Do you believe there is any validity to the claim that penis enlargement devices (example: pumps, hangers, etc.) and penis enlargement exercises (example: jelqing, stretching, etc.) can increase the size of the penis?

There is no objective evidence that these methods do very much good. I am aware that they are very popular and that men would like to avoid surgery, but these devices do not have a great track record for most men. One exception is the use of a stretching device for penile curvatures. This does sometimes work and is worth a try, especially for mild curvatures that are not associated with a thick Peyronnie's plaque.

Do you believe there is any validity to the claim that supplements (example: male enhancement pills, topical creams, etc.) can work in increasing the size of the penis? If they are indeed scams, how have they been able to remain prevalent?

Supplements provide no long term benefit. Yohimbine, which is one type of supplement, can provide some short term benefit, but does not create a permanent change. Of greater importance regarding supplements is that they are not regulated by any agency in the US. Therefore, the makers of supplements can make any claims they want with little or no downside. An interesting study performed at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia examined the content of supplements and found that many of them had little or none of the product claimed to be present. This included some vitamin supplements. I actively encourage my patients to stop taking supplements before surgery since they can create problems such as bleeding after surgery.

(8c) Do you see any benefit in employing the use of growth factors (like Platelet Rich Plasma treatment) to achieve size? Also, do you believe there is any merit to the idea of PRP-therapies improving the result of a penis enlargement procedure?

This is a hotly debated topic. Like the other topics in this thread, there is little evidence to support the use of PRP. I am aware of anecdotal evidence for PRP, especially with hair restoration. As for its use in penis enlargement, there is, at present, no evidence that supports its use.

Information Provided by Dr. Solomon. To learn more or request a consultation:https://www.phalloboards.info/directory/77-mark-p-solomon-md.html

Dr. Solomon, Forum Member "Chrisresearch" asks: "Hi Dr. Solomon, I have been reading your posts and researching revision. Regarding PMMA removal, can it be done if there is not much PMMA?"

PMMA causes an inflammatory reaction as it integrates with your tissues. Often, the amount of PMMA is relatively small compared with the reaction that it creates. If these areas can be readily identified on physical examination, then its removal is fairly straightforward, regardless of the amount of PMMA injected.

Dr. Solomon, The Moderation Team would also like to add the last question: How do you gauge whether removal or revision of a penis filler is "safe" or "advisable." How does this assessment apply to all the cosmetic filler varieties (from PMMA to hyaluronic acid (HA) to silicone oil)?

All surgical procedures have risks. The question of safety relates to several issues. First, does the benefit of the procedure outweigh the risk? If, by removing the foreign material, a more normal contour can be restored with minimal risk to the patient, then the benefit outweighs the risk. This issue is of more concern in patients with pain in their penis or migration or erosion of the material through the skin. Second, it is important that patients understand the risks of the procedure. Injection of materials in the penis varies widely. I have seen patients with injections that are placed deep in the penis as well as superficial. Removal of these injections includes not only the material, but the body’s reaction to the material. For things like hyaluronic acid, this reaction is often minimal. For silicone, the reaction can be large, as it can for PMMA. This is due to the properties of these various materials. So the surgeon must account for the location of the injection, the reaction it has caused and the initial material injected. With all injections, there is an issue of loss of blood flow to the skin superficial to the injection. The skin of the penis is thin and its blood supply is often adversely affected by these various injections (and other procedures). Therefore, removal of material is not only about the material and the reaction, but attempting to preserve blood flow to the overlying skin to avoid loss of skin that could require additional surgery to repair the loss.

Dr. Solomon, you have two locations, one on the East Coast (Philadelphia, PA) and the other on the West Coast (Los Angeles, CA). Do you have a set schedule between the Clinics or is one a primary location with the other being on an as-needed-by-appointment basis?

Typically, I spend 25% of my time in Los Angeles and 75% in Philadelphia. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have limited my travel to Los Angeles. This is because the disease is fairly well controlled in Philadelphia. Were I to go to Los Angeles at the present time, I would need to be quarantined for 14 days upon my return, which is disruptive to my schedule in Philadelphia. Therefore, until that restriction is lifted, I will need to limit my time to Philadelphia only. I do have a waiting list for surgery for patients in Los Angeles, so when I return, I will be operating and seeing patients in consultation. Until that time, I have been using telemedicine to provide secure, encrypted video meetings with patients who cannot travel to Philadelphia. These appointments are arranged by calling my office.

