Ever since the first breast implant made headlines, men have been waiting for cosmetic surgeons to perfect the penis implant. The market for penile implants isn’t confined to those looking for cosmetic enhancements, though. Penile implants have become a hot topic for men in need of reconstructive surgery, as well. As a result, the industry has been working to perfect a device that fits the bill. Now, one doctor in Beverly Hills thinks he’s finally gotten it right.
Dr. James Elist, a Beverly Hills urologist, has invented the Penuma. His invention is a silicone sleeve that comes in three sizes – Large, X-Large and XX-Large – no small or medium, of course. The sleeve is inserted under the skin and it helps to make a man’s penis both longer and wider. This approach to penis enlargement has made headlines all over the country and the Penuma is set to become the first widely used commercial option for men.
Elist received FDA approval on his invention back in 2004, so why is it just now making such huge headlines? Partly because Dr. Elist has released new studies which have followed the progress of the men who have had the procedure done. Now that Dr. Elist, the only doctor able to perform the operation, has done the procedure on some 1,300 men, he’s been able to show a staggering 95% success rate. In terms of actual penis enlargement, the case examples used on his website show gains of an inch or more in length and girth.
For men who are concerned about size, this kind of penis enlargement sounds almost too good to be true. At the same time, it begs the question – how much is enough? According to an extensive GQ investigation, the doctor has had at least one patient who would be seen as “above average” come in seeking to have the procedure done. One man’s wife went as far as to lament his decision to seek enhancement of his already 8-inch penis. He went ahead and had the surgery anyway and she wasn’t exactly thrilled. In her interview with CG, she admitted, “There may be times when I say, ‘You know what? Don’t touch me with that thing!’”
The catch – and of course there is one – is that currently Dr. Elist is the only doctor cleared to insert the Penuma. So eligible candidates need to be willing to travel to his clinic in Beverly Hills, California for the procedure and at least one follow up visit. This means a travel and lodging commitment of at least a few weeks, which is no small feat in one of the most expensive cities in the country. The cost of the procedure itself is another factor keeping the crowds at bay. The procedure itself runs around $13,000 and, as an elective surgery, it’s not covered under insurance.
Still, Dr. Elist has had no real shortage of men willing to commit the time, energy and financial backing the procedure demands. In fact, he hasn’t bothered to promote the device widely since he’s had as many customers as he can handle with only a small website and minimal marketing. The release of the clinical reports he commissioned, however, may be the pressure the doctor needs to release it as a product for other surgeons to use.
Penis enlargement surgery has, until now, only had a few limited options which offered somewhat meagre results. The Penuma is poised to change all that, however, and is already ushering in a whole new way to view surgical male enhancement. It’s limited availability and high price tag make it less common now, but as it becomes more widely used, experts believe that, too, will change. One day soon, penile enlargement surgery may be as common as breast augmentation.