Why are silicone injections regarded as the least safe option as a girth filler?
This is a common questions amongst individuals looking at phalloplasty and penis enhancement procedures. Please see 2 of our respected doctors answers below! To learn more or join in the conversation, please set up an account and participate in our forum!
Dr. Solomon:
Liquid silicone is the injectable form. Its use in medicine for soft tissue augmentation is no longer permitted in the US. It is permitted for some ophthalmic uses. It is prohibited for soft tissue augmentation because the complication rate was unacceptable when it was studied in the past. Liquid silicone was initially thought to be useful when injected in microdroplets into the dermal layer of skin. Injectors of silicone in the penis do not inject silicone into the dermal layer of the penis skin because this layer is quite thin and microdroplet injections in this layer would not provide any significant girth to the penis. In my experience, it has been injected into the Dartos layer of the penis, which has relatively loose tissue and no dermis in which to seat the silicone. Liquid silicone acts by reacting with the body, forming something called a foreign body granuloma. Over time, these granulomas enlarge and become hard nodules. These nodules can be difficult to remove, They can erode through the skin causing ulceration. More importantly, there is only one type of liquid silicone approved for human use in the US. Some patients get injections with non-medical grade silicone that has impurities. The body reacts to these impurities, often causing oozing and ulceration. For these reasons, liquid silicone is not a useful product in the long run for penis enlargement.
