Penis fillers
Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers like Juvéderm and Restylane—which are often used to plump lips or restore lost facial volume—are a noninvasive option for increasing penis length and girth.
A numbing cream, followed by an injected numbing agent, prevents pain. “Depending on the patient’s goals, a filler is chosen and then injected into the corpus cavernosum of the penis [two columns that contain most of the blood during an erection]. The filler is then worked through the penis, to achieve a uniform increase in length and girth,” says Cedar Grove, New Jersey, physician Dr. Muhammad Mirza in aRealSelf Q&A.
Expect the doctor to use about 10 syringes of filler on your first visit—maybe more, if you have a longer penis. NYC plastic surgeon Dr. David Shafer says that some patients have as many as 15 syringes. It takes a lot to make a difference in size, which can get expensive, says Dr. Neavin. “It’s also hard to get a uniform distribution around the penis,” he adds. “It comes out kind of lumpy.”Â
You should see immediate results, with final results visible within two weeks. At this point, you can decide if you want more. “We like to see patients back about four to six weeks after their first treatment,” Dr. Shafer says. “At that appointment, some patients choose to get additional injections, for added effect.”
Filler injections can cause some soreness or minor bruising, which shouldn’t last beyond a few days. There’s also the possibility of infection, so avoid sex for at least 48 hours after your treatment, to let the injection sites heal to minimize your risk.Â
Hyaluronic acid–based dermal fillers can last up to two years, with the proper follow-up visits; but everyone metabolizes dermal fillers differently, so your experience may vary. HA fillers can also be dissolved early using hyaluronidase, if you do have a problem or don’t like your results.
PRP injection, aka the P-Shot
The Priapus Shot, or P-Shot, is named after the Greek god of fertility. Dr. Charles Runels developed this procedure to help men with erectile dysfunction as well as curved erections caused by Peyronie’s disease.
Some doctors say it can increase blood flow to the penis and improve the function of nerve endings. “It may improve sensation or erection temporarily,” Dr. Neavin says. “It probably doesn’t add any permanent size increase, with the exception that if you have an improved erection, it will give you more volume.”
Like injectable fillers, these platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments involve injections into your penis. First, you get a local and topical anesthetic to keep you comfortable. Then your doctor draws blood from your arm and spins it in a centrifuge to separate the red and white blood cells and concentrate the platelets, which are rich in growth factors. They then inject the platelets into several different areas of your penis.
You can have fat transfer in combination with PRP injections to increase both size and sensation, a procedure Dr. Neavin calls a super-concentrated thrombocyte injection with fat (STIF) shot. It’s done to improve penile girth and (to some extent) length, for permanent results.
Another variation of the super-concentrated thrombocyte injection is the STIM shot, another term coined by Dr. Neavin. The STIM shot combines PRP injections with the application of a penis pump to apply negative pressure and create micro injuries in the tissue. This allows PRP to spread evenly throughout the penis and target the tissue with its reparative and rejuvenating properties.
While you may see an improvement in your erections from this technique, don’t expect a huge size boost. Men who had STIM shots gained only about .2 inches in length and girth per injection, and results typically last just two to three months. But repeated treatments could expand the vessels and tissues in your penis and provide longer-lasting results over time.
PRP is still considered an experimental treatment, meaning that there hasn’t been enough research to confirm its safety and effectiveness. Side effects from PRP are usually limited to minor bruising, bleeding, or swelling. Using a penis pump vacuum device at home for a few minutes a day can improve your odds of success.
More alternatives to penis enlargement surgery
Other methods and techniques exist to increase penis size, but their effectiveness and safety are still up for debate.
- Some extenders or penile traction devices have been proven to achieve results of up to 1.4 cm in increased length.
- Vacuum pumps with a plastic tube that fits over the penis pull in blood, making it swell up. They’re often used to treat erectile dysfunction, and while results are only temporary, overuse can lead to tissue damage.
- The urology community has seen no evidence that pills, creams, lotions, or other penis enlargement products advertised online for “male enhancement” work, and doctors caution that some could be risky.Jelqing is a do-it-yourself massage method meant to improve penis size without surgery. Though tugging and pulling on the penis may increase blood flow, no research is available to show that this technique increases size. There’s also some concern that applying too much pressure could cause tissue damage.
