Two quite different procedures sit behind the term: lengthening, and girth enhancement with your own fat. They can be done separately or together — and what either can realistically achieve is the first thing we discuss.
Please note: A medical consultation is a chargeable service under the German physicians’ fee schedule (GOÄ). Online bookings are binding; the practice team will explain the expected consultation fee when arranging your appointment.
Medically reviewed by Dr. med. Juliane C. Finke and Dr. med. Stephan Frantzen · Board-certified plastic surgeons · Last reviewed:
Penis enlargement covers two different operations: lengthening, in which the suspensory ligament is divided and the internal portion of the shaft brought forward, and girth enhancement using your own fat or hyaluronic acid. Either can be done alone or both together.
Size is a subject for men of every age. Someone who is unhappy with his penis and experiences it as too small or too thin can suffer a real loss of confidence and self-worth.
Enlargements are carried out mainly to strengthen self-confidence and to let a man feel comfortable in his own masculinity again. Sometimes there are physical causes that make the procedure necessary. Whatever the reason, a man's sex life can suffer — and that is true independently of whether his partner is happy with his size.
Dr. Frantzen has carried out this procedure regularly for years and has long experience in male intimate surgery, in transgender medicine and in gender-affirming surgery. The practice offers a dedicated men's clinic where the subject can be discussed man to man.
Lengthening. A substantial part of the shaft lies inside the body, held there by the suspensory ligament. Dividing that ligament allows the internal portion to be brought forward, so more of the shaft is visible outside. The gain is in the flaccid state above all; the erect length changes far less, and it is important to know that beforehand.
Girth enhancement with your own fat. Fat is harvested elsewhere on the body by a gentle liposuction, prepared, and injected in fine layers along the shaft. Part of the transferred fat is reabsorbed over the first months, which is why a second session is sometimes sensible. The result feels natural because it is your own tissue.
Girth enhancement with hyaluronic acid. The alternative to fat: no liposuction is needed. As with any hyaluronic acid filler the effect is limited in time and can be topped up. Which of the two suits you is decided in consultation.
Glans augmentation and circumcision. To complete the result, the glans can be enlarged with a hyaluronic acid developed specifically for the male intimate area. The effect is individual and can last up to eighteen months; the treatment can be repeated without difficulty. A circumcision can be combined with any of these procedures.
The procedures can be combined in one operation. Which of them fits — and whether any does — is decided after examination and an honest conversation about expectations.
Many men ask themselves the question and do not dare take up the modern possibilities of plastic surgery. While society has come a long way in accepting breast augmentation as an ordinary procedure for women, there is still a stigma around enlargement of any kind for men.
An intact sex life is a decisive pillar of well-being and contentment. Many men carry a pronounced fear that their penis is not large or attractive enough.
The advantages of a surgical enlargement are:
At the practice we take our time, discuss things on equal terms, and work out a plan together. One thing matters to us: we cannot meet unrealistic expectations, and we will say so rather than let you find out afterwards.
All of this is discussed in the practice's dedicated men's clinic — a consultation slot reserved for male patients.
Every operation carries risk. With a subject as particular as male intimate surgery it matters who you entrust yourself to — pay close attention to the surgeon's qualification.
Possible complications include:
The EAU rates the evidence for cosmetic lengthening and girth procedures as limited and recommends extensive counselling. Normal measurements, expectations and possible body-dysmorphic distress should be assessed before surgery.
Current EAU guideline on penile size and augmentation procedures.
Plan on about a week off work. An early change may be visible immediately, but swelling and fat resorption mean that the result continues to change for several months. A fixed or permanently unchanged result cannot be guaranteed.
For six weeks, avoid intercourse, friction of any kind and sport. That is not a suggestion — the tissue needs that time undisturbed, and it is the single most common reason for a disappointing result when it is ignored.
