Andrew Siegel MD 2/4 /17
“Tissue expansion” is a well-accepted concept employed in several medical disciplines for the purpose of gradually expanding specific anatomical parts, most commonly used in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Traction therapy—a.k.a. mechanical transduction—involves the application of pulling forces to tissues in order to incrementally expand them. The traction ultimately leads to cellular proliferation and formation of new collagen. Successful tissue expansion mandates adequate pulling forces with sufficient time of traction application and treatment duration. Traction so applied to body parts for extended periods of time will result in gradual lengthening and expansion, and the penis is no exception.
Image above: Two nursing sisters erect traction apparatus for a patient’s leg in the Orthopaedic Ward of No. 2 RAF General Hospital in Algiers, 1944-1945
http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//52/media-52315/large.jpg
Penile traction is capable of lengthening or straightening the penis using mechanical pulling forces. It has become an increasingly popular option based upon its relative noninvasive nature, the side effects associated with alternative treatments, and the general difficulties in managing conditions that result in penile shortening. The biophysics of penile traction involves mechanical forces and stresses that are capable of positively affecting cellular and tissue growth.
Penile traction therapy has potential clinical use in a number of urological circumstances, including for purposes of penile lengthening, as primary management of Peyronie’s disease, as an secondary treatment after other forms of management for Peyronies (including the injection of medications into Peyronie’s scar tissue and surgery for Peyronies), and finally, prior to penile prosthesis implant surgery to optimize penile length at the time of the implantation. Penile traction necessitates a compliant patient willing to devote the time and effort to the relatively long treatment period required for effective lengthening.
For more information on Peyronie’s disease, refer to my previous blog entry: https://healthdoc13.wordpress.com/2015/05/23/peyronies-disease-not-the-kind-of-curve-you-want/
Situations That May Benefit From Penile Traction
- Small penis stature
- Penile dysmorphic disorder: a preoccupation with penis size, often related to the subjective perception of small penis size that has no objective basis
- Penile shortening due to radical prostatectomy
- Penile shortening and angulation due to Peyronie’s disease
- Peyronie’s patients who have had injection therapy with medications (collagenase, verapamil, interferon, etc.) or surgery for Peyronie’s, as adjunctive treatment to optimize results
- Prior to inflatable penile implantation to enable implantation of the largest possible prosthesis
What Are The Commercially Available Penile Traction Devices?
- FastSize Penile Extender (FastSize Medical, Aliso Viejo, CA)
- Andro-Penis (Andromedical, Madrid, Spain)
- Golden Erect Extender (Ronas Tajhiz Teb, Tehran, Iran)
- SizeGenetics (GRT Net Services Inc., Gresham, OR)
- Vimax Extender (OA Internet Services, Montreal, Canada)
- ProExtender (Leading Edge Herbals, Greeley, CO)
- PenimasterPro (MSP Concept, Berlin, Germany)
All of the aforementioned devices are similar in principle. For specific information on any product, a Google search will provide detailed information on each product and exactly how it is used.
The most sophisticated and best-engineered device is the PenimasterPro. For more information on this device: https://www.penimaster.com (Available through www.urologyhealthstore.com use code “Urology 10” for 10% discount and free shipping.)
Image above: PenimasterPro
Bottom Line: Penile traction is a minimally invasive, relatively new option for managing conditions associated with shortened penile length. Studies have demonstrated the ability of traction therapy to modestly increase penile length without changing girth. It is capable of improving the penile curvature and shortening associated with Peyronie’s disease, particularly when initiated early during the acute phase, as well as following surgery or injection therapy. It also has utility in optimizing penile length prior to penile implant surgery and for the management of any condition causing penile shortening. It does require a dedicated and compliant user willing to wear the traction device for extended periods of time in order to achieve satisfactory lengthening.
Resources for this entry:
External Mechanical Devices and Vascular Surgery for Erectile Dysfunction. L Trost, R Munarriz, R Wang, A Morey and L Levine: J Sex Med 2016; 13:1579-1617
Penile Traction Therapy for Peyronie’s Disease: What’s the Evidence? MF Usta and T Ipeckci: Transational Andrology and Urology 2016; 5(3):303-309
Wishing you the best of health,
A new blog is posted every week. To receive the blogs in the in box of your email go to the following link and click on “email subscription”: www.HealthDoc13.WordPress.com
Dr. Andrew Siegel is a practicing physician and urological surgeon board-certified in urology as well as in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Siegel serves as Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School and is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor New York Metro Area, Inside Jersey Top Doctor and Inside Jersey Top Doctor for Women’s Health. His mission is to “bridge the gap” between the public and the medical community that is in such dire need of bridging.
Author of MALE PELVIC FITNESS: Optimizing Sexual & Urinary Health http://www.MalePelvicFitness.com
Author of THE KEGEL FIX: Recharging Female Pelvic, Sexual and Urinary Health http://www.TheKegelFix.com
Our Greatest Wealth Is Health 
