Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, Volume 2, March 19, 1999

www.ejhs.org

PENILE AUGMENTATION SURGERY

CHAPTER 7

SUMMARY

This study has collected and analyzed data using a nine page questionnaire to describe men who have had penile enlargements, why they undergo an experimental procedure, and whether or not the surgery has any effect on their sexuality.  The conclusions were mixed.  The men did attain an increase in their actual penis size and perceived their penis to be larger than before surgery but approximately half of them had experienced problems or infections.  The patient's self-concept did not improve but the reasons for having the surgery in the first place were scattered and brief.

The cornerstone of this study is to find out whether or not the surgical procedure was worth the time, money and pain.  This is not clear due to the abundance of subjectiveness surrounding penis size in general.  Each man who is considering one of the surgical procedures mentioned in this study has to decide for himself whether or not it is worth it. This report should provide some data for this decision.

An interesting question to ask is what would influence the men's decisions, either way, who are interested in a penile augmentation.  If they were able to talk with the doctor and their staff as long as they needed in order to feel comfortable, would that help increase or decrease business?  Would the men reconsider if they knew there was a chance their frequency of masturbation would lower?   One way to know these things is to take the results from this study and create an intake questionnaire that could be given to the future patients during an initial interview.  Some doctors would appreciate knowing more about their patients to decrease the chances of future complaints or lawsuits.  The time spent with a counselor would be an added expense for the patient.  The time and effort may allow the men to reconsider the procedure.  Often the men just want to know if they are average or how to better satisfy their partner.  This is a job for a sex therapist, not a surgeon.

FUTURE RESEARCH

One doctor was planning to start requiring intake evaluations done by a resident sexologist who can answer questions responsibly about all aspects of the enlargement surgery and what to expect afterwards.  This could be made into a necessary step prior to surgery that could cut down on problem cases.  Hopefully, this program will be implemented, documented, and the results published.

Plastic surgeons often perform both breast augmentations and penile augmentations.  If the procedures are performed by the same doctor and staff, many variables are eliminated.  Are they done for the same reasons?  How do the subjects perceive themselves?  How do they perceive the size of their breasts or penis?  How important is sex to them?  Some interesting comparisons can be made by a simple questionnaire that could be distributed to future patients during an initial interview.

UPDATE

Everyday doctors who perform penile augmentations are discovering new ways for their patients to attain better results.  Since this study, Dr. C has been dividing the lengthening and girth enlargement into two separate surgeries.  This was done to decrease the number of cases in which the suspensory ligament attaches to the pubic bone, causing signficant loss of length, and to increase the blood supply to the area when the dermal grafts are inserted.  The lengthening procedure is done first.  During the six-to twelve-month separation, the patient will have concentrated on gaining maximal length with the help of weights.  The dermal fat graft procedure can then be done without compromising the blood supply due to the excision of ligaments at the base of the penis.

Patients are instructed to continue a healthy lifestyle and are given medication and nutritional substances to enhance the healing process and reduce scarring.  The weights should be continued four to six weeks after the dermal graft surgery.

Return to Table of Contents