You have a number to call in the first days, and we see you for follow-up appointments so that healing is accompanied rather than left to chance.
| How long | 60–120 minutes – depending on the procedure chosen |
|---|---|
| Anaesthetic | General anaesthetic |
| Stay | Usually day surgery – an overnight stay in a clinic or hotel on request |
| Back to work | About one week |
| Afterwards | 6 weeks without intercourse, friction or sport |
| Procedures | Lengthening (division of the suspensory ligament), girth enhancement with your own fat or hyaluronic acid, glans augmentation with hyaluronic acid (up to 1.5 years), circumcision |
| Result | Individual; changes over several months and cannot be guaranteed |
| Where | In most cases day surgery at our practice in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg. Where the procedure is more extensive, as an inpatient at the MEOCLINIC, Friedrichstraße 71 — the private hospital in Quartier 206 |
| Paid by | Private fee – not covered by statutory insurance |
What does a penis enlargement cost? There is no flat rate. Time in theatre, technique, anaesthetic and the extent of the procedure differ from person to person. You get a binding quote at the end of your consultation — in writing, with nothing hidden.
Will insurance pay? As a rule, no: purely aesthetic procedures are paid privately. German statutory insurers only contribute where a medical indication is recognised; private insurers and international policies decide case by case. We will tell you honestly whether you have any prospect of cover. And the consultation itself? Medical advice is a treatment in its own right and is invoiced under the German scale of medical fees (GOÄ) — including when you decide against a procedure afterwards. We tell you what to expect when the appointment is made.
These points apply generally. What applies in your case – with existing conditions or regular medication – we go through at your pre-operative consultation. That conversation is what counts.
Not every question about size is answered by an operation, and we would rather say so at the consultation than afterwards. We look first at whether something smaller would do the job – and we will say so if none of these procedures fits your finding.
Board-certified plastic surgeon and
board-certified general surgeon
Dr. Juliane C. Finke and Dr. Stephan Frantzen are full members of the German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (DGPRÄC) and the German Society of Senology (DGS). Dr. Finke is also a Fellow of EBOPRAS and passed the European board examination in 2010; Dr. Frantzen operates on a voluntary basis for INTERPLAST in South America. The jameda seals lead to the independent physician profiles with patient reviews of Dr. Finke and Dr. Frantzen.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Juliane C. Finke and Dr. Stephan Frantzen
That depends on your anatomy — specifically on how much of the shaft currently lies inside the body. The gain shows mainly in the flaccid state; the erect length changes considerably less. We measure and tell you a realistic range at the consultation rather than a number from a brochure.
Reduced sensitivity and, very rarely, impairment of erection are among the possible risks and are part of the consent discussion. They are uncommon, and the technique is planned to avoid them — but no honest account leaves them out.
Part of the transferred fat is reabsorbed over the first months; what survives that period stays. That is why a second session is sometimes sensible, and why we do not promise a final figure at the first appointment.
The effect is individual and can last up to eighteen months. The treatment can be repeated without difficulty. We use a hyaluronic acid developed specifically for the male intimate area.
Six weeks. The same applies to sport and to friction of any kind. This is the point where results are most often spoiled, and it is entirely within your control.
Usually not — the procedure is generally done as day surgery under general anaesthetic. An overnight stay in a clinic or a hotel can be arranged if you would prefer it.
Discretion is part of the treatment. The men's clinic exists precisely so that this can be discussed without an audience, and appointment scheduling and correspondence are handled with that in mind.
No. This is a privately paid procedure.
Yes. Consultations and treatments are available in German, English and Spanish.
Book an appointment in the men's clinic. We measure, we explain what is realistic, and we tell you plainly if the answer is that an operation is not worth it.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Juliane C. Finke, board-certified plastic surgeon (plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery), and Dr. Stephan Frantzen, board-certified plastic surgeon and board-certified general surgeon.
Last medically reviewed:
The content of this page is for general information and does not replace medical advice. A binding assessment is only possible after a personal examination.
Independent information: The German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons provides patient information on choosing a specialist, consent, limitations and possible complications. The German Medical Association explains the GOÄ fee schedule. These German-language sources supplement, but do not replace, an individual medical examination.
