Dr. Joshua Gonzalez<\/a> tells Cosmopolitan that his clinic does these procedures several times a week.<\/p>\n\u201cMost of the patients that I see are coming in to add a little size, often to just improve their confidence in the bedroom,\u201d Dr. Gonzalez explains. \u201cSome men have had experiences in which they felt in adequate\u2014perhaps partners had mentioned something about their size\u2014but a lot of times, this is sort of an internal struggle or an insecurity that they’ve dealt with for some time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s for aesthetic purposes or because they want to \u201cfill\u201d their partners up more during sex, men are paying thousands of dollars to get the penis of their dreams.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s Step Back: What Is Penis Filler, Exactly?<\/p>\n
When you think of \u201cfiller,\u201d you likely think of the injectable treatments for your face. Well, penis filler is more similar to that than you\u2019d assume.<\/p>\n
\u201cPenis fillers use dermal fillers that have been used now for decades in the face in the lips to add volume to add volume to the penis and they primarily increase girth,\u201d Dr. Gonzalez explains.<\/p>\n
First, the penis is numbed using a couple of small injections\u2014but only feels like a quick pinch. Once the penis is numb, hyaluronic acid filler goes underneath the fascia\u2014the two connective tissue layers that support, protect, and hold the internal erectile tubes together.<\/p>\n
The entire procedure takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, and requires about 2-3 office visits spanned across several weeks. After that, patients are typically recommended to come back every 12-24 months for maintenance\u2014though Dr. Gonzalez says he sees his patients\u2019 filler last up to 2-3 years.<\/p>\n
The amount of the filler used depends on how big the patient wants to go. Sometimes, as a result, patients will see their penises become \u201cgirthier\u201d both while flaccid and while erect. But Dr. Gonzalez says that aside from some light swelling for 2-3 weeks, their penis shouldn\u2019t feel any different than it did before the procedure.<\/p>\n
But sometimes, it feels different to their partners.<\/p>\n
Are There Any Risks?<\/p>\n
Penis filler is minimally invasive, but\u2014like any procedure\u2014it isn’t risk-free.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love using hyaluronic acid filler because the biggest complications that we see tend to be sort of cosmetic lumps, bumps, asymmetry migration,\u201d Dr. Gonzalez says. \u201cThese can all be fixed and corrected using hyaluronidase or adding additional filler nearby to make things look more even.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Dr. Gonzalez has seen limited issues in his patients, there have been complications in other places. One study of 230 men who received HA injections for penile augmentation reported that 4.3 percent experienced complications during six months of follow-up, including bleeding, nodules, and infection.<\/p>\n
Infection is also possible with any injection procedure. While Dr. Gonzalez says the risk is very low when the procedure is performed using sterile technique, serious infections following penile HA injections have been reported, including a case in which an infection progressed to septic shock and required intensive treatment and surgery.<\/p>\n
The type of filler matters, too. HA is safe, but permanent fillers like silicone or paraffin are less so. Those materials have been associated with delayed inflammation, granulomas, infection, tissue death, deformity, and other complications that can require surgical treatment. So always make sure you know exactly what\u2019s going into your penis.<\/p>\n
As for sensation, Dr. Gonzalez says he doesn’t expect patients to experience changes when the procedure is performed by an experienced injector who understands the anatomy of the penis. But, there still isn\u2019t enough research to tell us if this is true all the time. Most studies of penile filler involve pretty small groups of patients and very limited follow-up, leaving less information about rare or long-term complications.<\/p>\n
As with any procedure, it\u2019s important to know what\u2019s at risk\u2014and if more girth is worth it.<\/p>\n
Does Having Sex Feel Different After?<\/p>\n
Patients who get penis filler are asked to wait at least 10 days after the procedure to start having sex again. After the waiting period is up, their sex lives might change in more ways than one.<\/p>\n
This was the case for Sylvia* and John*, who opted to get the procedure despite some concern and hesitation from Sylvia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first treatment was not extremely noticeable but after a few treatments it was visibly and physically noticeable,\u201d she says. While Sylvia expected that there would be growth, she didn\u2019t know that the girth could increase so drastically.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a result, Sylvia explains that penetration felt noticeably different right away. \u201cIt felt more full and seemed to reach deeper. We definitely had to go a bit slower in the beginning and [use] a little extra lube to help. But once [it] settled in, it hits all the rights spots,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
John\u2019s noticed a difference himself too. Although his penis still feels \u201cnormal,\u201d as Dr. Gonzalez said it would, he can tell that it\u2019s heavier and hangs lower when it\u2019s flaccid. He enjoys knowing that his wife feels the difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is nice to feel my wife adjust to everything when sex first begins (she has to breathe out slowly when I first enter her),\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Sylvia\u2019s enjoying the change, though she said she never had an issue with his size. Though when John brought up penis filler to her, she was \u201c100 percent supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n
She explains that she\u2019s always been attracted to her husband and the penis filler hasn\u2019t affected this.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it just made things a little more interesting in the bedroom,\u201d she says. \u201cI mean, you might like ice cream, but who wouldn\u2019t rather have it with toppings?\u201d<\/p>\n