Article
Non-Surgical vs Surgical Penis Enlargement
Androfill is a non-surgical alternative to penoplasty using hyaluronic-acid filler. Here are the pros and cons of each approach — with the evidence.
Length surgery
Cutting the suspensory ligament.
The most common length surgery involves cutting the ligament that attaches the penis to the pubic bone and performing a skin graft at the base to allow extra length. This adds length to the flaccid penis only — there is no change to the size of the erect penis, and because the ligament no longer offers support, the erection points at a lower angle.
Girth surgery
Fat injection and its limits.
Some surgical techniques increase girth by injecting fat taken from elsewhere in the body into the penis. Longer-term follow-up has shown disappointing results, with complications including disfigurement, scarring, lumpiness and infection.
By contrast, a reversible dermal filler is placed non-surgically, has a firmer and more natural texture, and can be dissolved if you are ever unhappy with it. For girth, this makes surgery largely unnecessary today.
Weighing it up
The trade-offs.
Non-surgical filler
- No cutting, minimal bleeding
- ~30 minutes, walk in / walk out
- Firm, realistic texture
- Reversible — can be dissolved
- Predictable, doctor-controlled volume
- Top-ups maintain the result
Surgery
- Incisions, general anaesthetic
- Longer recovery
- Length surgery: flaccid gain only, lost angle
- Fat injection: reabsorption, lumps, scarring
- Not reversible
- Higher complication rate
Related reading
Go deeper.
See the medical studies behind filler enlargement, the honest look at penis lengthening surgery, or the fat transfer vs filler comparison.
Prefer the non-surgical route?
Discuss reversible filler with Dr Anderson — private consultations across New Zealand.
About this page
Last reviewed on 28 July 2026.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr Brent Anderson (MBChB), Fellow of the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine, who leads Androfill in New Zealand.
Information on this page is drawn from the published literature on hyaluronic-acid penile filler and from Androfill’s clinical experience since 2012. It is general information, not a substitute for a consultation — your own suitability, options and risks must be assessed in person by your doctor.