Penis size is relatively unimportant when it comes to sexual satisfaction, but if the truth be told, the vast majority of men would not say no to a larger, thicker penis and will often go to great lengths in the search for a way to make it bigger - or at least to make it look bigger. While penis health and function is truly the more important concern, most men would like a larger penis to take care of.

For men whose self-esteem really depends on the size of their package, here are some things to consider. Actually adding length or girth to the penis is difficult, if not impossible; however, there are some tricks that can be used to alter the appearance of one's penis size. Men can try any of these approaches to set off the manhood to its best advantage so that it seems bigger to the beholder:

1) Lose the gut. Size perception is all based on comparison. A soda bottle may look pretty big when placed next to a salt shaker, but pretty small next to a vacuum cleaner. If one's penis is overshadowed by a lot of body mass, it's going to look smaller than if it were surrounded by a fit body with nary an extra ounce of fat on it. In addition, when a man is overweight, there's often a build-up of fat in the padding around the penis which actually enfolds a bit of the base of the tool; when that fat is eliminated, a small bit more of the penis shows. By losing weight, a man hasn't actually gained any penis length, but a little more may be showing - and for many men, every little bit counts.

2) Get shaving. Years ago, very few men shaved their pubes; nowadays, manscaping is in - and with good reason. A hairy, unkempt bush masks a guy's penis and prevents it from being seen in all its glory. When the hair is shaved - or at least neatly and closely trimmed - all of a sudden, that tool is going to seem bigger than when it was half-hidden by hair.

3) Get tan all over. A lot of dudes don't like getting a full-body tan, but the fact is that tan lines distract from a guy's package and prevent a partner from experiencing its fullness. This is especially true when a man has a very deep tan elsewhere but is extremely pale in the area beneath his swimsuit. (Of course, tanning is not without risks, so a man needs to weigh these with his desire to appear larger to determine if this is an option he wishes to pursue.)

4) Choose condoms carefully. The right condom can give a penis the appearance of being larger. Skinny penises can appear fatter if a ribbed condom with bumps all around it is used; shorter shafts can give the illusion of length by wearing a ribbed rubber in which bumps are arranged lengthwise. Also, light colors tend to make objects appear larger, so go for white or yellow instead of black or midnight blue in the condom department.

5) Position it right. The penis looks biggest at a 45 degree angle and/or when seen from below - so a man should keep this in mind when presenting his manhood.

6) Try some warmth. A good trick to use before unveiling is to pay a trip to the bathroom, soak a washcloth in warm (not hot) water, and use it like a compress all over the penis area. The warmth will help the blood vessels to expand somewhat, so that even a flaccid penis will have a bit more heft to it.

Those penile blood vessels can be even more receptive if a man uses the right, top drawer penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil). The cream should include L-arginine, which facilitates the creation of nitric oxide, which in turn plays a significant role in opening up blood vessels. Another essential ingredient: acetyl L-carnitine, a neuroprotective supplement which helps protect penis sensitivity; when in the throes of sexual activity, whether partner-based or self-induced, many a penis gets handled a bit too roughly. Acetyl L carnitine helps to restore sensitivity that rough handling can engender. No matter the penis size - big penis, small or medium - paying attention to penis health is essential.