Penis Lengthening Surgery
Penis Lengthening Surgery (the severing of the Suspensory ligaments, ‘ligamentolysis’) is available at the Androfill Clinic or an Androfill approved provider.
Surgery will only increase the flaccid length of the penis, no increase in the erect length of the penis is possible.
Surgery involves cutting the suspensory ligaments (shown in the diagram below), to allow more of the penis to protrude or hang down from the body when flaccid.
From the image below, you can visualise the impact that cutting some of the suspensory ligament (in yellow) from the penile shaft (in red) and pubic bone (in grey) will have on the length of the visible penis.
The flaccid penis will hang further down, and the patient will become more of a ‘shower’ than a ‘grower’. The increase in visible penis length in the flaccid state is between 1/3 of an inch to 3/4 of an inch.
The increase in penis length in the erect state is zero, as the penile shaft, in pink, is not lengthened by the procedure.
Results: Increase in Flaccid Length
Treatment outcomes are patient dependent, and individual results may vary. An experienced doctor can inform you of the limits of the procedures, and the fine balance to be achieved between maximum penis length and optimal penis function.
Added penis length in the flaccid state: 1.0 – 2.0 cm (0.3 inches – 0.75 inches)
Added penis length in the erect state: Ligamentolysis does not result in increased erect length
* Individual results may vary from person to person
“As the penile shaft is not made longer by the procedure, there will be no increase in erect length. Any increase in erect length is due to the compulsory use of a penis extender device following lengthening surgery, rather than due to the surgery itself.”
Penis Lengthening Surgery is completed under general anaesthesia. After the surgery medication is given to control the pain, however, most men do not require it for any longer than 5 days following surgery.
Attention must be paid to post-operative instructions given by the surgeon in order to keep the extra length gained by the surgery. It will be necessary to wear weights or a traction device on the penis and wrap your penis for up to 8 weeks following surgery.
This is required during the day only and will not be visible under normal clothing, for example, an office suit. Patients usually take 1 week off work following surgery, but this can depend on the type of work you do.
Heavy work such as in the building trade may require additional time off. Sex must be avoided for at least 1 month following surgery and high-impact sports should not be engaged in for at least 6 weeks. Penile lengthening is a surgical procedure requiring careful consideration.
Risk 1.
The long term satisfaction rate is low (33% satisfied patients).
“The [penis lengthening] procedure led to an average increase of 1.3 cm in flaccid penis length.
However, only 35% of men who had the operation were happy with the results.” [Emphasis added].
Referenced Study: European Urology
Result:
“Penis length surgery involves cutting the ligament with which the penis is attached to the pubic bone and grafting added skin to the base to increase length. This will increase the size of the flaccid penis by up to 2cm, but it doesn’t affect the size of the erect penis. The cut ligament may also not provide the support it originally did, which means that you might find your erections less satisfactory as a result. There is also a risk that this type of surgery may cause the side effect of pain during sex.” [Emphasis added].
Risk 2.
Penis Lengthening Surgery is considered by some important medical bodies not to have been shown to be safe or effective.
“The American Urological Association considers the division of the suspensory ligament of the penis for increasing penile length in adults to be a procedure which has not been shown to be safe or efficacious [effective].” (emphasis added).
Board of Directors, January 1994
Board of Directors, January 1995 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, September 1995 (Revised)
Board of Directors, January 2001 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, February 2006 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, October 2008 (Revised)
Board of Directors, October 2013 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, October 2018 (Reaffirmed)
Risk 3.
It can make Sex uncomfortable.
NHS – Penis Length Surgery
The most common technique involves cutting the ligament that attaches the penis to the pubic bone and performing a skin graft at the base of the penis to allow for the extra length. Professor Wylie says the surgery can result in an average gain in length to the flaccid penis of 2cm, but there will be no change to the size of the erect penis.
Furthermore, the erect penis won’t point as high as before the operation because the ligament which was cut no longer offers support.
“A lot of men who have this treatment don’t truly appreciate this loss of angle,” says Professor Wylie. “It can make sex quite uncomfortable. You’ve got to do a lot more manoeuvring with your partner. The advantage of a 2cm gain in flaccid length is far outweighed by the loss of angle of erection.”
