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Clavicular reveals ‘shopping bag’ penis-growing method — as doctor warns it can cause permanent damage

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Cite

Sacks, R. (2026, September 21). Clavicular reveals ‘shopping bag’ penis-growing method — as doctor warns it can cause permanent damage. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/09/21/health/doctor-warns-about-claviculars-dangerous-penis-growing-hack/

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

New York Post · collected 2026-09-21 · by Rachel Sacks

Quick Summary

Controversial influencer Clavicular shared a method for allegedly increasing penis size by hanging weights from the shaft while driving, claiming to gain about an inch with consistency. However, Dr. Rajesh Patel warns that such practices can cause serious damage including bruising, swelling, nerve injury, and erectile dysfunction due to unpredictable force application. The article emphasizes the risks of DIY methods compared to medically approved penile traction devices which safely add up to one inch in length under professional guidance.
Written by AI on 2026-09-21, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Controversial "manosphere" influencer Clavicular (real name Braden Peters) revealed a penis-stretching method called the "shopping bag hang," which involves suspending weights around the penile shaft while driving, during an interview with Howie Mandel for his podcast. Clavicular claims this can stretch the suspensory ligament and add about an inch in length if done consistently. However, Dr. Rajesh Patel, president of Associated Urological Specialists, warns that such methods pose serious health risks and have no proven benefits. Medical penile traction devices, according to Patel, might safely increase length by half an inch to just under one full inch, but the DIY method Clavicular promotes can cause permanent damage.

Written for “Penis Enlargement Methods Controversy” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Penis Enlargement Methods Controversy
Health · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

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How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
25
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
32%
8 of 25 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
66/100
New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Health
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-21 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

New York Post · 16258 article(s) · 35 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 35 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Rachel Sacks
39 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
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Also by Rachel Sacks
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 39 articles by Rachel Sacks →

Topics

Associated Urological Specialists The Post

Subjects

Patel PERSON · 6× Clavicular PERSON · 5× Associated Urological Specialists ORG · 1× Braden Peters PERSON · 1× Howie Mandel PERSON · 1× Logan Paul’s PERSON · 1× Mandel PERSON · 1× Rajesh Patel PERSON · 1× The Post ORG · 1×

Narrative

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.
framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-21
🔮 “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.

Claims (25 extracted, 8 hedged)

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. uncertain
he → share → manhood
But the unusual trick is worrying doctors, who warn that the risks far outweigh any potential — and unlikely benefits. asserted
risks → worry → potential
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. asserted
he → interview → 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. asserted
size → admit → 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. asserted
he → pump → 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. asserted
that → claim → 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. uncertain
he → gain → car
However, there’s no strong evidence that hanging weights from one’s wang will increase it’s size. asserted
hanging → ’ → 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. asserted
devices → say → 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. asserted
Patel → design → weight
“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. asserted
he → have → trend
“The idea that you can simply ‘stretch the suspensory ligament’ and safely gain an inch is also misleading.” asserted
you → stretch → inch
You could also do some serious damage, since hanging weight from the penis strains the delicate blood vessels, nerves and erectile tissue. uncertain
hanging → do → vessels
This extra tension can cause “bruising, swelling, skin injury and significant pain,” according to Patel. uncertain
tension → cause → 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. asserted
he → repeat → dysfunction
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. uncertain
it → lead → erection
So desperate to grow your groin that you’re willing to risk it? asserted
you → grow → 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. uncertain
that → take → penis
“You don’t know when you’ve crossed the line from stretching tissue to restricting blood flow or actually injuring it,” Patel explained. asserted
Patel → know → it
If the ligament is overstretched, it could change the angle of your erection or make it less stable. uncertain
it → overstretch → erection
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.” asserted
influencer → ’ → podcast
While Clavicular reported he noticed improvement from what is considered “penis-maxxing,” he also admitted that “the erection angle will lower a bit.” asserted
angle → report → improvement
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. asserted
influencers → purport → 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. asserted
Patel → start → damage
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.” uncertain
what → ’re → harm
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