Penis Enlargement: How Does it Work?

Penis enlargement usually refers to any method that is meant to increase the maximum penis or erection size.

But – many people get confused between methods that are meant to increase maximum penis or erection size, and methods that are meant to help you reach maximum erection size if you are not able to.

Increases maximum penis or erection size:

• Cosmetic surgery

Helps reach maximum erection size:

• Pills like Viagra
• Creams like Vitaros
• Penis pumps
• Pelvic floor exercises
• Penile implant surgery

Not proven to work:

• Jelqing
• Natural remedies or supplements

Penis size

According to the NHS:

• The average penis size in the UK is around 9cm (3.5 inches) when soft, and 13cm (5.1 inches) erect.
• A micropenis is a penis that is 7cm (2.7 inches) or lower when soft.
• 45% of men are not satisfied with their penis size.
• Men with an average sized penis are more likely to be dissatisfied with their size than men with smaller than average penises.
• Penis size can be a source of anxiety and discomfort for men, even if their penis size is considered to be “normal”. If you need support with your mental health because of your penis size, it’s a good idea to talk to a sex therapist.

There’s 2 main types of penis enlargement surgery, penis lengthening and penis widening.

Penis lengthening surgery – this type of surgery makes the penis longer while it’s not erect (flaccid). To increase the length of the penis, a surgeon would cut one of the ligaments (suspensory ligament) which attach the penis to the hip bone (pelvis or pubic bone). This drops the angle of the penis, which makes it longer when it’s flaccid. On average, successful penis lengthening surgery increases the length of the flaccid penis by 0.65-1.8cm. But, there’s no change to the length of the penis when it’s completely erect.

Penis widening surgery – to widen the penis, a surgeon can take fat from other parts of the body and transplant it into the penis. Or, they can put implants into the penis to make it wider. On average, this type of surgery can increase the girth (circumference) of the penis by 1.5 to 3.35cm when flaccid or 1.2 to 2.75cm when erect. There are some drawbacks to this type of surgery. If you opt for a transplant of fat, over time the body can reabsorb 30% of the fat that’s been injected into the penis in the first 2 months. This can make the girth of the penis smaller again. Some men also experience scarring or changes in the shape of their penis. There is also penile implant surgery but this is not for increasing maximum penis size and is only meant to help men improve erections when other erectile dysfunction treatments haven’t worked.

Can I get penis enlargement surgery in the UK? Private – most people getting penis enlargement surgery will have to pay privately for their procedure. There are a number of doctors who can give consultations for penis enlargement, and clinics that specialise in these surgeries in the UK. To find specialists and clinics, search online or see these links:

Top Doctors list of penis enlargement medical specialists

Consulting Room list of penis enlargement clinics

Please note that Superdrug does not endorse, or have any affiliation with, any of these specialists or clinics.

NHS – you can only get penis enlargement surgery on the NHS if you’ve got a micropenis (less than 7cm) which would usually be diagnosed shortly after birth. So, very few men can get penis enlargement on the NHS.

How much does penis enlargement surgery cost? – Penis enlargement surgery is an expensive option, but it can be hard to find out exactly how much it will cost as many clinics do not make their prices available before having a consultation. These clinics will typically charge a £100 - £250 consultation fee.The cost of penis enlargement surgery varies depending on the clinic, the type of surgery, and the intended results. Where prices were available:

• Penis Enlargement Injections: £1,000 - £2,500
• Girth Enlargement Surgery: £2,500 - £6,000+
• Length Enlargement Surgery: £2,5000 - £6,000+

Surgeries to increase both length and girth can cost significantly more, but these prices were not typically available without a consultation.

Before and after

The following sites have before and after galleries for penis enlargement surgeries:

• Laserpenoplasty.com
• Androfill.co.uk
• Drelist.com

Research shows that the success rates of penis enlargement surgeries are not clear and patient satisfaction rates are low, with only 35% of men being satisfied with the results and 8% of men having serious complications from their surgeries.

There are some devices that are believed to increase maximum penis or erection size, but there is no evidence proving they work.

Penis pumps

Penis pumps are devices that use air or water pressure to improve blood flow into the penis to improve erections.

Many people don’t understand that penis pumps do not make your penis bigger. They help men to get erections and reach their natural maximum erection size, but they do not increase the maximum size of your penis.

Penis extenders

Penis extenders are devices that are used to stretch your penis while it is flaccid, which is supposed to increase the length of your penis over a long period of time.

There are two main types of penile extenders:

Weight – small weights are attached to the penis, which stretches it. This can cause serious damage to the penis.

Traction – traction devices are frames that clamp onto your penis, which you can then adjust to extend it. This seems to be the safest type of penile extender, and reportedly has better results.

These devices are typically supposed to be worn for 6 hours a day, every day, for up to 6 months to see results. It is not clear if these devices actually work or are safe to use, and the NHS does not recommend starting this type of treatment without first discussing it with a doctor.

There are no exercises that will make your penis bigger, but some exercises can help you reach your maximum erection size if you can’t already.

Jelqing

Jelqing is a kind of penis massage technique that is believed to help increase the size of your penis and improve your erections. Jelqing is meant to cause micro-tears in the tissue of your penis, which increases the length and girth as these tears heal. But, there is no evidence that it has any real effect. Some men have reported changes to the way their penis looked, and even permanent damage, after trying this method.

Pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises, like kegels for men, won’t increase your maximum erection or penis size but can help you reach your maximum erection size if you can’t already. Kegel exercises strengthen muscles around the penis which are used for erections. Kegels are done by tensing and holding these muscles repeatedly. These exercises are a proven treatment for men for erectile dysfunction.

There are no pills that will make your penis bigger. Retailers selling pills that are advertised to increase penis size are making false claims. Buying these kinds of products is a waste of money and can be dangerous if they aren’t properly regulated.

There are pills like Viagra, and other PDE5-inhibitor medications, that can improve your erections. These medications increase the amount of blood flow to the penis, which helps you get a stronger and longer-lasting erection.

There are no creams that will increase your penis size. Similar to penis enlargement pills, products claiming to do this are not trustworthy and are most likely unsafe to use. In the best case you would be wasting your money on these creams, in the worst case these creams could cause damage to your penis.Similar to erectile dysfunction pills, there are also creams like Vitaros that can help you reach your maximum erection size.

Any ‘natural’ remedies or herbal supplements that are marketed to increase maximum penis or erection size are falsely claiming to do so.There are some supplements that are believed to help you reach maximum erection size. They include: