Documentary explores rising demand for penile enlargement procedures
Daniel Lombroso’s documentary *Manhood* examines the growing market for penile enlargement procedures and the insecurities that help drive demand. Through the work of Dallas practitioner Bill Moore and his clients, the film explores how appearance, self-esteem and ideas about masculinity can become tied to intimate cosmetic treatments.
Moore charges $15,000 to $20,000 for procedures, while presenting them as ways to improve careers, sex lives and even depression; the article notes he is not a doctor. A 2024 study found US Google searches for penile enhancement injections rose between 2013 and 2022. The film also follows Ruben, a father of five who plans to sell his house to pay for treatment, and considers loneliness and the pressure to look a certain way.
In short
- *Manhood* investigates demand for penile enlargement procedures.
- Dallas practitioner Bill Moore charges $15,000 to $20,000 per procedure.
- The film links appearance pressures with self-esteem and loneliness.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Adults should have room to make informed choices about their bodies, and intimate appearance can affect confidence and relationships. For some clients, a procedure may feel like a meaningful way to address distress or improve self-esteem, provided they understand the limits, risks and costs and receive appropriate medical advice.
The case against
The market may exploit insecurity by presenting an expensive, invasive procedure as a route to better sex, work or mental health, outcomes that appearance treatments cannot reliably promise. When a practitioner is not a doctor and a client considers selling a home to pay, concerns about medical oversight, financial pressure and the social ideals driving demand deserve serious attention.
Explained simply
Penile enlargement procedures are cosmetic treatments intended to change the penis’s size or appearance. Demand can be shaped by personal worries about body image and by wider ideas about masculinity, attractiveness and sexual confidence.
The documentary follows Dallas practitioner Bill Moore and clients including Ruben, a father of five considering selling his house to pay for treatment. Moore charges $15,000 to $20,000 and links the procedures to areas such as relationships and self-esteem; the article says he is not a doctor.
The issue matters because intimate cosmetic treatments can involve substantial expense and expectations about their effects on people’s lives. A 2024 study found that US Google searches for penile enhancement injections increased between 2013 and 2022, while the film also examines loneliness and pressure about appearance.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “‘Never big enough’: inside the booming penis enlargement industry”.