A growing number of men are turning to penis fillers to increase girth and boost their confidence, despite warnings from urological surgeons over the potential risks of the cosmetic procedure.
The procedure, which commonly involves injecting hyaluronic acid,the same substance widely used in facial and lip fillers,can increase penile girth by between 10% and 20%, according to one practitioner. The results are temporary and typically last between six and nine months.
However, doctors warn that complications can include infection, bruising, uneven filler and damage to blood vessels and other structures needed for erections.
Jason, a man who underwent the procedure, says it increased the girth of his penis by 16% and gave him a boost in self-confidence.
I was happy with the length of my penis but wanted a bit more symmetry and more girth to get that nice, balanced look,” he says.
Jason says he spent a year considering his options before opting for hyaluronic acid filler because it is temporary and can eventually dissolve.
He says his decision was not driven by a desire to project masculinity, but by changing perceptions of male appearance.
It’s not just women that need to keep up, men need to keep up as well,” he says.
The demand for the procedure appears to be increasing, although there are no official figures showing how many men undergo penis filler treatments.
Dr Javed Hussain, who has been offering the procedure at his clinic in Greater Manchester for more than a year, says he has treated men ranging from their mid-20s to 72 years old.
The procedure involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the penis before massaging the filler to achieve an even appearance. Hussain says patients can pay up to £3,500 for the treatment.
Despite the growing demand, serious complications have been reported.
Prof Vaibhav Modgil, an andrologist and consultant urological surgeon with the NHS in Manchester, says he has treated men whose enhancement procedures went wrong.
When it does happen, it can be devastating for the patient,” he says.
Modgil recalls cases of skin necrosis, in which parts of the penile skin die, turn black and eventually peel away.
One patient treated by Hussain after undergoing the procedure elsewhere suffered damage to blood vessels after the wrong type of filler was used. His penis began turning black and he was sent to an emergency department.
Another man, identified as Alex, travelled to Germany for a surgical enlargement procedure involving the cutting of a ligament and the injection of his own fat cells into the penis.
He says he experienced severe pain, extensive bruising and difficulty walking for about a month.
Alex says societal expectations and pornography had influenced his perception that a larger penis was associated with masculinity.
The British Association of Urological Surgeons has issued recommendations against penile enhancement procedures, citing insufficient evidence on their safety.
The association reviewed 36 studies involving 3,750 men but found that the long-term safety profile of the procedures remained unclear.
Modgil says the lack of regulation is another concern, noting that people performing penis filler procedures do not necessarily need medical qualifications.
He is calling for greater regulation of the industry and the creation of a national registry to record the procedures and collect long-term data.
While some men, including Jason, say they are satisfied with the results, specialists warn that the limited evidence on long-term effects means patients should carefully consider the potential risks before undergoing the procedure.
