Tolerability and Efficacy of Newly Developed Penile Injection of Cross-linked Dextran and Polymethylmethacrylate Mixture on Penile Enhancement

6 Months Follow-Up

D Y Yang; W K Lee; S C Kim


Int J Impot Res. 2013;25(3):99-103. 

In This Article

Abstract and Introduction


Cross-linked dextran and polymethylmethacrylate mixture (Lipen-10) is newly developed tissue filler. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tolerability and efficacy of Lipen-10 on penile enhancement. Twenty adult males were included in this study. Lipen-10 was injected into the subcutaneous tissue of the penile shaft. The penile girth and length were measured in the flaccid state, before and 1, 3 and 6 months after the injection. The circumference increased by 3.7±1.2 cm (50.8%, P<0.0001) at penile base, 4.2±0.9 cm (59.0%, P<0.001) at mid-shaft, and 3.8±1.0 cm (53.2%, P<0.0001) at distal shaft and the length increased by 2.3±1.4 cm (63.2%, P<0.001). There was, however, no significant difference between 3 and 6 months post-treatment in girth and length (P-values: 0.796, 0.498, 0.600 and 0.084 for penile base, mid- and distal-shaft and length, respectively). The complications were only one mild asymmetry of penile shape and one 5-mm-sized nodule in the injected site. There were no clinically significant adverse events in all subjects. Penile injection of Lipen-10 led to a significant increase in penile size, showed a good durability and was well-tolerated, without serious adverse events. These results suggest that penile injection of Lipen-10 may be a new effective method for penile enhancement.


Penis size has been a source of anxiety for men throughout history, and men often feel the need to enlarge their penises in order either to improve their self-esteem or to satisfy and impress their partners.[1] A variety of cross-cultural references to penile enhancement exist. However, there have been reported various adverse events such as re-contracture and shortening after suspensory ligament dissection and graft tissue necrosis, as well as donor site scar after dermal fat graft.[2]

Currently, as the need for safer, effective and less invasive procedures are increasing, penile enhancement procedures using injectable products are in high demand. There are several types of injection materials for penile enhancement. However, most of them are not approved yet by the professional societies, and are performed in private settings, leading to medico-legal implications and paucity of scientific data.[2]

Dextran is a complex with branched glucan, and is generally used as antithrombotic agent or volume expander.[3] It has been recently used as bulking material for the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux.[4] Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) consists of 32–120-μm-sized microspheres with smooth surface. The injected PMMA is not absorbable, and its esthetic effects have endured for >10 years.[5,6] In 2006, it was approved for the treatment of nasolabial folds in USA,[5] and has been widely used to fill lines and wrinkles in the face.[6]

Cross-linked dextran and PMMA mixture (Lipen-10; Chungwha Medipower Corporation, Seoul, Korea) is newly developed dermal filler for soft-tissue augmentation. Both of these substances have neocollagenetic properties, and are replaced by the body's own tissue after dermal injection.[3,6] Cross-linked dextran and PMMA are easy to mix and do not affect each other physicochemically.

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of cross-linked dextran and PMMA mixture on penile enhancement during a follow-up period of 6-months after injection.