1,300 Men Have Tried This Penis Enlargement Implant

Kate Bratskeir

Updated January 29, 2016 at 4:40 AM·3 min read

A Beverly Hills urologist has invented a silicone penis implant that makes a man's junk larger in girth and width. [Insert witty joke here.]

It sounds like a shady pop-up ad, but the penis enlarger is legit. Dr. James Elist's Penuma, which comes in sizes L, XL and XXL, is a silicone sleeve that's inserted under the skin of a man's penis to make it longer and thicker.

Men have desired larger penises probably since Adam compared his to the evil serpent who convinced Eve to take a bite of forbidden fruit (a metaphor you've never thought of until now, right?).

And now they can have it, as long as they're willing to shell out $13,000 and forgo sex for six weeks.

As GQ reports in a lengthy investigation of the surgery and its inventor, Elist is the only doctor permitted by the FDA to perform the Penuma procedure. The doctor has inserted approximately 1,300 penile implants, the magazine reports, and a clinical study commissioned by Elist demonstrates a success rate of over 95 percent among men who agreed to participate in the study.

The silicon sheath hasn't garnered the FDA's full approval, but has been granted a 510(k) permit, which "clears" the device for commercial distribution and qualifies it as safe and effective.

Previous penis enlargement options have included injecting collagen or cadaver cells, while some practitioners cut a ligament in the groin so the penis hangs lower, making it seem longer. Both of these practices have caused problems such as a lumpy appearance or complications with erections, GQ reports.

WARNING: Graphic image below.

Here's a visual that shows how the surgery works:

While having a monopoly on his silicone penis enlargement sounds pretty darn lucrative on its own, Elist is currently pushing for the FDA to approve his product for sale so that other professionals can perform the procedure.

Things to know about Penuma and the procedure:

The penis implant costs about $13,000.
Penuma grows the penis by an average 2 to 2.5 inches of length and girth, Elist says.
While the procedure generally takes a mere 60 minutes, patients are instructed to relinquish sex for six weeks.
Patients may receive general anesthesia prior to the operation.
The implant has an infection rate close to 3 percent, according to Elist's website.
Penises must be circumcised. Dr. Elist will perform a circumcision for eligible candidates.
More than two-thirds of patients report an increase in self-confidence after surgery, according to Elist's clinical report.

Things to know about penises in general:

Men are typically more concerned over penis size than women.
The average flaccid penis is 3.6 inches in length.
The average erect penis is 5 inches in length.
According to a 2014 report, 84 percent of women are satisfied with their partner's penis size.

Learn more about Penuma over at GQ.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that the Penuma was the only FDA-approved penile implant. The device is not approved by the FDA, but has been cleared by the organization to be used commercially. Other devices have been approved to treat erectile dysfunction.

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