Ligamentolysis – Penis Lengthening Surgery

Does Ligamentolysis Increase Erect Length?

In some cases, size really can weigh on your self-confidence. If you’re feeling down about the size of your penis and can’t help but compare yourself to others, you may consider penis enlargement or penis lengthening.

When it comes to penis enlargement procedures, ligamentolysis is one of the most commonly cited. The irony, though, is that ligamentolysis doesn’t truly enlarge the penis; it only gives the illusion of greater size. Even more, this illusion comes with significant safety risks, as all surgeries do.

Let’s explore what ligamentolysis is, how it affects the size of your penis, and what other options may be available for you so that you can avoid ligamentolysis side effects.

What Is Ligamentolysis?

Ligamentolysis, also known as penile suspensory ligament division or penis lengthening, is a type of penile enlargement surgery that helps the flaccid penis appear longer. It accomplishes this by cutting the suspensory ligament, which is responsible for attaching the penis to the pubic bone.¹

In all men, there is a part of the penis that is not externally visible.² This “hidden” part that extends inside the body is what attaches to the pubic bone through the suspensory ligament. By cutting the suspensory ligament, the “hidden” part of the penis is able to move downwards and outside the body, increasing the amount of the penis that is visible. The average increase in penis length following ligamentolysis is 26.38 mm, although length increases can range from 4–60 mm.3

In some cases, ligamentolysis may be complemented by fat removal from the pubic area and adjustment of the penoscrotal web (the skin that connects the penis to the scrotum). These procedures can also add visual length to the penis.

Is Ligamentolysis Actually a Penile Lengthening Surgery?

During ligamentolysis, the surgeon severs the suspensory ligament, which allows the flaccid penis to hang further down, giving an appearance of greater length. However, the procedure does not actually increase penis size, whether flaccid or erect.

The elongation seen with ligamentolysis is considered apparent lengthening versus genuine lengthening since the penis length remains the same.² Even more, any elongation seen is significantly more visible when the penis is flaccid versus when it is erect.

Knowing this, ligamentolysis does not increase erection length, and it may only increase the appearance of the erect penis by a few millimeters.

Considerations Of Ligamentolysis

Increasing self-confidence and boosting self-esteem are the two main reasons why men seek out penile enlargement surgery, such as ligamentolysis. For those who are dissatisfied with the size of their penis, ligamentolysis may offer the mental health boost needed to be more confident.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that the procedure only gives an appearance of a larger penis, and the length increase is typically most apparent when the penis is flaccid—an erect penis does not see much of an increase in size. Even more, many men are not satisfied by the minimal length increase offered by ligamentolysis.⁴

There are other considerations to keep in mind regarding ligamentolysis, as well:

• Severing Support
  The suspensory ligament offers dorsal support and stabilization of an erection.⁵ When the ligament is severed, the penis can become hypermobile, which may cause it to repeatedly slip out of the vagina during sex.⁶ Additionally, the suspensory ligament is what helps the penis point straight when erect; after ligamentolysis, the penis will point downwards at all times, similar to a flaccid penis.
• Removing Protection
  The suspensory ligament protects the neurovascular bundle of the penis from repetitive sexual trauma. If this bundle is damaged due to the removal of its protection, men can have a problem with innervation and erectile function.⁷ Knowing this, the suspensory ligament plays a crucial role in supporting and protecting the penis—severing it during ligamentolysis can cause more harm than good, especially since the procedure does not increase penis size.
• Surgical Risks
  As a surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection, scarring, and bleeding with ligamentolysis. Scarring, in particular, can lead to penis shortening over time because when the ligament scars over, it may try to reattach. ⁶ There are also adverse effects to be aware of that may arise as a result of the procedure, such as erectile dysfunction.^{6, 7}
• Cost and Recovery
  Ligamentolysis can be a costly surgical procedure that requires significant recovery time. As an elective procedure, insurance coverage may not be available, leaving you to pay for the entire ligamentolysis surgery cost. The recovery period also comes with elaborate post-operative instructions, which must be closely followed in order to prevent complications.

