Procedure
Autologous fat transfer
Uses the patient’s own tissue for soft, potentially natural volume.
01 What it is
Fat is harvested from the patient (for example the abdomen) by liposuction, processed, and injected into the penile shaft to increase girth.
02 What it aims to change
Girth, using the patient’s own soft tissue. It does not lengthen the penis or change erectile function.
03 How it is performed
Fat is harvested, processed, and injected in small amounts. Because a portion is reabsorbed, some surgeons overcorrect or plan repeat sessions.
04 What published studies report
Mostly case series report an initial girth increase with variable long-term retention. Graft survival is inconsistent and difficult to predict.
05 What remains uncertain
The proportion of fat that survives long term varies widely, and standardised long-term data are limited.
06 Common short-term effects
- Swelling and bruising at both sites
- Tenderness
07 Potential complications
- Uneven reabsorption
- Lumps or oil cysts
- Asymmetry and contour irregularity
- Infection
- Donor-site effects
08 Reversibility and revision
Fat cannot be dissolved. Irregularities may need contour correction; volume loss may prompt repeat grafting.
09 Recovery
Two recovery sites and a moderate downtime. Outcomes vary.
10 Questions to ask
- How much volume typically persists?
- What is your plan if reabsorption is uneven?
- How is the donor site managed?
11 Evidence references
- Penile girth enhancement procedures for aesthetic purposes
Girth techniques can increase circumference short term, but durability and complication data (nodules, asymmetry, reabsorption) limit strong conclusions.
doi.org/10.1038/s41443-021-00459-y - Non-invasive and surgical penile enhancement interventions for aesthetic or therapeutic purposes: a systematic review
Multiple methods can produce measurable change, but the overall evidence base is limited and standardisation is poor.
doi.org/10.1111/bju.15145