Professor Wylie
The ligaments that stabilise your penis are partially cut.
These ligaments function to lift and stabilise your penis when erect.
After lengthening surgery the penis can be less stable horizontally and vertically.
There can also be scarring and infection.
Risk 4.
It can leave scarring.
To access the penis suspensory ligaments an incision has to be made, as shown below.
When all healed the scarring is partially covered by the pubic hair, however some of the scarring will always be visible.
Examples of scarring from penis lengthening surgery are below.
Scarring may not be an issue to you, for example, if you are married or in a long-term relationship and your partner knows about your penis lengthening surgery.
In this case, the scarring is unlikely to cause you any embarrassment.
If you are a young man and expect to have numerous sexual partners during your lifetime, then it would be worth considering whether you will feel comfortable explaining the scars under your pubic hair to current and future sexual partners.
Risk 5.
The most common complication is Penile Shortening.
Unfortunately penile shortening is the most common complication of penis lengthening surgery (ligamentolysis).
“Penile shortening is a major complication of penile lengthening surgery, usually resulting from the freely hanging penis reattaching to the pubic bone located higher on the corporal bodies. The likelihood of this complication can be minimised by the placement of surrounding soft tissues, fat tissues, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, Gore-Tex, and other artificial materials.” [Emphasis added].
Nam Cheol Park, Kim, Moon, Penile Augmentation 2016
The risk of ligaments reattaching can be lowered by inserting a silicone buffer to help prevent ligaments from reattaching and the penis shortening.
In a small number of cases, the silicone buffer can become infected and may need to be surgically removed.
Wearing a penis extender for 8 hours per day for 1 year after surgery can also help to prevent retraction and penis shortening after surgery.
It is worth purchasing and wearing a penis extender for an extended time before your surgery, to see how it feels and to make sure that wearing one after surgery will not be too uncomfortable for you, or disrupt your normal routine.
Explanation:
If you don’t wear a penis extender after penis lengthening surgery, the ligaments are likely to reattach to the penis shaft, further down towards the head, making your penis shorter than before surgery.
Surgeons have tried to prevent penile shortening and reattachment by inserting plastic or Gore-tex into the gap between the penile base and the pubis, with varying levels of success.
Before having penis lengthening surgery, first buy a penis extender, to make 100% sure you can wear it for 8-10 hours per day, as part of your normal everyday routine. You’ll need to wear an extender every day after lengthening surgery.
Risk 6.
Infection.
Infection is a major risk of penis lengthening surgery.
In some cases the results can be severe.
In the field of medicine, penis enlargement surgery remains controversial.
It has among the highest rates of reported complications, and, among the lowest rates of long-term patient satisfaction when participants are questioned about their outcomes over a long-term horizon. Some of the reasons not to go ahead with penis enlargement surgery are outlined in the following links provided by the NHS and various Urology Journals.
European Urology (2008) Link
“…the use of cosmetic surgery to enlarge the penis remains highly controversial. There is a lack of any standardization of all described procedures. Indications and outcome measures are poorly defined, and the reported complications are unacceptably high. In our opinion, until new, reliable, and more objective and reproducible data are available, these procedures should be regarded as investigational and patients should be discouraged from undergoing these invasive treatments.”
UK NHS Link
There is an inordinate amount of misinformation regarding penis enlargement surgery on the internet and in popular culture. We have sought to address some of the most common misconceptions on the page Penis Enlargement Fact vs Fiction.
Penoplasty surgeons will often neglect to inform patients of some risks and limitations of penis enlargement surgery.
In many instances it is not explained to the patient that penis lengthening by suspensory ligament division is only effective in achieving increased flaccid penis length: in the erect state, no gain in length is s possible.
All prospective patients should read widely on the subject of penis enlargement, particularly the surgical approaches, before committing to a procedure. Our non-surgical procedures may be a better option for those who do not wish to accept the risk of higher than normal levels of reported complications; the invasive aspect of surgery, and the lengthy recovery time.
