Talk about growing pains.
Controversial “manosphere” influencer Clavicular — whose real name is Braden Peters — shared his top tip for growing his manhood, which he claims can be done conveniently while driving.
But the unusual trick is worrying doctors, who warn that the risks far outweigh any potential — and unlikely benefits.
Interviewed by Howie Mandel for an upcoming episode of Mandel’s podcast, “Howie Mandel Does Stuff,” Clavicular was asked what he does to his penis.
The 20-year-old admitted he was into “printmaxxing” — “print” being, well, the imprint that one’s size makes against the fabric of their pants.
In addition to pumping and stretching, Clavicular revealed his “shopping bag hang” trick, in which he fills a bag with books or weights, then wraps it around the shaft of his penis.
He claimed that doing so stretches the “suspensory ligament,” the band of connective tissue that anchors the base of the penis to the pubic bone.
“You could typically gain about an inch of length if you’re pretty consistent,” the looksmaxxer said, adding that he used to do the trick while driving around in his car.
However, there’s no strong evidence that hanging weights from one’s wang will increase it’s size.
Dr. Rajesh Patel, president and former Chief Medical Officer of Associated Urological Specialists, says that medical penile traction devices can add a bit of length, about half an inch to just under one full inch.
But they’re designed to apply a controlled amount of tension, which is vastly different from a do-it-yourself hanging weight — something Patel unequivocally advises against.
“You have no idea how much force you’re applying or how much the tissue can safely tolerate,” Patel told The Post, adding that he was “really concerned” about the trend. “The idea that you can simply ‘stretch the suspensory ligament’ and safely gain an inch is also misleading.”
You could also do some serious damage, since hanging weight from the penis strains the delicate blood vessels, nerves and erectile tissue. This extra tension can cause “bruising, swelling, skin injury and significant pain,” according to Patel.
“With enough force or repeated trauma, you can potentially injure the nerves and blood vessels, lose sensation, develop scar tissue and even cause erectile dysfunction,” he said.
Continuous weighted stretching could also lead to penile curvature similar to Peyronie’s disease, a medical condition where plaque build up under the skin of the penis causes it to bend, curve or shorten during an erection.
So desperate to grow your groin that you’re willing to risk it? Take heed: This method could also end up making you look smaller by by damaging the suspensory ligament that’s responsible for supporting and stabilizing the penis.
“You don’t know when you’ve crossed the line from stretching tissue to restricting blood flow or actually injuring it,” Patel explained.
If the ligament is overstretched, it could change the angle of your erection or make it less stable.
It’s not the first time the looksmaxxing influencer has shared his “shopping bag” trick for enhancing his package, previously sharing it on Logan Paul’s podcast, “Impaulsive.”
While Clavicular reported he noticed improvement from what is considered “penis-maxxing,” he also admitted that “the erection angle will lower a bit.”
Despite the purported gains, it’s not just the video that worries Patel, but the larger issue of body image and anxiety around penis size and how influencers like Clavicular can magnify that.
“Once someone starts experimenting with weights or aggressive stretching techniques, they can turn a cosmetic concern into a real medical problem — and some of that damage can be permanent,” Patel said.
If you’re concerned about your size, he added, talk to a urologist: “We can tell you what’s normal, what actually has evidence behind it and, just as importantly, what could cause permanent harm.”