A Safer Alternative to Ligamentolysis

For those interested in penis enlargement without having to go under the knife—and potentially cause more harm than good—dermal filler may be a better option.

Dermal filler offers a quick and safe way to increase the girth of your penis without cutting, stitches, general anesthesia, or a prolonged recovery period.⁸

In addition to a small increase in flaccid length, dermal filler offers an increase in girth that is dependent on the volume of filler purchased—the more filler, the greater the girth increase.

Dermal fillers last between 18-30 months, and this duration is what makes hyaluronic acid fillers safe and gives them a natural appearance. When filler is injected, there is a rare chance that it may migrate, causing imperfections. Since hyaluronic acid filler can be easily spot dissolved or corrected, there is no risk of needing surgical removal to correct imperfections, as there is with PMMA or silicone “permanent penis filler” procedures.

Furthermore, unlike ligamentolysis, implants, or sheaths, dermal fillers do not come with a risk of permanent nerve injury and erectile dysfunction due to scarring because injectable procedures do not cut any skin or nerve tissue.

Ligamentolysis: Understanding the Pros and Cons

Ligamentolysis is a penis enlargement surgery that severs the suspensory ligament, allowing the penis to hang lower. However, this enlargement is typically only seen in the flaccid penis—it doesn’t have much of an effect on erection length. Even more, severing this ligament may come with a risk of erectile dysfunction.

For those interested in seeing true growth in the penis, dermal fillers increase penis girth without requiring you to go under the knife, lessening safety concerns. To learn more about how dermal fillers can help you see an increase in your penis size, contact Upsize and schedule a free phone consultation.

References

1. Mahyar Daskareh, Borhani, A., Nabi, M., Poursharif, M., & Kamel, I. R. (2021). Partial tear of penile suspensory ligament on magnetic resonance imaging: A case report. Urology Case Reports, 39, 101788–101788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eucr.2021.101788
2. Alessandro Littara, Melone, R., Morales-Medina, J. C., Iannitti, T., & Palmieri, B. (2019). Cosmetic penile enhancement surgery: a 3-year single-centre retrospective clinical evaluation of 355 cases. Scientific Reports, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41652-w
3. Ramos, M., Pereira, A. V., Silva, L., Inácio, A. R., & Furtado, I. Á. (2024). Morphometric Predictors of Penile Length Increase After Division of its Suspensory Ligament. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 48(8), 1635–1643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-023-03837-7
4. Li CY, Kayes O, Kell PD, Christopher N, Minhas S, Ralph DJ. Penile suspensory ligament division for penile augmentation: indications and results. Eur Urol. 2006 Apr;49(4):729-33. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2006.01.020. Epub 2006 Jan 31. PMID: 16473458
5. Campbell, J., & Gillis, J. (2017). A review of penile elongation surgery. Translational Andrology and Urology, 6(1), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.21037/tau.2016.11.19
6. Filipoiu, F.-M., Ion, R.-T., Filipoiu, Z. F., Tulin, A.-D., Enciu, O., & Enyedi, M. (2023). Suspension of the penis – dissection, anatomical description and highlighting of anatomical risks in sectioning the suspensory ligaments. Basic and Clinical Andrology, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12610-023-00202-1
7. Daskareh, M., Borhani, A., Nabi, M., Poursharif, M., & Kamel, I. R. (2021). Partial tear of penile suspensory ligament on magnetic resonance imaging: A case report. Urology Case Reports, 39, 101788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eucr.2021.101788
8. Ahn, S. T., Shim, J. S., Bae, W. J., Kim, S. W., Kim, J. J., & Moon, D. G. (2022). Efficacy and Safety of Penile Girth Enhancement Using Hyaluronic Acid Filler and the Clinical Impact on Ejaculation: A Multi-Center, Patient/Evaluator-Blinded, Randomized Active-Controlled Trial. The World Journal of Men’s Health, 40(2), 299. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.210007