Information from government sources or industry associations is worth considering, as the information often provides an independent perspective on the pros and cons of penis enlargement surgery. We recommend searching online for cases in which penis enlargement surgery has not been successful, in order to be fully informed of the risks and limitations. The possible downside risks to surgery are real, potentially severe, and occur not infrequently.
Penis enlargement has become safer and more effective in recent years. It is possible to undergo a lower risk enlargement procedure for penis thickening using dermal fillers proven in facial aesthetics, and supported by peer-reviewed research, such as those based on Hyaluronic Acid. This procedure is available at our London Harley Street address.
There is a wealth of information available to those considering undertaking penis enlargement surgery, including in our medical literature section. Our surgeons are experienced in dealing with all aspects of male genital surgery and will clarify any questions you may have.
Methods for additional Flaccid Length
By adding penis filler to the penis the patient can achieve almost the same amount of increased flaccid length as can be achieved by the ligamentolysis procedure (commonly known as penis lengthening surgery).
Penis-lengthening surgery is not suitable for the majority of patients given the risks of this procedure, the limited benefits, and the effective alternatives available.
A penis extender device (below) is also an option to increase flaccid and erect penis length.
Short Answer: Penis Lengthening Surgery won’t make the ERECT penis any longer, it only makes the FLACCID (soft penis) hang out lower from the body.
This point is often misunderstood, and it is not well explained in most cases.
Penis Lengthening Surgery involves cutting through ligaments which work like elastic bands, pulling the penis back up inside the body after losing an erection and going limp.
These ‘elastic bands’ are anchored at one end to the pubic bone and at the other end to the penis shaft. During an erection, the bands are stretched out to their maximum length. After losing the erection the ligaments pull the penis back up inside the body causing it to retract inside and appear smaller.
Cutting through these elastic bands means there is nothing left to pull the penis back up inside the body after losing an erection, therefore, it hangs out at nearly its full erect length, giving the illusion of a longer flaccid penis.
As the penis shaft itself has not been made longer, there is no increase in erect length.
A photograph of the anatomy of the penis ligaments is attached here. Warning the photo may be disturbing to some.
In order for the erect length of the penis to be increased surgically, the penile shaft itself (in pink below) has to be lengthened. This involves dividing the penis in two and grafting new tissue into the middle. It is invasive and expensive, with a cost of approximately £40,000.
Because the penis shaft hasn’t been made any longer (highlighted in yellow above), you will not gain any erect length.
After penis lengthening surgery you must wear a penis extender every day for 1 year to prevent reattachment of the ligaments.
If any minor increase in erect length is observed by the patient during the year following surgery, it is due to the wearing of the penis extender rather than the surgery.
“A penis extender, or liposuction of the pubic fat pad, are the only options that work if the patient is seeking additional erect length.”
Alternative methods to increase your erect penis length are:
Method 1. Wear a Penis Extender for a very long time, there is some evidence that you will gain length.
Method 2. Liposuction of the fat below the abdominal region.
(An excellent method if you are overweight)
For men with a large stomach, liposuction to remove fat below the abdomen (area highlighted below in blue) can make the penis protrude further out from the body, making it appear longer.
The stomach can be so large as to partially bury the penis.
Patient’s who are obese may find that a lot of their penis is hidden away under excess fat.
This fat can be removed by the surgeon to bring more of the penis out.
(Blue area highlighted is where fat is removed from).
Penis lengthening surgery is not popular among mainstream doctors and Urologists.
As it has not been shown to be safe or effective, and as it is cosmetic surgery, it is not available from the NHS.
American Urological Association statement of Penis Lengthening Surgery (division of the suspensory ligament).
The American Urological Association considers the division of the suspensory ligament of the penis [penis lengthening surgery] for increasing penile length in adults to be a procedure which has not been shown to be safe or effective.
