Penis Enlargement Surgery: Cost, Overall Risks, Effectiveness

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Sexual Health

Explore more in ED

Related Topics

Causes & Risk Factors
Causes & Risk Factors
Related Articles
- Causes & Risk Factors
- Porn
- Alcohol
- Semaglutide
- Beta-Blockers
- Performance Anxiety
- Statins
- Dehydration
- High Cholesterol
- Drug Use
- Over-Exercising
- Xanax
- Ambien
- Smoking Cigarettes
- Chlamydia
- Zoloft
- Post-Vasectomy
- Low Testosterone
- Stress and Anxiety
- Masturbation
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Related Articles
- Diagnosis
- Erection Self-Test
- Blood Tests
Diet
Diet
Related Articles
- Diet
- Libido-Boosting Foods
- Beet Juice
- Watermelon
Home Remedies
Home Remedies
Related Articles
- Home Remedies
- Herbs
- Exercises
- Horny Goat Weed
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Natural Treatments
- Essential Oils
- Korean Red Ginseng
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- L-Arginine
- Yoga Poses
- Ashwagandha
- L-Citrulline
- Magnesium
- Melatonin
- L-Tyrosine
Treatment
Treatment
Related Articles
- ED Cream
- Ayurvedic Medicine
- Best Male Enhancement Pills
- ED Pills Online
- Generic Viagara
- Chewable Medications
- Treatment
- PDE5 Inhibitors
- Viagra
- Penis Pumps
- Over-the-Counter Medication
- P-Shot
- For Seniors
- Viagra Alternatives
- Injections
- Shockwave Therapy
- ED Doctors
- PRP
Management
Management
Related Articles
- Best Penis Sleeves
- Delay Ejaculation
- Management
- Marijuana Use
- ED Pump
- Reversing ED
- Weight Loss
- Best Penis Pumps
- ED Ring
- Acupuncture
- Hypnosis
Related Conditions
Related Conditions
Related Articles
- Related Conditions
- Overactive Bladder (OAB)
- Peyronie's Disease
- Premature Ejaculation
- Sterility
- Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Bladder Cancer
- Parkinson's Disease
Surgery
Surgery
Related Articles
- Surgery

Penis Enlargement Surgery: How Much Does It Cost and Is It Worth the Risk?

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — Written by Tim Jewell — Updated on February 28, 2019

How it works
Side effects and risks
Success rate
Takeaway

Penuma is a type of penis enlargment surgery that involves inserting a piece of silicon under the penis to make it longer and wider. It does not have approval as a treatment for erectile dysfunction and is unlikely to be covered by insurance. It can be expensive.

How much does it cost?

Penuma is the only penis enlargement surgery cleared for commercial use under the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 510(k) regulation. The device is FDA-cleared for cosmetic enhancement.

The procedure has an out-of-pocket cost of about $15,000 with an upfront $1,000 deposit.

Penuma is currently not covered by insurance, and not cleared to treat erectile dysfunction.

James Elist, MD, FACS, FICS, of Beverly Hills, California, founded the procedure. He’s currently one of the only two certified practitioners.

Read on to learn more about how the Penuma procedure works, the risks, and whether it’s proven to successfully enlarge a penis.

How does this procedure work?

The Penuma is a crescent-shaped piece of medical-grade silicone inserted under your penis skin to make your penis longer and wider. It’s provided in three sizes: large, extra-large, and extra-extra-large.

The tissues that give your penis its shape are composed largely of two types:

Corpus cavernosa: two cylindrical pieces of tissue that run parallel to each other along the top of your penis
Corpus spongiosum: one cylindrical piece of tissue that runs along the bottom of your penis and surrounds your urethra, where urine comes out

Your Penuma device will be designed to fit your specific penis shape. It’s inserted into your shaft over the corpus cavernosa, like a sheath.

This is done through an incision in your groin area just above the base of your penis. The device stretches the penis skin and tissues to make your penis look and feel larger.

