Penile traction therapy for Peyronie's disease: what does the science show?

The treatment is known as Penile Traction Therapy (PTT). RestoreX is a modern, second-generation traction device originally developed in cooperation with the Mayo Clinic. Unlike older traction devices that required patients to wear them for an exhausting 3 to 8 hours a day, RestoreX is designed to be worn for just 30 to 90 minutes daily. It features a unique clamp and counter-bending mechanism to dynamically stretch the penis and directly target the restrictive scar tissue.

The device relies on a biological principle known as mechanotransduction. When the connective tissue in the penis is subjected to a gentle, sustained physical stretch, the cells respond by triggering chemical changes. This mechanical force increases the release of specific enzymes (such as matrix metalloproteinases) that actively break down and remodel the disorganised collagen within the scar tissue. Over time, this cellular remodelling softens the plaque, reduces the curvature, and restores lost tissue length.

Yes. The efficacy of RestoreX is supported by robust clinical data. Randomised controlled trials—the gold standard of medical research—demonstrate that men using the device achieve significant and clinically meaningful improvements in penile length, curvature, and physical well-being compared to men who receive no treatment.

Clinical trials show that with consistent use, men experience an average curvature reduction of 11.7 to 17 degrees, which equates to a 20% to 30% improvement from their baseline curve. Furthermore, length restoration is highly successful; studies report average penile length gains of between 1.5 cm and 2.3 cm. These results are typically achieved with a protocol of 30 to 90 minutes of daily use.

Measurable, significant improvements in both length and curvature are routinely observed after just 3 months of daily use. While the most dramatic changes happen in this initial window, continued use up to 6 months can further consolidate and enhance these outcomes.

Follow-up data from trials confirm that the improvements in length and curvature are generally well preserved at the 6-month mark. However, Peyronie's disease is a dynamic connective tissue disorder. Some long-term observational data suggest that if the device is discontinued entirely, especially in men with underlying erectile dysfunction, a gradual return of corporal fibrosis (tissue stiffening) and length loss might eventually occur. Occasional maintenance use may be required to sustain peak results.

Because RestoreX is a conservative, at-home therapy, the concept of "retreatment" differs from surgery. Patients own the device and can control their own treatment schedules. If the curvature begins to worsen or if a patient desires further length restoration, they can simply resume the daily traction protocol. If maximum benefit is reached but the curve remains too severe for comfortable intercourse, patients may then elect to escalate their treatment to injections or surgery.

Penile traction therapy is remarkably safe. Across multiple trials, the device has been extremely well tolerated with no significant or severe adverse events reported. The side effects are almost exclusively mild, transient, and self-limiting—typically consisting of temporary redness (erythema) or mild numbness of the glans (head of the penis) immediately after removing the clamp.

A common and understandable concern is whether stretching the penis will damage erectile function. Interestingly, the evidence proves the exact opposite. Randomised trials have demonstrated that RestoreX therapy significantly improves erectile function. Men using the device reported higher scores on standardized erectile function questionnaires, greater ability to penetrate, and increased overall sexual satisfaction. Crucially, researchers noted that these improvements in erection quality occurred independently of the improvements in curvature and length.

• Surgery: Surgical straightening is highly effective for severe curves (often correcting over 80% of the deformity), but it carries notable risks. Surgery can lead to permanent loss of penile length (often 0.5 cm or more), changes in sensation, and potential worsening of erectile function. By comparison, RestoreX provides greater length gains and significantly fewer adverse events, though the total curvature correction is less dramatic.
• Injections (Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum / CCH): CCH is an injectable medication that breaks down the plaque chemically. Used alongside CCH injections, traction adds to the effect: trials report greater length preservation and a further 5–10% of curvature correction over injections alone.

Traction suits a man with a curve of 30 degrees or more who wants to avoid surgery, and particularly one whose main complaint is lost length — it is one of the few treatments in this field with trial data showing length regained rather than merely preserved. It is also used alongside plaque injections. What decides whether it works for you is not the curve: it is whether you will actually wear it for 30 to 90 minutes a day, for months.

The evidence is good for a device of this kind: single-blind randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews, with consistent effect sizes. It is not a large literature, it is concentrated in few centres, and the comparison against other traction devices has not really been made. Guidelines support traction as an option in this setting rather than as a standard of care.

Traction has the most to offer a man whose complaint includes lost length: the randomised trials report curvature reductions of 11.7–17° alongside average gains of 1.5–2.3 cm. Those are real numbers, and they are modest ones, achieved by men who wore the device daily for months — which is where the difficulty actually lies. It is a reasonable thing to try before surgery. It is not a substitute for surgery in severe deformity.