises: One particularly well known form of supposedly being able to enlarge the penis is using a procedure called jelquing. This method requires the person to manually 'milk' the blood from the base of the penis to the main shaft aiming to perfuse the tissues with blood and gain an erection. If an erection is achieved there is no evidence that it will be any bigger than a normal erection that has occurred naturally. This technique can be painful and cause friction to the shaft of the penis.

There are no guaranteed methods of enhancing the length or width of a penis, and many of these procedures can be extremely costly. If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, please speak to your GP who may be able to suggest some medications that can help, or diagnose a possible cause of the dysfunction.