What are the risks of penis filler?

We consider this procedure to be low risk when injecting a reversible Hyaluronic acid-based filler.

If injecting a collagen stimulator, hybrid, or polymer-based filler (PLLA), the procedure is high-risk.

Collagen stimulator fillers fuse the sliding layers of the penis together unnaturally and can cause serious complications which are difficult to address.

When using a Hyaluronic acid-based filler, the procedure has a low risk profile, commensurate with common HA-based facial dermal filler injections.

If using a Hyaluronic acid-based filler, this is the safest medical approach available to thicken the penis and is less invasive than surgical penis enlargement.

Our experience with complications at Androfill

• Complications are rare and usually minor, including temporary swelling and mild bruising.
• Infection is a rare possibility, but if it does occur, it can be a serious complication. The risk of infection is lowered by following the aftercare instructions and completing a course of antibiotics.
• Infection is our primary concern at Androfill Clinic. In a typical year, we have approximately 2 or 3 patients out of more than 1,000 who experience an infection. In some cases, an infection can be severe. In rare cases, all of the filler has been required to be dissolved away, and the infection (cyst) has needed to be drained.
• Worldwide, the number of facial aesthetic procedures performed using Hyaluronic acid-based fillers exceeds 5 million each year.
• Complications are exceedingly rare when an experienced doctor injects filler.

Putting the risk in context

Androfill Clinic has performed this procedure for over 12 years, treating more than 15,000 patients without any severe permanent issues.

Reversibility

Hyaluronic acid-based filler procedures can be reversed by dissolving away the filler with an injection of Hyalase enzyme at any time following the procedure.

Please read more information on the risks and possible complications.

Side Effects

The procedures are generally considered safe when performed by qualified practitioners, with complications occurring in approximately 4-12% of patients link to reference

Mild complications (most common):

• Bruising and swelling (typically resolving within 2 weeks) link to reference

• Temporary pain and tenderness link to reference

• Minor bleeding at injection sites link to reference

Moderate complications:

• Subcutaneous nodules (2.2% of patients) link to reference

• Infection (0.9% of patients) link to reference

• Penile edema, particularly in uncircumcised men link to reference

Serious Complications (rare):

While rare, more serious complications can occur:

• Granuloma formation (0.63% of patients) link to reference

• Penile deformity or asymmetry link to reference

• Migration of filler material link to reference

• Priapism (when combined with other treatments) link to reference

One study of 471 men found that all complications were minor (Clavien-Dindo grade 1-2) and treatable in an outpatient setting link to reference

Medical Society Positions

In the USA:  FDA Approval Status

Hyaluronic acid fillers have been FDA-approved for various cosmetic uses since 2003, but not specifically for penile enhancement. Their use for penis enlargement is considered “off-label,” meaning physicians can legally use them for this purpose based on their clinical judgment, but without specific FDA approval for this indication.

Professional Medical Consensus

The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) issued a cautious position statement in 2024: link to reference

• Limited recommendation: “Limited data suggest potential cosmetic benefits of temporary injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) and polyactic acid (PLA) fillers to increase penile girth with an acceptable safety profile”

• Research emphasis: Clinicians are “urged to conduct safety and efficacy analyses using Institutional Review Board (IRB)–approved research protocols”

This page was first published on  3 June 2013.

The page was updated on 16 October 2025.

The Author of this page is Dr Gary Horn.

The page has been reviewed by Urologist Dr Greta Peciulyte.