Throughout history, a larger penis size has been associated with strength and masculinity. Studies show that around 45% of men are dissatisfied with their penis size. Most men who consider enlarging their penis think surgery is the only option, but that’s not the case. Urology Specialist Dr. Oğuzhan Gündüz shared information with NewMe about penis fillers, a non-surgical option for penis enlargement:
Editor’s note: the figures and benefits below are the specialist’s own experience. Independent evidence on penile fillers is limited. Please read “Risks, evidence and who should think twice” further down before deciding.
“Indeed, as you mentioned, penis fillers help us alter the size of the penis. Additionally, filler materials are becoming an increasingly popular option for penile enlargement, including correcting minor curvatures. This minimally invasive procedure, which does not require surgery, can enhance the penis’s circumference, flaccid length, and overall appearance without the cost, recovery time, or discomfort associated with surgery.
Penis fillers essentially involve injecting a dermal filler into the penis to increase its size. The typical filler used is hyaluronic acid, a natural component of the skin but chemically modified to last longer in dermal fillers. The body has a shallow rejection rate for hyaluronic acid and a better safety profile than older filler materials.
This procedure also goes by other names, such as male enhancement injections, non-surgical penile augmentation, and non-surgical phalloplasty.
Most men who undergo this procedure can expect the following benefits:
- Hiding lumps on the penis
- Correcting minor penile curvature
- Increasing flaccid penis length
- Increasing the size of the glans (head of the penis)
- Enhancing pleasure during sexual activity for both partners
It’s important to note that penis fillers do not increase erect length, but they can increase girth when erect. This can lead to improved sexual performance and a more balanced appearance.
Penis filler application is a relatively simple procedure that usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. The penis is first examined and marked. It is then thoroughly cleaned with an antiseptic and draped to maintain sterility. A strong local anesthetic is injected using a very fine needle to ensure the penis is either fully or nearly fully numb. Once the anesthesia takes full effect, the dermal filler is carefully injected into the tissues using a blunt-tip cannula to enhance girth, increase flaccid length, and improve overall shape. The area is then bandaged.
The layer or plane where the filler is placed is called the areolar tissue. This tissue is located between two strong fascia layers: the superficial (dartos) fascia and the deep fascia. The areolar tissue is a continuous, loose connective layer that helps the filler distribute evenly and smoothly throughout the penis for a uniform result under gentle pressure.
A blunt cannula is used to place the filler, which serves two purposes. First, because the tip is blunt rather than sharp, it can glide easily within the areolar tissue. Second, the blunt tip minimizes trauma to the surrounding tissue, increasing the safety of the procedure.
Results from penis fillers are visible immediately after the procedure, but it may take up to 4 weeks to see the outcome, as this is the time required for the dermal filler to fully integrate with the penile tissue. Initially, there may be some swelling that obscures the smoothness of the result.
We recommend avoiding massaging the treated area during the first week or two after the procedure to allow the filler to settle evenly around the penis.
The effects can last from 1 to 5 years, although some studies suggest that the dermal fillers used can last even longer. We typically recommend a follow-up treatment after the first year to maintain results. At this point, we don’t expect all the filler to have dissipated.
Typically, penis fillers can increase girth by about 3 cm and flaccid length by 1.5 cm. With larger amounts of dermal filler, greater increases in size can be achieved. The increase in girth is particularly important as it is directly related to stimulating the partner during intercourse.
This section is &NewMe editorial information and is not part of the interview above. It is based on the European Association of Urology guidelines on penile size abnormalities and published clinical reviews.
- The evidence is limited. The EAU guidelines base most of their recommendations on penile augmentation on low or very low levels of evidence. Studies of hyaluronic acid report girth gains of roughly 1.4 to 3.8 cm, and results vary from person to person. There is little reliable evidence on whether fillers improve sexual function or satisfaction.
- Possible complications include swelling, bruising, pain, infection, lumps or nodules, uneven results and filler moving away from where it was placed. Hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with an enzyme (hyaluronidase) if a result needs correcting. Permanent fillers (such as silicone or PMMA) are much harder to correct and carry a higher risk of long-term problems, so ask exactly which product will be used.
- Who should think twice. Active skin infection or inflammation in the area, bleeding disorders or blood-thinning medication, and curvature or pain on erection, which should be checked first by a urologist (for example for Peyronie’s disease).
- Size worries and body image. Many men who worry about their size are within the normal range: a systematic review of up to 15,521 men found an average flaccid length of 9.16 cm and an average erect length of 13.12 cm (Veale et al., BJU International, 2015). For men whose size is normal, the EAU guidelines recommend a psychological assessment, for example for penile dysmorphic disorder, before any augmentation.
- Questions to ask your doctor: which product and how much, who performs the injection, what the plan is if a result needs correcting, and what happens if complications occur.
After the application of penis fillers, short-term antibiotic treatment may be recommended. Patients are advised to avoid sexual activity and masturbation for 14 days, keep the area clean, and perform daily massages for two weeks to help evenly distribute the filler.
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