Concerns over Unusual Penile Enhancement Techniques

There’s been a lot of chatter lately around a controversial “manosphere” influencer known as Clavicular, whose real name is Braden Peters. He recently shared a rather unconventional tip for enhancing his manhood that he claims can be done while driving.

However, this peculiar method has raised eyebrows among medical professionals, who caution that the potential dangers far exceed any unlikely benefits.

In an interview with Howie Mandel for his podcast “Howie Mandel Does Stuff,” Clavicular was queried about his techniques. The 20-year-old influencer admitted to engaging in “printmaxxing,” which refers to the visible outline of one’s size against their clothing.

Alongside pumping and stretching, he detailed a technique he calls the “shopping bag hang.” This involves filling a bag with books or weights and wrapping it around his penis, claiming it stretches the “suspensory ligament,” which anchors the penis to the pubic bone.

According to him, consistent use of this method could yield an inch of growth, and he even suggested he practiced it while driving.

Despite these claims, medical experts question the efficacy of such methods. Dr. Rajesh Patel, president and former Chief Medical Officer of Associated Urological Specialists, points out that while medical traction devices can add modest length—roughly half an inch to an inch—they do so under controlled tension, which is worlds apart from a DIY approach.

Patel strongly advises against hanging weights to the penis, warning that individuals have little awareness of the force being applied or how much the tissues can endure. He expressed significant concern regarding this trend, emphasizing that the idea of simply stretching the ligament for a gain is misleading.

There’s a risk of serious injury too. Patel noted that such practices can strain fragile blood vessels, nerves, and erectile tissue, potentially leading to bruising, swelling, and even lasting damage.

“With enough force or repeated trauma, you could injure nerves and blood vessels, lose sensation, develop scar tissue, and even face erectile dysfunction,” he stated.

Continuous application of weight can also result in penile curvature similar to Peyronie’s disease, where plaque accumulation causes the penis to bend or shrink during erections.

For those eager to improve their size, it’s worth noting that this method might ultimately make things worse by damaging the suspensory ligament that supports the penis.

Patel explained further, “You might not realize when you’ve crossed the line from harmless stretching to causing real damage.” Overstretching the ligament can alter the angle of erections or destabilize them.

This isn’t the first instance of Clavicular sharing his “shopping bag” technique; he previously discussed it on Logan Paul’s podcast, “Impaulsive.” While he claims to have seen some results, he also acknowledged that the angle of his erections had lowered somewhat.

Beyond the immediate concerns about injury, Patel worries about the broader implications relating to body image and anxiety about penis size that influencers like Clavicular could exacerbate.

“When someone starts using weights or aggressive techniques, they risk turning a cosmetic issue into a serious medical problem, some of which might be irreversible,” he warned.

If anyone feels insecure about their size, Patel advises consulting a urologist: “We can provide clarity on what’s normal, what has scientific backing, and importantly, what could lead to lasting harm.”