Many of the male enhancements of modern medicine involve invasive procedures or astringent prescriptions. The side effects associated with these methods are often life threatening. Penis enlargement is usually ineffective through non-medical procedures such as ineffective pills, exercises, or even worse, manipulations that brutalize the penis.

The following male enhancement alternatives detail how the methods work.

Penis Pumps

The penis pump is placed over the penis. It creates a vacuum around the penis to force blood into the erectile tissue. Commonly used by men diagnosed with diabetes or circulatory disorders, penis pumps stretch the skin and underlying tissue of the penis. Strapped to the penis, the penis pump is clamped to shut off blood flow. Sexual activity is achieved for a short period of time. Misuse of the penis pump can cause serious malformations broken capillaries and/or veins, rupture of the veinous system potential impotence, poor urination flow and rips in the the distensible blood spaces of the corpora cavernosa. (Permanent penis enlargement is not achieved.)

Stretching Devises

The majority of stretching devises are medical phallic appliances for the promotion of tissue health following surgery. For men who have had penile surgery, a stretching device is effective within 24-36 hours of surgery. Stretching devises are unnecessary and only useful to alleviate or correct adhesion/scar buildup.

Weight Hanging

For over 2000 years, men have been hanging weights from the penis. Dating back to the Egyptian pharaohs, the method has been practiced for the purpose of penis enlargement. Contrarily, weight hanging does not work. Although the method may lengthen the size of the penis, over a long period of time, the thickness is decreased. Depending upon the weight of the hanging device, blood circulation decreases, which can result in necrosis (death) of the tissue.

Surgical Procedures

The term for penis enlargement surgery is "phalloplasty." Over the last ten years, phalloplasty, has grown in popularity. According to male genital surgery specialist, Dr. E. Douglas Whitehead, more than 40,000 men world-wide have undergone penis enlargement surgery. In the United States, approximately 5,000 men a year have phallosplasty for cosmetic purposes. Suspensory Ligament Removal, Fat Transfer and Dermal Graft Augmentation are the most common penis enlargement surgeries.

Suspensory Ligament Removal

Suspensory ligament removal is a lengthening procedure. It entails making a small incision just above the base of the penis and releasing the suspensory ligaments that support part of the penis inside the body. Because the suspensory ligaments work to hold the penis upright during erection, the removal causes the penis to directly hang down. Although the 1.5" in length increase is immediate, the penis loses its ability to stand suspended when maintaining an erection. The ligaments are repositioned, allowing the penis to move forward.

Fat Transfer

Another enlargement surgical procedure is a Fat Transfer. The technique can expand the girth 30 to 50 percent in circumference. Fat is removed from either the lower abdomen or inner thighs. Next, it is purified and placed under the skin around the shaft of the penis. In certain cases during the first several months, the relocated fat can be re-absorbed by the body resulting in a reduction in the size of the penis to its original state. (Fat transfer is considered an experimental high-risk procedure.)

Dermal Graft Augmentation

In the dermal graft augmentation, strips of skin with fat on the under-surface are removed from low-visibility areas of the body. Usually, the skin removal takes place from areas where there are natural body creases The grafts are positioned to meet under the skin and around the entire shaft to eliminate visible ridges. The augmentation adds between 30 to 50 percent of girth in circumference. Next, the strips are inserted under the skin of the penis through two small incisions.

Penis enlargement programs

In targeted areas of the penis, natural enlargement programs achieve results. Proper exercise of the penile organ allows the male to control his ejaculations, and even become multi-orgasmic. Exercise is effective because it works the Corpora Cavernosa to improve length. Furthermore, the Corpus Spongisum and Cavernosal artery improve girth. Penile exercises offer more benefits other than length and girth gains. The penis is able to perform better when it can retain more blood.

**The American Urological Association considers the techniques used in penis enlargement surgery to be of high risk. The safety and efficacy of the procedures has not been evaluated or established.

Statements regarding the male enhancement alternatives have not been fully evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.