Most worries about penis size are related to perception, but some people pursue surgery to make their penis bigger. Risks include infection and scarring.
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Penis enlargement surgery is surgery to make your penis appear bigger. Surgery is just one way that people may try to do this.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
You may see procedures trying to enlarge (augment) your penis by doing the following:
There may be medical reasons for seeking an enlargement surgery if you have micropenis or a buried penis. Micropenis, or a very small penis, is a congenital condition (one you’re born with). A buried penis refers to a penis hidden under the skin from your stomach, thighs or scrotum. This can be congenital also or can happen when you get older.
People with these conditions often seek surgery to restore a functional penis. These functions include:
In most cases, though, people interested in penis enlargement surgery aren’t satisfied with the appearance of their penis. Even though they are able to urinate standing up, or have penetrative intercourse, they still worry that their penis isn’t long enough or wide enough. They might think that both length and girth aren’t adequate.
This problem is primarily one of perception because most people have penises that are capable of doing what the penis was meant to do: engage in sexual activity and urinate (pee) standing up. While many people occasionally wonder whether their penis size is normal, some people have persistent and bothersome concerns about their penis size which can affect their daily life (their work, their personal relationships and their overall mood).
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If you notice that worrying about your penis size is affecting your life, but a doctor told you that your penis size is normal, you may have conditions such as penile dysmorphophobia disorder (PDD) or small penis anxiety.
Before penis enlargement surgery, like any surgery, you’ll have to answer questions to see if you’re eligible for the procedure. These questions may include:
There are different types of procedures used to make penises appear bigger. However, there are very few methods that work reliably well to increase penile size or length. Marketing materials will often use misleading “before and after” photos to draw in potential clients. Commonly performed procedures include:
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Depending on which type of procedure you have, your provider may perform treatment in an office setting or in an operating room.
Your provider will give you instructions when you leave the office or the operating facility.
You may have pain medication.
The type of procedure you had done will dictate how long you are home from work or school and how long you have to wait to be able to resume sexual activity. For some of the more invasive procedures, this may be as long as six weeks.
There are several risks or “cons” to these types of procedures, including:
Some procedures do result in increases in penis length and/or girth. If you have reasonable goals and expectations of the procedure you choose, then you may feel more confident and self-assured than before.
The type of procedure you have will affect when you can go home and when you can return to work. The type of work that you do will also affect when you can go back to work.
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Keep scheduled follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider. Call your provider if you have any symptoms that worry you, especially signs of infection, such asfever, reddened or swollen skin or problems urinating.
It’s not wise to put lotions, creams or devices on your penis without the approval of or recommendation from your healthcare provider. Most of these “treatments" don’t work and some may actually be dangerous. For instance, using weights on your penis to make it longer may damage your penis. If health experts haven’t evaluated certain products for safety such as creams, lotions or supplements, don’t use them.
Penis enlargement remedies that people may be considering include:
Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider in detail before trying any of the remedies listed above.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
If you’re not satisfied with how your penis looks and you’re considering penis enlargement, make sure you spend enough time talking with your surgeon about the outcomes. You’ll need to be realistic in your expectations and should realize that serious complications are possible. Due to the risk for complications such as scarring, infection, pain, loss of penile sensation and erectile dysfunction, many surgeons don’t recommend surgery for a penis that is adequate in size. However, for some people, surgery may be an option especially if they have issues with urinating, sexual intercourse or hygiene.
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Last reviewed on 07/25/2022.
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