Patient information
Risks and Complications
Complications are usually rare and mostly mild, however you might experience the following. Full details are in the Androfill Consent Form 2021.01B.
Common approximately 1 in 10 patients
Bruising & tenderness
Bruising and tenderness usually lasting up to 2 weeks from the procedure date, including (very uncommonly) the possibility of haematoma.
To avoid excessive bleeding avoid Vitamin E, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, St John’s Wort and blood-thinning medications such as Aspirin for a week before and a week after the procedure.
Swelling
Swelling is a common complication of this procedure. It can take up to 2 weeks for most of the swelling to disappear. Residual swelling can last for 1 month if a large amount of filler is injected, or due to the natural healing response of the patient.
Note: only after the swelling has gone down will you know how much size you have gained. Therefore measure your ‘after’ size a minimum of two weeks following your procedure for an accurate measurement.
Irregularity
Due to natural tissue bands under the penile skin that may be difficult to identify, it might not be possible to achieve perfect symmetry in a single session.
In some cases corrections will be made, usually requiring the addition of a small amount of additional filler at the patient’s expense, during a second visit to the clinic a minimum of 2 weeks after the first session.
Filler can be moulded during the first week by the patient at home. Additional filler can be added at the patient’s expense if further filler is needed.
Uncommon approximately 1 in 100 patients
Hardening, lumps & granuloma
Hardening of the product and the formation of a lump, nodule or granuloma. This can occur from a few weeks following the procedure to a number of months after the procedure.
These lumps are important to resolve without significant delay. Please contact the clinic to arrange to come in and have this issue treated.
Nodules
Nodules and lumps are possible complications resulting from the use of dermal fillers. Nodules can be categorised as inflammatory or non-inflammatory.
Inflammatory nodules: delayed-onset nodules (from 4 weeks to 1 year or even longer) are usually inflammatory (immune responses to the filler material) and/or infection-related (including biofilm). Biofilms are widespread in nature and consist of densely packed communities of bacteria that surround themselves with secreted polymers.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a rare complication of dermal filler procedures. Patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI (light brown, brown to dark brown) are more likely to experience this.
Rare approximately 1 in 1,000 patients
Infection
Infection is the most serious complication. While rare, infections are the most serious very uncommon complication of this procedure.
Your surgeon may prescribe you precautionary antibiotics — please ensure you complete the full course.
Very rare approximately 1 in 100,000 patients
Allergy
An allergic reaction to Hyaluronic acid is extremely rare and is usually mild. An allergic reaction may appear as a rash on the skin.
If this should occur and is unable to be resolved it may require the filler to be dissolved.
Higher-risk fillers PCL (Ellansé), Paraffin, Fat Transfer, Metacril / PMMA
Polymer-based fillers
Other fillers include the higher-risk Ellansé (available at the Androfill Clinic) and PMMA (not available at the Androfill Clinic).
The main reason these other fillers are a higher risk is that they are polymer-based (plastics), and as such they can’t be dissolved away or altered following the procedure.
Permanent fillers such as Silicone and Paraffin should never be considered due to their very high risk of complications.
Fat transfer
Fat can be taken from the stomach and used to fill the penis; however, the results are generally unsatisfactory due to the soft texture of fat, the unpredictability of fat survival, formation of hard nodules of necrotic fat, and the need for multiple fat transfer top-ups.
Fat transfer is available from the Androfill Clinic for £4,500, however it is widely considered an outdated method of increasing penis girth.
Body-contouring HA fillers
Certain types of Hyaluronic acid fillers designed for body contouring may also present a high risk, such as Genefill and Hyacorp (contraindicated for use in the penis).
About the author
Clinic Director Dr. Gary Horn
Dr. Gary Horn is the owner and director of the Androfill Clinic and is responsible for all website content.
Dr. Horn is responsible for the outcome of all medical procedures.
Dr. Horn is a registered Plastic Surgeon in the UK (GMC 4267803) and Belgium.
Dr. Gary Horn is a highly acclaimed Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Uro-Andrologist with over 25 years of experience.
Dr. Horn has published widely in international journals and is regularly invited to give lectures and to perform live surgery and non-surgical procedures.
Dr. Horn has been filmed by the BBC for the Plastic Fantastic series.
In 2016 Dr. Horn was filmed performing penis enlargement surgery for a BBC documentary The Penis Extension Clinic
As featured in the press
Regulatory bodies & memberships
This website is for Androfill United Kingdom
Click below for Australia, Belgium, Canada, India, Israel, New Zealand, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE and USA
Written and medically reviewed by Dr Gary Horn — consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, GMC 4267803. Reviewed by Dr Greta Peciulyte, Urologist, GMC 7539240. Last reviewed 28 August 2026. General information only, not a substitute for a consultation. Individual results vary.