Information Provided By Dr. Solomon. To learn more or request an appointment:https://www.phalloboards.info/directory/77-mark-p-solomon-md.html

Dr. Solomon, do you believe attitudes toward male elective medicine (namely penis enlargement) will ever become as socially accepted or mainstream as the common "nose" or "breast" job? If so, how long do you predict this shift in attitude will take? If not, what are some reasons potentially holding it back from normalization (e.g. stigmas)?

I think that attitudes are definitely changing. I recently was asked to publish a paper in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery on this topic. In addition, I presented at our annual meeting and, as a reviewer for the Journal, I am seeing articles presented for publication almost monthly on the topic of penis enlargement surgery. Awareness of the topic is increasing, so it is likely that it will become more acceptable with time.

Dr. Solomon, concerning costs (*3 Part Question):

how can I go about acquiring the costs for any given procedure?

My office gives a range of costs to patients who inquire on the phone. We do not provide costs by email. However, the only way to get an actual cost for surgery is after an evaluation by me. This is due to the fact that procedures are individualized for each patient. In many cases, patients ask about one procedure, but after an exam, they need something different, which may be less expensive than their original request. For example, men often inquire about getting both length and girth, but after an exam, they may only benefit from one of those procedures, so the cost is less.

are there any procedures my insurance will accept?

There are several parts to this answer. First, medical insurance covers procedures that are defined as "medically necessary." Procedures for penis enlargement are cosmetic in nature (like breast enlargement). Cosmetic surgery is not generally covered by insurance. Your individual policy may have some exception to that rule, but only you can determine that by asking your insurance company or reading your insurance policy. Surgery for revision after failed cosmetic surgery is also not generally covered by insurance. Most insurance plans will not cover cosmetic surgery or complications from cosmetic surgery. Again, the best way to determine your coverage is to review your policy or call your carrier. Even if you have coverage, you will need to find a surgeon who participates with your insurance carrier. Otherwise, the surgeon is considered "out of network", which means you will be responsible for the costs of surgery and you can ask your insurance to reimburse you according to your plan. Most times, they will reimburse only a portion of the costs in that situation.

is financing available? This was mentioned on your website, but I'd like to know more.

My practice works with several outside entities that provide financing for surgery. You need to apply to them directly to determine if you qualify. The two that we work with most often are CareCredit and United Medical Credit. They each have their own rules about financing and they make their decisions independent of my medical decisions.

Dr. Solomon, the Moderation Team would like to know if your Clinic has any exciting new plans, procedures, devices, locations, publications, and/or promotions for the new year (2021) & beyond?

I publish articles on penis surgery in the plastic surgery literature from time to time. These are designed for a medical audience and are not usually available to nonmedical people. You can access them by going to PubMed. I am always evaluating new methods for surgery, but will only discuss them once I have implemented them and have follow up data.

Information Provided by Dr. Solomon. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment:https://www.phalloboards.info/directory/77-mark-p-solomon-md.html

Dear Dr. Solomon, I have been asked on occasion about surgical or non-surgical options for men with micro-penis. Do you (or have you) ever performed surgery on patients with a micro-penis? What's your opinion on the condition, and what are some advice you can give to men with micro-penis?

I have performed surgery on men with true micropenis. The nature of the procedure is quite customized since there are often several components to the problem. The goal for these men is improvement. It is often impossible to get a true micropenis to be more than a modest penis, but for these men, that is often enough.

 Dr. Solomon, I've read you're a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. What other male enhancement services do you provide that aren't necessarily related to phalloplasty?

Answer: Men have a variety of issues that I treat. Specific to men are surgery for gynecomastia (enlarged breasts) and pectoral implants. These implants are used for men who want to add definition to their chest that exercise won’t provide. Calf augmentation and bicep augmentation can be performed as well. Other procedures for men include liposuction and facial surgery. Facial surgery includes eyelid surgery, nasal surgery, chin surgery, forehead lift (also known as browlift) and facelift.