Penile lengthening may be a locker room goal for many men, but it isn’t the only game in town.
Vaginas are having a moment, largely because of the availability of energy-based feminine rejuvenation devices, and it seems to be turning into something of a movement.
What was once talked about only in hushed tones (namely vaginal laxity, incontinence, and other down-there issues) is now increasingly talk-show fodder.
And all of that enthusiasm may be having some spillover effects on men.
“Women want to have designer vaginas, so men want the perfect package,” says Jason Emer, MD, a dermatologic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California.
Here are four male enhancement procedures that some plastic surgeons now offer.
Scrotox, anyone?
As the name suggests, Scrotox refers to injections of Botox (or an alternative neuromodulator) to smooth wrinkled skin in the scrotum area.
And there’s more: “It also decreases sweating of the genitals and groin, which can cause chafing and irritation, especially in men who run, marathon, or bike,” says Dr. Emer.
The pain is minimal, and the results last for three or four months.
Scrotum lifts and the things we do for love
Fillers and other minimally invasive procedures can achieve only so much.
Sometimes doctors need to bring out the big guns (i.e., surgery) to achieve a fully transformative result. This is as true with male enhancement as it is with any other type of cosmetic procedure.
When Scrotox is not enough, a scrotum lift or reduction might be in order, says Dr. Emer. These procedures tighten, lift, and reduce the scrotum’s excess skin.
Essentially, the surgeon removes scrotal skin down the middle, between the testicles, for a smaller scrotal sac.
In the past, this procedure was reserved for reconstruction of the scrotum due to abnormalities, injury, or cancer treatment, but men are now turning to it for aesthetic reasons.
“Guys who have extra skin — like a ‘turkey neck’ on their balls — can have small slivers of the skin removed to reshape the scrotum and reduce its size so the balls don’t swing as much during exercise,” Dr. Emer explains. “This also helps reduce irritation during intercourse, for both the patient and his partner.”
“Some men have excess skin that connects to the penile shaft, making the penis appear small. Removing this skin or displacing it to the proper location at the base of the shaft makes the penis looks larger and gives the scrotum more control,” he adds.
Although results are more dramatic than those achieved with Scrotox, surgery does confer some risks, namely infection.
‘SWAG’ enlargement: go big or go home?
As a rule of thumb, the average penis measures three to five inches when not erect and between five to seven inches when erect, according to the Mayo Clinic.
From pills and potions to weights, pumps, and other devices, there is little most men wouldn’t at least try if they could add an inch or two to their manhood.
Penis enlargement surgery can add slightly more than one inch. In general, the surgeon cuts the ligaments that hold the penis in its usual position by the pelvic bone. This allows a little more of the shaft to show so the penis looks larger.
Penile implants are an option to increase the girth of the penis. This can be done using implanted fat, silicone implants, or tissue grafts. Some men even hang weights on their penis in the hopes of building muscle mass. Think of it as strength training… for your penis.
Manhattan-based double board-certified plastic surgeon, David Shafer, MD, FACS, has another solution. The Shafer Width and Girth (SWAG) penis enlargement procedure is a minimally invasive office-based procedure for instant penis enlargement.
“In the SWAG procedure, I use Juvederm Voluma XC, which is made from a naturally-occurring moisture molecule in the body,” he says. “Of all the hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, Juvederm Voluma XC is the thickest and gives the best and longest-lasting results for penis enhancement.”
Before he starts, he numbs the area. “The procedure is essentially pain-free.”
Penises come in all shapes and sizes. “The SWAG procedure enhances size, whether a man is small and wants enhancement, or large and wants to be even larger,” he says.
That’s not to say SWAG is for every man. Patients who have syndromes such as “hidden penis,” when a normal-sized penis is hidden under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or scrotum; or “micropenis” when the penis is so small that there really is nowhere to inject, are not candidates for the procedure.
(FYI: A penis is considered abnormally small if it measures less than three inches.)
SWAG isn’t risk-free, either. “As with any injection procedure, there is a small risk of bruising and swelling which are both temporary,” Dr. Shafer says. “One of the great things about using Juvederm Voluma XC is that it is reversible, so if a person wants it removed, an enzyme can be injected and the product melts away within about 24-hours.”
The customizable and reversible procedure “leaves no scars, is pain-free, is instant, and has amazing patient satisfaction ratings,” he says. Results can last two years or more. Most patients have one session, but some return for a series of treatments for even larger enhancement.
Penis whitening
Yep, penis whitening is a thing, says Dr. Shafer. “We do have intimate bleaching systems for patients with hyperpigmentation, whether on the penis, scrotum, buttocks, anus, or inner thighs.” Some doctors use lasers that traditionally address pigment issues.
“An additional procedure for men is laser hair removal for the scrotum, penis, and buttocks,” he says. “Reducing hair around the base of the penis can help with a perception of increased length and size.”
Still not convinced?
It’s true that men aren’t chatting about these procedures as much as women are discussing vaginal rejuvenation, but according to Dr. Emer it’s only a matter of time before the trend becomes much more widespread and accepted.
“The best way to maximize satisfaction with your procedure is to choose an experienced surgeon,” Dr. Emer advises. “And always ask to see before-and-after photos during your initial consultation.”
