What is penis filler and does it actually work?

Does penis filler work? What are the benefits?

Yes, studies show that penis filler often adds up to 1.54 inches of girth (usually about 1 inch on average about one month after the injection).

Here are some of the other benefits of penis fillers, according to men who have undergone penile girth enhancement in the past year:

Improved genital self-image
Higher self-esteem
Increased self-confidence, especially in situations where someone could see their penis, such as in a locker room
Increased sexual confidence

Size is just part of the puzzle when it comes to penis filler, according to Dr. Shafer.

“While we do have patients that are on the smaller end of the spectrum seeking enhancement, many patients are actually average-to-large but they are looking to boost their size even more to enhance their relationships or boost their confidence,” he says.

Dr. Rowe adds, “some men do it because they are self-conscious about [their] penis size, while others have related to me [that] they do it to ‘spice things up.”

Types of penis filler

There are several types of penis filler, including:

Hyaluronic acid penis fillers
Polylactic acid fillers
Polymethyl methacrylate fillers
Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers

Hyaluronic acid filler

Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler is a gel-like substance that mimics the body’s natural hyaluronic acid. Meaning, it holds onto water and adds volume to the area where it’s injected.

As a filler, hyaluronic acid is the go-to for penile girth enhancement procedures due to its low risk of complications.

“Hyaluronic acid-based products such as Juvederm Voluma and Volux have an antidote with hyaluronidase, an enzyme that can ‘melt’ the filler,” Dr. Shafer says. “This is important for aesthetic reasons but also for safety if there is a complication from the filler.”

In other words, hyaluronic acid penis filler can be dissolved if necessary. So, providers can reverse the filler (i.e. remove it from the body) if there are any complications or the patient simply doesn’t like the result.

In a study of 155 men, those who received multiple hyaluronic acid filler injections had an average girth increase of about 0.71 inches (1.8 cm).

Most men underwent an average of 2.2 penis filler treatments. So, if you do the math, it comes out to an average girth increase of 0.25 inches (0.63 cm) per session.

Twenty three men had four or more treatments and experienced an average girth increase of about 1.16 inches (2.95 cm).

In a small study of 38 men, hyaluronic acid fillers added 1.3 inches (3.30 cm) in girth when flaccid and 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) when erect, though this decreased over time due to natural resorption. Complication rates were low, and side effects were generally mild and resolved on their own.

And in another small study of 64 men, a single hyaluronic acid filler treatment increased average penile girth by about 0.9 inches (2.27 cm) at 24 weeks post-injection. It also led to an increase in satisfaction with penile appearance and improvements in post-injection sex life. Plus, there were no serious adverse side effects.

Polylactic acid filler

Polylactic acid (PLA) filler is a synthetic substance that stimulates your body to produce more collage over time. This can gradually increase fullness and firmness in the area of injection.

However, compared to HA filler, polylactic acid filler tends to produce less of a girth increase in the short term. In a study comparing types of penis filler, polylactic acid fillers added 0.63 inches (1.6 cm) while hyaluronic acid fillers added 0.83 inches (2.1 cm).

Both treatments led to an increase in penile satisfaction. They were also found to be safe, and no serious side effects were reported with either type of penis filler.

Polymethyl methacrylate filler

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) filler is a semi-permanent injectable made of tiny plastic microspheres (i.e. microscopic round particles). These microscopic round particles stay in the tissue where they’re injected, supporting the area and providing long-lasting volume.

In a study comparing HA, PLA, and PMMA fillers for penile augmentation, researchers found that PMMA caused the largest increase in penile girth. Like the other studies on penis fillers, no serious side effects were reported.

However, the men who received PMMA filler were the least satisfied with their results — both in regards to how their penis looked and their sex life. This may be because PMMA filler is:

Harder than HLA and PLA, making the penis feel more unnatural
More permanent than HLA and PLA, which some men did not prefer

Side effects and risks of penis filler

The risks associated with penis fillers are generally pretty low when being injected by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.

Typically, the main side effects you’ll be dealing with after the procedure include “some mild to moderate swelling and occasionally bruising and mild soreness,” according to Dr. Shafer.

It’s worth noting that the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved any type of injectable for the purpose of penile enhancement. So, penis fillers are an off-label use of dermal fillers.

That’s why it’s important to have the procedure done by a qualified, licensed professional who specializes in penile girth enhancement — and never by someone at a less-than-trusted facility or on your own, which is when serious complications can happen.

Having said that, there are some potential caveats to be aware of with a penis filler procedure.

Pain and bruising

Generally, penis filler procedures are safe with transient, manageable side effects.

In one study, less than 10% of men reported pain, swelling, redness, and bleeding within the first 30 minutes of the procedure, which got better with treatment.

In another study, only 4.3% of individuals reported complications such as bleeding, nodules, or infection over the course of six months.

Contour issues

After the procedure, you may end up with some unexpected lumps and bumps along the shaft. This can happen if the filler is injected too quickly for it to disperse evenly.

In one study, just over 2% of men reported this issue.

“Some contour issues are not uncommon as the filler is settling and are addressed during the follow up visit,” Dr. Shafer says.

Maintenance treatments

Similar to other cosmetic procedures, penis filler is often not a one-and-done process, according to Dr. Shafer. And while penis fillers can add up to about an inch of girth to your penis, that can decrease by more than a quarter-inch at the six month mark.

Don’t worry; even though the girth gradually decreases over time, people still report high satisfaction with the treatment even at the 12- and 18-month marks.

People who get hyaluronic acid fillers like Voluma and Volux tend to start needing maintenance treatments around two years. But it can be smart to schedule a maintenance treatment at 18 months.

Costs of penis filler

The average cost of penis fillers ranges from $9,500 to upwards of $20,000, depending on the type of filler and number of syringes used. Providers typically price the procedure based on syringe. And hyaluronic acid fillers tend to be more affordable.

“I generally tell patients that if they are going to do the procedure, one or two syringes is not going to make a difference,” Dr. Rowe says. “Multiple syringes need to be used.”

Alternatives to penis filler: what to try first or next?

Penis fillers are just one type of penis enlargement treatment or technique. Other alternatives people try include:

Penis implants
Penile extenders
Penis pumps
Surgeries that increase the length or girth of your penis

Some folks might also try jelqing, but the tactic is not backed by scientific evidence.

What does a penis filler procedure entail?

Typically, the penis filler procedure itself only lasts about 30 minutes. Here’s what to expect.

You’ll be numbed in the groin using local anesthesia.
The provider will perform a series of injections to achieve the look you discussed during your consultation.
You’ll get to see results immediately once the procedure is over, along with some mild bruising and swelling.
Follow your provider’s aftercare tips, which may include gentle massage.
Avoid sex or masturbation for 1–2 weeks after the procedure to ensure healthy healing.
Around 18 months, consider scheduling a touch-up appointment, if instructed by your provider and if it’s of interest.

Penile filler may increase penile girth by up to 1 inch at the one-month mark, but the results don’t last forever. According to a follow-up of 230 men, that increase goes down by more than a quarter-inch at the six-month mark.

“The fillers generally last two years,” Dr. Rowe says. “Most of my patients start getting touch up or refills after 18 months so as not to totally start from scratch.”

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