According to Dr. Elist’s website, people who have had the Penuma procedure report increases in length and girth (measurement around their penis) of about 1.5 to 2.5 inches, while flaccid and erect.

The average male penis is about 3.6 inches long (3.7 inches in girth) when flaccid, and 5.2 inches long (4.6 inches in girth) when erect.

The Penuma could enlarge the average penis up to a length of 6.1 inches when flaccid, and 7.7 inches when erect.

Things to consider

Here are some key facts about the Penuma surgery:

If you aren’t already circumcised, you’ll need to do this before the procedure.
You can go home the same day as the procedure.
You’ll need to arrange a ride to and from the procedure.
The procedure generally takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
Your surgeon will use general anesthesia to keep you asleep during the procedure.
You’ll return for a follow-up visit two to three days later.
Your penis will be swollen for a few weeks after the surgery.
You’ll need to abstain from masturbation and sexual activity for about six weeks.

Are there any side effects or risks?

As with any surgery, risks are associated with the use of anesthesia.

Common side effects of anesthesia include:

nausea
vomiting
exhaustion
hoarse voice
confusion

Anesthesia can also increase your risk of:

pneumonia
heart attack
stroke

The Penuma website reports that you may experience pain with erection, and some loss of penis sensation, during the first few weeks. These are usually temporary.

If these side effects last for more than a few days, see your doctor. In some cases, removing and reinserting the Penuma can alleviate these side effects.

According to an evaluation of men who underwent this type of surgery, possible complications include:

perforation and infection of the implant
stitches coming apart (suture detachment)
implant breaking apart
blood clots in penile tissue

Also, after surgery your penis may look significantly bulkier or not shaped to your liking.

Make sure you discuss realistic expectations for your penis appearance with your surgeon before you have the procedure.

Is this procedure always successful?

According to the Penuma website, the success rate of this procedure is high. Most side effects or complications are purportedly due to people not following surgical aftercare instructions.

The Journal of Sexual Medicine reported on a surgical study evaluation of 400 men who underwent the Penuma procedure. The study found that 81 percent rated their satisfaction with their results at least “high” or “very high.”

A small number of subjects experienced complications including seroma, scarring, and infection. And, 3 percent needed to have the devices removed due to problems following the procedure.

The bottom line

The Penuma procedure is expensive, yet some may find it worthwhile.

The makers of Penuma report a high rate of customer satisfaction with the implants and increased levels of self-confidence. For some, it can also result in unwanted, sometimes permanent side effects.

If you’re concerned about the length and girth of your penis, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend nonsurgical options that can help you achieve your desired result.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

510(k) premarketnotification: Elastomer, silicone block. (2018).https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?id=K042380
Eken A, et al.(2014). Isolated rupture of the superficial vein of the penis. DOI:https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.1712
Elist JJ, et al.(2018). A single-surgeon retrospective and preliminary evaluation of the safetyand effectiveness of the Penuma silicone sleeve implant for elective cosmeticcorrection of the flaccid penis. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.07.006
Lemperle G, et al.(2015). A retrospective evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of asilicone block implant for elective cosmetic surgery of the penis.http://smsna.org/V1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=265&abstract_id=145
Veale D, et al.(2014). Am I normal? A systematic review and construction of nomograms forflaccid and erect penis length and circumference in up to 15,521 men. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.13010
Yap T, et al.(2015). PD2-01 buried penis in adults — Presentation, surgical techniques andoutcome. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.184

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — Written by Tim Jewell — Updated on February 28, 2019

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

Sexual Health

Related Topics

Causes & Risk Factors

Related Articles

Diagnosis

Related Articles

Diet

Related Articles

Home Remedies

Related Articles

Treatment

Related Articles

Management

Related Articles

Related Conditions

Related Articles

Surgery

Related Articles

How much does it cost?

How does this procedure work?

Things to consider

Are there any side effects or risks?

Is this procedure always successful?

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

related stories

Read this next

Contact