If you have a penis, it's normal to wish it were bigger. But we have some good news for you: Research has shown that many people who worry about the size of their junk are actually totally normal or average in size. Unfortunately, there’s a common misconception that's reinforced by mainstream porn that a bigger penis means more pleasure for your partner—but this couldn't be more wrong. A study from 2017 concluded that a combination of deep kissing, genital stimulation, and oral sex are more likely to get a person with a vulva off—and none of those things require you to be well-endowed. There's also an outdated notion that a bigger penis is linked to how manly you are, which makes no sense, especially considering that not all men even have a penis to begin with.
The takeaway? If you have a penis, it's probably fine just the way it is. That said, if you are curious about increasing the size of your member, there are a few options. They're painful, expensive, and some of them are not even guaranteed to work; still, here are 10 of the currently available methods for making your penis bigger, ranked from bad to slightly less terrible. (Note: with the exception of non-invasive techniques such as shaving your pubes and losing weight, Men's Health does not endorse any penis-lengthening technique without first consulting a physician.)
Los Angeles-based surgeon Dr. James Elist claims to be the only surgeon in the world performing a specific type of operation that can increase penile length and girth using a silicone implant known as Penuma. Elist claims to add an average increase of 1.5 inches in length and 2.5 inches in girth, and he’s already inserted 1,300 of these implants. The problem: at $13,000, the surgery is costly, and patients are at risk of infections or implant breakage.
Jessie Cheung, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, adds, “Getting a penile implant is like having a permanent erection, which can hinder movement.” Just imaging going for a jog erect…
Some surgeons can lengthen the size of a man’s penis by cutting a ligament, which can help it hang out a little further. Of course, this comes with serious risks, like scar tissue, painful erections, infection or loss of sensation or function. Plus, it costs upwards of $9,000 and studies have shown the procedure adds roughly half an inch, which usually falls short of patients’ expectations.
Cheung notes it may be difficult to maintain an erection and actually achieve penetration in certain positions after penile plastic surgery.
With this procedure, surgeons can liposuction a patient’s own fat and transfer it into the shaft of the penis using a syringe. Guys could possibly end up with a slight increase of less than an inch in length, just over an inch in width, and a heavier member. The results are not permanent and your penis could shrink back to its original size over time. Additionally, as with any surgical procedure, there are still risks involved. Case in point: a 30-year-old patient died following a penis enlargement surgery after fat traveled into his lungs, causing his breathing to stop.
A relatively new method, this procedure involves separating out your platelet-rich plasma and injecting it into your penis, supposedly stimulating blood flow to make your member appear larger.
“The classic P-Shot protocol includes mechanical pumping for several weeks, which stretches the suspensory ligament to increase length and improve circulation," Cheung explains. “Enhanced P-Shots with stem cells and exosomes are also very popular in my practice, as there are more rapid and durable improvements in functionality and size.”
But for now, there’s simply not enough research to make this a good long-term option.
There are a few devices men can wear daily underneath their clothes to gradually stretch the penis and add length and/or girth. Two of the earliest devices, the Andro-Penis and the Golden Erect, are still used today.
Some experts think these devices may be effective, and a very small study from 2015 showed the Andro-Penis added roughly half an inch in length. In another Men's Health story, Stoddard tried RestoreX, a penis extender designed for men with Peyronie's disease (which he does not have). After using it for just under a month, he found his penis to be approximately half-an-inch longer.
Still, Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, a urologist in Florida, doesn’t think the discomfort and possibility of scarring is worth the risk.
Think of a penis sleeve like a costume for your junk; it won't change the size of your actual, physical penis, but when you put it on, you'll have a bigger overall package to work with.
Also known as a cock extender, a penis sleeve is a device that slides onto your junk like a condom, except it's bulkier and typically made from silicone. They were originally developed for medical purposes—including helping men with erectile dysfunction engage in penetrative sex—but these days, plenty of people use them as sex toys, too. “They increase girth and length and can have nubs or ribs on the external or internal wall to provide stimulation for either partner,” Cheung previously told Men's Health.
If you're not up for stretching or injecting your way to a bigger penis (we get it), you can at least make your penis look bigger—and an easy method is shaving your pubic hair. Think about it: If your member is shrouded in a tuft of pubes, it'll look smaller than if it's visible in its full glory. Here's everything you need to know about pubic hair, including tips for shaving it.