- Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Male intimate surgery, by a plastic surgeon
Penile enlargement surgery: what it can and cannot do
ProjectaPlus® is the male intimate surgery protocol of Dr. Marcelo Policarpo de Souza Assis, in Campinas, Brazil. Here you can read, with no promises, how the surgery works, who it is for, the risks and the recovery.
It can
- Expose the part of the penis that is hidden by fat in the pubic area.
- Increase the visible length at rest by releasing the suspensory ligament and advancing skin with a V-Y flap.
- Correct the skin web between the penis and the scrotum, which makes the penis look shorter.
- Increase girth with a graft of the patient's own fat, in selected cases.
It cannot
- Guarantee a number of centimeters. The gain depends on each patient's anatomy.
- Meaningfully change erect length, in most cases.
- Treat erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation or infertility.
- Resolve a dissatisfaction that does not match the anatomy. In those cases, the path is a different one.
Most men who seek this surgery have normal measurements. That is why the consultation begins with a frank conversation. And sometimes it ends without surgery.
What penile enlargement surgery is
A set of techniques that exposes and repositions what is already there. It does not create new tissue.
Penile enlargement surgery, also called augmentation phalloplasty, is a set of techniques that change the apparent length, the girth or the contour of the penis and the surrounding area. There is no single operation: the plan is built around what the physical examination shows.
In many men, part of the penis is hidden. Fat above the pubic bone, the position of the ligament that anchors the penis to the bone, and a skin web next to the scrotum can shorten what is visible. In those cases, surgery works by exposing and repositioning, not by "creating" new tissue.
Who the surgery is for
For specific anatomies, in healthy adults with realistic expectations.
Surgery is usually indicated when
- The penis is partially buried in pubic fat.
- A penoscrotal web reduces the apparent length.
- There is a disproportion between the penis and the pubic area after major weight loss.
- The patient is an adult, healthy, and understands the limits of the procedure.
Surgery is usually not indicated when
- The expectation is a specific gain in centimeters.
- The main complaint is about erection, ejaculation or fertility.
- There are signs of body dysmorphic disorder that is not being treated.
- There are uncontrolled medical conditions, active smoking or a local infection.
Cases of micropenis and hormonal disorders need a joint assessment with urology and endocrinology.
Techniques used
The protocol combines three procedures: treatment of the pubic area, suspensory ligament release and V-Y advancement. Two others are complementary, in selected cases.
Pubic liposuction or pubic lift
Liposuction removes excess fat above the base of the penis. When there is loose skin, a pubic lift repositions that tissue. It does not change the organ itself, but it exposes the portion that was covered. It is the step with the most predictable effect in patients with fat accumulation in the area.
Suspensory ligament release
The suspensory ligament anchors the penis to the pubic bone. A partial release allows an internal part of the organ to project outward. The effect is seen mainly at rest, and keeping it depends on postoperative care to prevent scarring from pulling the gain back.
V-Y advancement flap at the base of the penis
When the ligament is released, the shaft needs skin to follow the projection. The V-Y plasty solves this: an inverted V-shaped incision in the pubic area, next to the base of the penis, is closed in a Y shape, which advances pubic skin toward the shaft. It is usually done in the same operation as the ligament release and helps maintain the gain in apparent length.
In return, it leaves a Y-shaped scar above the base of the penis, usually covered by pubic hair, and it can bring hair-bearing skin onto the start of the shaft. The flap design is planned to reduce these effects.
Penoscrotal web correction
When the scrotal skin attaches high on the underside of the penis, a local plasty redefines the angle between the two and improves the apparent length.
Girth enhancement
It can be done with a graft of the patient's own fat. Part of the grafted fat is reabsorbed in the first months, which makes the final volume variable and may require a touch-up.
From consultation to discharge
Four steps, from the first examination to final discharge.
- Consultation and physical examinationMeasurement and assessment of the pubic area, the ligament and the skin. A discussion of what is possible in your case and what is not.
- Tests and pre-anesthesia assessmentBlood tests and a clinical assessment, as in any elective surgery. The consent form is read and explained with the doctor.
- Surgery in a hospital settingPerformed at Doutor Opera Day Hospital, in Campinas, with an anesthesiologist and nursing staff. Discharge usually happens on the same day.
- Follow-up visitsFollow-up until final discharge is provided by Dr. Marcelo and his team, with visits at 7, 15 and 30 days.
What to expect from the result
The result varies from person to person and cannot be promised.
The result varies from person to person. Two patients operated on with the same technique can have different gains, because the amount of pubic fat, tissue elasticity and healing are not the same. Any estimate only makes sense after the physical examination, and even then it is an estimate.
