Modern medicine is constantly on the move, improving patient outcomes. From electric stimulation applied to paralyzed stroke victims’ spinal cords to ointments that can eliminate the need for surgery on second- and third-degree burns, the advancements are many — and much appreciated by those in need.

Dr. James Elist is doing his part. The inventor of the Penuma implant —an implant that’s surgically inserted under the skin to provide an increase in penis size. Penuma is an aesthetic upgrade for those who are unsatisfied with how their penis looks or suffer from mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, curvature, and other complications from surgeries that may change the look of the penis.

Now, Elist has introduced Himplant, Penuma’s successor. He likens the upgrade to a new iPhone, a newer version made possible through advances in research and development. The Penuma upgrade is possible because of Elist and his team of urologists, cosmetic surgeons, and researchers committed to continuous improvement and excellence.

Dr. James Elist shares, “Any new design, any new invention, at some point in time was the best that can be.

“Still, I have patients who had the first generation of the implant after 17 years. It shows that it was working at that point also, but as a surgeon, as an inventor, as somebody who would like to make it every day better and better, it comes also with the demand of the patients as well as with the observation of other physicians that do the procedure.”

Himplant: How It Started

From the beginning, Dr. James Elist was driven by the singular desire to create a product that could benefit his patients. With over 40 years of experience in the treatment of male sexual dysfunction, he was not only well placed to come up with a solution but had also witnessed firsthand the toll a lack of sexual well-being could take on his patients.

“My most significant source of inspiration has been the patients themselves. Observing the transformative effects of the Penuma and Himplant on their lives has been a driving force, reinforcing my dedication to overcoming obstacles and steadfastly pursuing advancements in male enhancement,” he told Authority Magazine.

The idea for an implant came to Elist on a flight to the Middle East. “On the plane is the best place,” he recalls. “There is no phone, no calls, nothing at all. It came to my mind, maybe we can use  something to a breast implant, making an implant under the penis.

“Which was very unusual for any urologist to hear that because we used to put the penile implant inside the artery of the penis for erectile dysfunction. Nobody ever tried to put the implant under the penile skin.”

As soon as Elist landed back in the United States, where he has practiced for the past four decades, he set about making his musing a reality.

At the time, many cosmetic surgeons were using a gel injection under the penile skin in hopes of giving it bulk and girth. At the very best, the fix was temporary, as gel could be reabsorbed by the body. It could cause a whole host of issues such as nodules, hemorrhage, and inflammation.

The issue was that none of the procedures being used for penile enhancement in the market at the time had been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for that specific purpose. Consequently, it was essential for Elist to create an effective solution that was FDA-cleared.

“The inception of the Penuma implant and its subsequent evolution into the Himplant was driven by the noticeable void in effective solutions for men experiencing distress over their penile size and functionality,” he said.

He recalls the process of getting an FDA clearance being far more complex than he had naively anticipated. However, after numerous data requests, revisions, and long waiting periods, he finally obtained the clearance — an essential step in making the implant accessible.

Himplant Design Features

Since its inception, Himplant has gone through many iterations. Initially, Dr. James Elist envisioned it to be two pieces. Later, he learned that it could be one piece. Even though it was a single piece, it was designed to remain open from underneath so that it doesn’t exert pressure on the urethra under the shaft of the penis. Otherwise, it would have caused his patients difficulty with urination or inability to have surgeries for kidney stones or prostate issues.

This design feature gave way to another innovation — the butterfly mechanism, which allows for further increases in girth when the penis is erect. The implant is open from underneath, while its top functions like a hinge. So, when blood rushes into the penis, it expands the surrounding implant, adding additional girth.

As more research was done, Elist realized that adding a layer of mesh increased strength and flexibility. Advances in manufacturing methods allowed the mesh to be inserted into the implant. Studies proved that the integrated mesh was as strong as having it on the outside.

Improvements to the implant have also been complemented by advances in the surgical procedure. The implant used to be inserted through a surgical incision in the suprapubic area.

“We decided to change the incision, make it under the scrotum,” Elist shares. “It heals better, less chance of infection. It leaves little to no mark. I see some of the patients right now and I wonder, ‘Where was the incision?’ Even I don’t know.”

These advancements don’t mean that the initial designs were somehow flawed. On the contrary, these are only the result of Dr. James Elist’s commitment to improvement. He likes to view his company as a medical wellness company committed to innovation.

The implant did its job then and continues to do so. As a surgeon and an inventor, Elist wants to continuously update his product so that it can better address the needs of his patients. He is convinced that his product is great, but he also knows that he can always make it a little bit better.

Himplant is available in the United States, and also recently became available in major cities of Colombia, In both Dubai and Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, and in Doha, Qatar. Elist is working to make it available in the rest of the world. He is trying to reduce the cost of the procedure to make it accessible to more people.

“I do believe that bringing peace and connection to the family, especially between husband and wife, it’s something,” he shares. “We had many patients who were getting divorced because the wife was not very happy, but doing that procedure brought the marriage back.”