Thanks for the thoughtful points,
@Danpe and
@moes . Let me clarify where we’re coming from.
You’re right — there are no head-to-head randomized trials comparing a cheap Alibaba extender vs. a CE-marked medical traction device. But what we do know from the literature is that penile fibrosis and Peyronie’s disease are strongly linked to repetitive micro-trauma to the tunica albuginea — the tough sheath around the erectile chambers (
Patel 2015, Nat Rev Urol
). That’s the prevailing model for how scarring develops in the penis.
There are also case reports of men developing severe tissue damage from unsupervised or improvised devices. For example:
- Vacuum device complications: ischemia, skin necrosis, and ulceration after unsupervised negative-pressure use ( Garaffa 2004, BJU Int
).
- Constriction/“garroting” injuries: permanent scarring and loss of function when bands or tight devices are applied for too long ( Santucci 2004, J Urol
).
- Weighted “hanging”: specifically discouraged in medical reviews because of the high risk of severe injury ( Cowper et al. 2019, Sex Med Rev
).
By contrast, properly designed traction therapy has been studied in a therapeutic context — not as a cause of fibrosis but as a treatment for it. For instance, traction has been shown to improve length in men with Peyronie’s disease and after surgery (
Chung 2013, J Sex Med
;
Usta 2016, Sex Med Rev
). The key difference is that these studies use medically-engineered devices, structured protocols, and medical oversight.
In our clinic, this isn’t just theoretical — it’s what we see every week. A significant portion of our reconstructive caseload is men who DIYed enlargement with cheap extenders, hangers, or pumps, and ended up with scarring or deformity. Some can be repaired, but others require far more extensive (and costly) reconstruction than if they had started with safe, evidence-based methods.
So the takeaway isn’t “expensive = better.” The takeaway is that untested devices without research or supervision often mean gambling with the only penis you’ll ever have.