Size shouldn’t matter, but let’s be real, we’ve all met a size queen or two.
In the past, there wasn’t a lot you could do if you found your bulge lacking, but modern medicine has come to the rescue with an easy — if fairly expensive — solution: penis filler.
That's right, people have been getting it in their lips for years, but now anyone who wants to add a couple of centimeters to their circumference can book an appointment.
Whether you want to increase your girth to help with your own self-confidence or because you know it will make your partner hot for you, penis filler may be the answer you’re looking for.
But what is penis filler, how much will it cost, and how quickly can you go back to bumping uglies after getting injected? To answer all your burning questions, we reached out to medical experts who know this girth enhancement procedure inside and out.
What is penis filler?
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Penis filler is a nonsurgical procedure where dermal fillers are injected to increase the girth of your penis. Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are most commonly used and are injected into the shaft.
“The filler is injected along both sides of the shaft to create a thicker appearance both in the flaccid and erect states,” said Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner Chris Bustamante, who is also the owner and CEO of Lushful Aesthetics. “The penis also looks longer when flaccid since it's no longer able to fully retract. It’s an aesthetic procedure focused on enhancement rather than function.”
The procedure is also sometimes coupled with scrotum filler to give a more balanced appearance to what you’re working with below the waist.
Who would be a good candidate for penis filler?
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At Lushful Aesthetics, Bustamante has perfected his signature “GirthFill” technique, and he said that regardless of whether you’re circumcised or not, so long as you’re in good health, he’ll be able to come up with a plan to improve your proportions.
“A good candidate is someone in good general health, with realistic expectations, and no underlying conditions that would interfere with healing,” he explained.
According to Dr. James J. Chao, a board-certified plastic surgeon and cofounder of VedaNu Wellness, the ideal candidates are between the ages of 25 and 60, who don’t smoke, and who don’t have uncontrolled diabetes or blood-clotting disorders. “Patients must be in good overall health, have realistic goals, and have no active infection or skin conditions of the penile shaft,” he said.
Will penis filler improve your sex life?
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The most important thing to note is that penis filler is more about improving aesthetics than changing sensations. But getting a confidence boost from penis filler may not only help with your performance in the sack, but that added girth may feel great to your partner.
“For partners, the increased girth can create a different feeling during intercourse,” Chao said. “For the penis owner, this new feedback can translate to confidence. As the filler is placed superficially, the deeper nerves responsible for sensation through the penis are left intact. This means that penis sensitivity is largely unchanged.”
Bustamante said that the “added fullness” can lead to more satisfaction with your sex life, and while it doesn’t directly increase sensitivity, “the extra tightness experienced when penetrating a partner due to the size increase” can make sex feel even better.
How much does it typically cost?
According to Bustamante, the cost depends on the amount of filler used — which is determined by the size of your penis before the injections and the results you’re looking for — but the price of his GirthFill procedure starts at $8,500 for the first 10 syringes.
“On average, patients receive 15 syringes for their first treatment, costing $12,000,” he explained. “Results slowly fade over three years, touch-ups are recommended every 12 to 18 months.”
What are the side effects?
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Temporary swelling, bruising, and tenderness at the injection site are the most common side effects you’ll have to worry about and will typically resolve within 7 to 14 days.
“Less commonly, uneven filler distribution or small nodules can occur, both of which are typically easy to address at a follow-up visit,” Bustamante said. “When performed by an experienced provider, serious complications are rare but can include vascular issues, inflammatory reactions, or infection. Proper sterile technique, detailed aftercare instructions, and preventative medication all help minimize these risks.”
As the procedure has gained popularity, men have begun seeking it out from unqualified providers, but Chao said that going to a reputable injector will significantly decrease your chances of having a dangerous complication.
“Lopsided-looking penises can occur if the filler moves from where it was originally injected or if it’s injected unevenly,” he said. “Both scenarios are more common when injectors are inexperienced, which is why provider research is so important.”
In rare cases, filler material can migrate or be accidentally injected into the foreskin, causing phimosis — where the foreskin can’t retract — or paraphimosis — where the foreskin is trapped behind the glans and can’t return to its original position. But again, a reputable injector will know how to avoid this, making it much less common.
Is the procedure painful?
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If the idea of having a doctor stab needles into the most sensitive part of your body sounds more like a horror movie than something you’d want to do to improve your sex life, don’t worry, because the pain is actually pretty minimal.
“The procedure is virtually painless with the use of local anesthetic and numbing techniques,” Bustamante said. "For added comfort, we provide optional laughing gas. Recovery is relatively quick — patients can usually return to normal daily activities within a day or two, with some temporary swelling or bruising."
Bustamante said he considers patients 90 percent healed at three weeks and 100 percent healed after six weeks, and that you only need to avoid sex and exercise for two weeks to allow for proper healing.
“Patients report minimal discomfort during the procedure, likened to mild pressure with occasional stabbing,” Chao said. “After the procedure, there is moderate discomfort for the first 24 to 72 hours. Over-the-counter pain medication can help with discomfort during this time.”