The final result is assessed after a few months, once the swelling has gone down and any grafted fat has stabilized.
Why there is no before-and-after gallery. Brazil's Federal Council of Medicine allows such images only for educational purposes, without identifying the patient and alongside indications, outcomes and possible complications. In intimate surgery, the patient's anonymity and privacy come first. Illustrative cases are shown during the consultation, with the consent of the patients involved.
Risks and complications
Every surgery has risks. Knowing them is part of deciding well.
- Swelling, bruising and pain in the first days.
- Infection and wound-healing problems, more frequent in smokers and people with diabetes.
- Changes in sensation, usually temporary.
- Irregularities, lumps or asymmetry after fat grafting.
- Scar retraction with partial loss of the gain achieved.
- A change in the angle of the erect penis after the ligament release.
- A visible, widened or hypertrophic Y-shaped scar in the pubic area after the V-Y flap.
- Hair-bearing skin at the base of the shaft or a bulge in the flap area, which may require correction.
- The need for a touch-up or further surgery.
- General risks of anesthesia and thrombosis.
- Dissatisfaction with the result, even without any complication.
Recovery
The return to routine is gradual, and the final result can only be judged after a few months.
The timelines below are general references. What counts is the guidance you receive after your surgery.
- First days: relative rest, dressings and a compression garment over the pubic area when liposuction is performed.
- From 7 to 14 days: gradual return to everyday activities, with no physical strain. Swelling and bruising are expected.
- From 30 to 45 days: the usual time frame for resuming sexual activity and exercise, always after an assessment.
- Follow-up: visits at 7, 15 and 30 days, and then as your recovery requires.
Where surgery takes place
Consultation, surgery and follow-up in the same building, in Campinas, Brazil.
Surgery is performed at Doutor Opera Day Hospital, on the 8th floor of the Oriente Square building, in Campinas, in the state of São Paulo. It is a day hospital: the patient is admitted, has surgery and, in most cases, is discharged on the same day. The office is on the 5th floor of the same building, so consultation, surgery and follow-up all happen at a single address.
Your surgeon
A plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of practice, member of SBCP and ISAPS.
Dr. Marcelo Policarpo de Souza Assis holds a master's degree in Health Sciences and coordinates Aesthetic Global Training, a training program that welcomes surgeons from other countries in Campinas. See his full practice at drmarceloassis.com.
- Medical license
- Physician (MÉDICO), CRM-SP 93.498
- Specialty
- Plastic Surgery, RQE 22.824
- Societies
- SBCP (Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery) and ISAPS
- Education
- Master's degree in Health Sciences
- Office
- Clínica Otyma, Oriente Square, 5th floor
- Hospital
- Doutor Opera Day Hospital, 8th floor
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the most common questions.
How many centimeters does penile enlargement surgery add?
It is not possible to promise a number. The gain depends on each patient's anatomy, mainly the amount of fat in the pubic area and the position of the suspensory ligament. An estimate for your case can only be made in a consultation, after a physical examination.
Does the surgery increase erect length?
Lengthening techniques act mainly on the visible portion of the penis at rest. The effect on erect length is usually small or absent. Girth enhancement, when indicated, is noticeable in both states.
What penis size is considered normal?
A review published in BJU International in 2015, covering more than 15,000 men measured by health professionals, found an average of 9.2 cm flaccid and 13.1 cm erect. Most men who seek surgery have measurements within that range.
Is the result of the surgery permanent?
It depends on the technique. The removal of pubic fat is long-lasting if body weight stays stable. Grafted fat is partially reabsorbed in the first months. The gain obtained from the ligament release can decrease if scar retraction occurs.
Does the surgery affect erection or sensation?
The surgery does not act on the mechanisms of erection and does not treat erectile dysfunction. Changes in sensation can occur and are usually temporary. Releasing the suspensory ligament can change the angle of the erect penis.
How much does penile enlargement surgery cost?
The cost of the procedure depends on the techniques indicated for each case and is only defined after the medical assessment. The consultation fee can be provided on WhatsApp.
Is the consultation confidential?
Yes. Medical confidentiality is a legal and ethical duty. No patient information or image is shared, and contact on WhatsApp is handled with the same confidentiality as in the office.
Start with a consultation, not with a decision
In the consultation you are examined, you ask your questions and you receive an honest opinion about your case, including when the recommendation is not to operate. Care is individual and confidential.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppOffice
Clínica OtymaR. Oriente, 91, 5th floor
Chácara da Barra, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Surgery location
Doutor Opera Day HospitalR. Oriente, 91, 8th floor
Chácara da Barra, Campinas, SP, Brazil
WhatsApp: +55 19 99357-9637