An experimental procedure utilizing processed donor fat is now available in the U.S. for men seeking cosmetic penis enlargement, a practice described as being driven by a common insecurity regarding size. The treatment, which uses a product called alloClae, involves injecting fat harvested from deceased donors into the penis to increase its girth.
Dr. Stuart Diamond, a urologist who co-founded NDA Medical Spa near Philadelphia, is among a small number of practitioners offering the procedure. The process involves multiple injections of the processed fat, administered after local anesthetic is applied. The procedure, which reportedly takes between 10 to 15 minutes for the injections, aims to increase the circumference of the penis.
One patient, identified as Tom, a 35-year-old father, underwent the procedure and reported a significant increase in girth. Before the treatment, his stretched flaccid length was 4 inches and his circumference was 3.5 inches. After the injections, his circumference increased to 5 inches, a change he described as "thrilling."
Traditional penis enlargement methods often involve dermal fillers like hyaluronic acid, which increase volume but are not FDA-approved for penile injection. These can carry risks such as uneven distribution, lumpiness, and migration of the material. Another method involves using the patient's own fat, requiring liposuction to harvest it from another part of their body.
AlloClae offers a processed, off-the-shelf alternative that bypasses the need for a second procedure to obtain fat. While the use of donor tissue is common in other medical fields, its application in cosmetic penis enlargement is relatively new. The procedure is purely cosmetic, with no medical necessity, and is designed to enhance girth rather than sexual function.
Doctors note that surveys indicate approximately half of men worry about their penis size, though most have no medical reason for concern. Tom, the patient, stated that his insecurity about his size had persisted since his teenage years. He sought the procedure to alleviate lifelong anxiety rather than due to any physical or partner-related issues.
The cost of the alloClae procedure ranges from $8,000 to $12,000. Potential risks associated with injectable fillers include injury, scarring, infection, and erectile dysfunction. Following the procedure, patients are advised to abstain from sexual activity for two weeks and apply creams to minimize infection risk. The long-term durability of alloClae in the penis is not yet fully established, though similar donor-fat products used elsewhere on the body have shown results lasting from six months to several years. Dr. Diamond estimates the effects in the penis could last at least a year.