Board of Directors, January 1994
Board of Directors, January 1995 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, September 1995 (Revised)
Board of Directors, January 2001 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, February 2006 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, October 2008 (Revised)
Board of Directors, October 2013 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, October 2018 (Reaffirmed)
NHS: “A lot of men who have this treatment don’t truly appreciate this loss of angle,” says Professor Wylie. “It can make sex quite uncomfortable. You’ve got to do a lot more manoeuvring with your partner. The advantage of a 2cm gain in flaccid length is far outweighed by the loss of angle of erection.”
Short Answer: 35% satisfaction rate
Unfortunately, satisfaction rates with penis lengthening surgery are not high. A 7-year study by St Peters Andrology Centre in London (link) found that only 35% of patients were happy with the results after penis lengthening surgery.
We believe this is down to poor technique, and mis-selling of the benefits of penis lengthening surgery (for example by claiming it makes the erect penis longer).
Explanation:
“The [penis lengthening] procedure led to an average increase of 1.3 cm in flaccid penis length.
However, only 35% of men who had the operation were happy with the results.”
Source: NHS referenced study 2006.
“Penis length surgery involves cutting the ligament with which the penis is attached to the pubic bone and grafting added skin to the base to increase length. This will increase the size of the flaccid penis by up to 2cm, but it doesn’t affect the size of the erect penis. The cut ligament may also not provide the support it originally did, which means that you might find your erections less satisfactory as a result. There is also a risk that this type of surgery may cause the side effect of pain during sex.”
Short Answer: Unfortunately penile shortening is the most common complication of penis lengthening surgery (ligamentolysis).
But only if the ligaments reattach. We always use a silicone buffer to help prevent ligaments from reattaching and the penis shortening.
In a small number of cases the silicone buffer can become infected and may need to be surgically removed.
Wearing a penis extender for 8 hours per day for 1 year after surgery also helps to prevent retraction and shortening of the penis.
Make sure you are familiar with wearing a penis extender before your surgery and are convinced that wearing one for this length of time will not disrupt your normal routine.
Explanation:
If you don’t wear a penis extender after penis lengthening surgery, the ligaments are likely to reattach to the penis shaft, further down towards the head, making your penis shorter than before surgery.
Surgeons have tried to prevent penile shortening and reattachment by inserting plastic or Gore-tex into the gap between the penile base and the pubis, with varying levels of success.
Before having penis lengthening surgery, first buy a penis extender, to make 100% sure you can wear it for 8-10 hours per day, as part of your normal everyday routine. You’ll need to wear one after lengthening surgery.
“Penile shortening is a major complication of penile lengthening surgery, usually resulting from the freely hanging penis reattaching to the pubic bone located higher on the corporal bodies. The likelihood of this complication can be minimised by the placement of surrounding soft tissues, fat tissues, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, Gore-Tex, and other artificial materials.”
Nam Cheol Park, Kim, Moon, Penile Augmentation 2016.
Short Answer: Yes, a V, Y or Z-shaped scar.
This is what the scarring looks like (UK and EU clinic photos 2011-2018).
UK Penis Lengthening Surgery in 2016. BBC Television
Germany – Penile Lengthening 2016
Germany – Penile Lengthening 2016
Explanation:
If you are in a long-term relationship, and your partner knows about your penis lengthening surgery, then scarring may not cause you any embarrassment.
If you are a young man and expect to have numerous sexual partners during your lifetime, then ask yourself whether you will feel comfortable explaining away the scars under your pubic hair; in the shape of the letters V, Y, Z.
A scar will need to be made to cut the ligaments. It won’t be fully hidden by your pubic hair.
Androfill Non-Surgical Penis Enlargement
Complications – Penis Enlargement Surgery
About the author Dr Gary Horn
Dr. Gary Horn is the founder of Androfill and is responsible for all website content. Dr. Horn is a registered Plastic Surgeon in the United Kingdom and Belgium.
Dr Gary Horn is a highly acclaimed Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Uro-Andrologist with over 25 years of experience.
Dr Horn has published widely in international journals and is regularly invited to give lectures and to perform live surgery and non-surgical procedures.
Dr Horn has been filmed by the BBC for the Plastic Fantastic series.
In 2016 Dr Horn was filmed performing penis enlargement surgery for a BBC documentary The Penis Extension Clinic
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