The Penuma Implant Makes the Difference

In my practice as a urologist and surgeon specializing in penile aesthetic enhancement, I see many patients who have tried other penile enlargement options before coming to me and seeking the Penuma implant. I am so often left bewildered and saddened by how ineffective and even dangerous and damaging these other treatments can be. Therefore, it is important to understand what some of these other treatments are and why they should be avoided, so that you don't make the mistakes that so many others have by pursuing them over the past years.

Jelqing, Clamping, Pumping – Long-Term Negative Effects

A) Jelqing basically describes a practice in which the hand is used to stretch the penile tissue vigorously. To do so, the index finger and thumb are placed at the base of the penis, and a squeezing and stretching motion is then applied. This causes the blood to flow to the tip of the penis and expands the tissue, thus temporarily stretching the flaccid penis. This method can be uncomfortable and painful. It can cause irritation, bruising, collection of fluid under the penile skin, and damage to the penile skin as well as possible penile shortening and curvature. Over time, it could even compress and damage the nerves and decrease penile sensation.

Several studies have shown that jelqing is not a real long-term solution. A?2011 study ?in the?Journal of Sexual Medicine?suggested that one extreme jelqing method, in which a penile extension device is worn for nine hours a day for three months (!) might add an inch to the length of the penis while flaccid. Only 25% of participants in the study reported success, which was temporary. The penis returns to its original length as soon as the extreme jelqing method is stopped.

Two other studies that examined the process of extreme jelqing yielded similar results. A?2013 review ?in?Therapeutic Advances in Urology and a?2016 review ?in?Translational Andrology and Urology both did not reach any scientific conclusions, yet showed poor end results. There is even less empirical evidence about basic jelqing exercises having any real effect on penis girth or length.

B) Clamping is another technique in which blood is prevented from leaving the penis. A clamp or ring is placed at the base of the penis during an erection, which causes the tissue to expand beyond its capacity and eventually temporarily increase penile girth. The risks associated with clamping are similar to those of jelqing. The clamp or ring can also be uncomfortable and cause pain. In addition, clamping can damage the nerves, vessels, and veins. It can also cause fluid accumulation in the penis and ultimately interfere with your ability to achieve and maintain an erection.

C) Unlike the previous two approaches, pumping requires more equipment. The apparatus used is a cylinder placed around the penis, with a tension ring at the base and an attached pump. The pump draws air or water from the cylinder and creates a vacuum that brings blood into the penis. Once the tension ring is removed, an erection is achieved.

It is important to note that there is a difference between commercial pumps and pumps designed for medical use, such as the Vacuum Erection Device (VED). Pumps designed for medical use can be utilized under the watchful eye of a medical professional for mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, but it is ineffective for penile enlargement. Penis pumps not only do not have the support of clinical studies, but they deprive the penis of oxygen, which can cause bruising, numbness, penile skin discoloration and damage, and can cause an accumulation of fluid under the penile skin.

Traction Therapy

This method involves attaching weights to the penis and stretching it. Although it may make the penis seem longer temporarily, it could damage the nerves and injure the penile tissue. Once the practice is stopped, the penis returns to its original size. Therefore, I believe the risks far outweigh any temporary benefits.

ED Pills and Oral Supplements Do Nothing to Help Penis Size

On March 27, 1998, the FDA approved the use of Viagra, an oral medication that treats impotence. It revolutionized men's sexuality and became the drug to most quickly surpass the $1 billion annual sales mark. The benefits of Viagra, Cialis, and similar prescription medications are well documented, and they have been known to help with erectile dysfunction. However, they do not help with penile enlargement—they do not increase penis size and should only be used to attain and maintain quality erections.

Another misconception is that "natural" products like Horny Goat Weed, L-Citrulline, and L-Arginine help with penile enlargement. These are gimmicks and highly misleading. First of all, there have not been any long-term studies to determine the effectiveness of these products. It is also not possible to trace the product to see where it goes and the area in which it is most effective. I have written before about another concern related to the use of oral supplements. The FDA has discovered trace amounts of prescription drugs like Viagra in these so-called natural supplements, which could be dangerous to some. These supplements are referred to as "tainted" and could have a very bad effect. At best, supplements like these will simply increase blood flow to the penis—an effect that will end as soon as you stop taking the supplement. They attempt to engorge the penis for an erection, but there is no temporary or permanent penile enhancement

Fat Transfer Surgery

In the late 1990s, a group of plastic surgeons attempted to increase penis girth by injecting fat from other areas of the body into the penis. Some of the patients died during the operation when the fat was mistakenly injected into the core of the penis (i.e., the corpus cavernosum), causing a fat embolism. This procedure has been greatly discouraged by the American Urological Association (AUA) . In later experiments, urologists inserted fat graft under the skin of the penis. Due to the lack of vascularity in that area, the fat begins to contract and thus shrink size of the penis. These fat insertions resulted in the development of deformities, such as the appearance of nodules, on the penis and, consequently, have had unacceptably high rates of complication.

Suspensory Ligament Release

This is another penile enlargement method discouraged by the AUA . In this procedure, the ligament that connects the penis to the pubic bone is at least partially severed. The theory was that cutting this ligament would make the penis appear longer. However, without the ligament, the penis is not supported and retracts. The penis can also retract because of the scar tissue formation resulting from the procedure.

Men who have gone through this treatment often do not truly understand the damage that it can cause. Sex can become quite difficult, resulting in endless attempts to maneuver to more comfortable sex positions with one's partner.

Nearly all patients that I have seen that have had this procedure arrive at my door complaining that the procedure had actually made their penis shorter and retracted. Nevertheless, the procedure continues to be marketed.

Injections and Insertions

In other flawed efforts to increase penis girth, some surgeons use AlloDerm, a treatment for burn victims made from cadaver fascia. This material is rolled up and inserted under the skin. Because vascularity cannot be maintained with this procedure, the penis contracts, the penile skin is permanently insulted/damaged, and other deformities are likely to develop. Similar issues are experienced with fillers like silicone gel and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). These fillers are mostly made up of water, which becomes absorbed by the penis and can cause marble-like deformities, nodules, and other disfigurements. The same can be said about Hyaluronic Acid (HA). While it is a treatment that may sometimes be appropriately used on other parts of the body, such as for facial wrinkles and folds, it has never been cleared by the FDA for use on the penis, and it can also cause the formation of nodules as well as lumps there.

Why Penuma Is Different

Penile prostheses have been around since the 1960s and are extensively available. Some are constructed with flexible silicone that can be manually manipulated, and others involve a pump inside the scrotum that allows for an erection to be achieved. However, these prostheses were created to treat erectile dysfunction. They are not suitable for penile enlargement.

Penuma , on the other hand, is the world’s very first silicone penile implant cleared by the FDA for cosmetic enhancement. Penuma does not need to be manually activated, and is also removable. The Journal of Sexual Medicine published a review of Penuma in 2018 after a survey was conducted that included 400 patients treated over a period of five years. The vast majority of patients reported satisfaction, an increase in self-confidence and self-esteem, and close to a 60% increase in penis size.

Please note that before pursuing any treatment, you should first consult with your surgeon who is acquainted with these procedures. Nothing in this post should be construed as medical advice, a treatment, or a diagnosis. That said, it is important to be mindful of the difference between Penuma and all the other penile enhancement treatments out there.