A new documentary titled Manhood, directed by Daniel Lombroso and currently in theaters, explores the booming industry surrounding male insecurity over penis size. The film follows the desperate quest for sexual adequacy among men struggling with self-worth and the broader crisis of modern masculinity. Lombroso, a former editorial producer for The Atlantic and The New Yorker, sought to move beyond superficial headlines about the male loneliness epidemic to tell a more propulsive story about what is driving American men toward extreme cosmetic procedures.
The documentary centers on Bill Moore, who operates AdvancedYou, an anti-aging aesthetic clinic in a Dallas strip mall. Moore describes himself as a televangelist for big dicks and a cosmetic revolutionary aiming to make his patented PhalloFill technique as commonplace as Botox. The procedure involves injecting hydrocyanic acid dermal filler to increase girth, though it does not add length. While the treatment costs between $2,500 and $4,000 per visit, Moore encourages a subscription model where men must return three to five times initially and then annually for the rest of their lives to maintain results.
Lombroso met several men with unique stories during his visits to Moore's clinic, including a megachurch pastor, border patrol agents, and a man suffering from brain cancer. Central figures in the film include David, a 24-year-old gay OnlyFans star who visited the clinic after a botched procedure, and Ruben, an out-of-work father of five and stand-up comedian. Contrary to assumptions that such procedures are primarily sought by gay men, Lombroso estimates that around 75 percent of the patients were straight and conservative-leaning. He notes that despite their diverse backgrounds, these men shared a deep feeling of shame and social isolation.
The film suggests that practitioners like Moore may be exploiting the pressure on men to constantly improve themselves. PhalloFill has expanded to 32 clinics across the US, moving away from traditional urologists into the hands of what one board-certified urologist calls corporate marauders. Alex Tatem, a prosthetic urology specialist featured in the documentary, warns that while fillers can physically alter the penis, they cannot address the emotional voids driving these decisions. Morag Yule, president of the Society for Sex Therapy, adds that insecurity is big business, with money to be made from those willing to do almost anything to feel better about themselves.
Data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery indicates that men have outpaced women as the fastest-growing demographic for plastic surgery in the US, with rates higher than prior to 2020. This trend is particularly pronounced among Gen Z and millennials within the looksmaxxing movement, where young men are encouraged to undergo extreme physical modifications to be more sexually desirable. A 2026 study by Reset Tech argues that the manosphere operates like a pyramid scheme preying on vulnerabilities. The film illustrates this exploitation through Ruben's story, who spent so much money on injections that he and his wife were forced to move out of their home and relocate to Phoenix.
Lombroso does not paint Moore purely as a villain or savior but highlights the darker truth about profit motives in the medical industry. The documentary portrays doctors and practitioners as cash-thirsty business sharks who see a quick way to make money by injecting lip filler into penises rather than performing necessary reconstructions or treating erectile dysfunction. As one client lying on an operating table notes, there is a ridiculous societal expectation that physical attributes are a sign of strength, leading men to accept invasive procedures to validate their masculinity.
Sources: WIRED.