Adobe StockHealth professionals have warned of the potentially lethal danger of penis Botox and filler injections amid an increase in men seeking procedures in Scotland.
Medics have warned of a “growing number” of unregulated “pop-up” clinics offering men treatments for erectile dysfunction or to increase the size of their genitals.
Have you been impacted by unregulated cosmetic treatments?
STV News would like to hear from you
The procedures see Botox, which relaxes muscles, or fillers, which can increase size, injected into the patient’s penis.
Botched cases have resulted in men having their pensies amputated, a doctor has told STV News.
Medics warned of pop-up clinics with unlicensed practitioners operating outside the bounds of medical safety, using unapproved treatments and deceptive social media marketing tactics.
‘Lifelong problems’
Dr Ben Taylor-Davies, who runs the Stockbridge Clinic in Edinburgh and also works as an A&E doctor, said the procedures, even when carried out by an experienced surgeon, carry risks including necrosis or death.
“These are not treatments I’d ever recommend any patient undertake and if they were considering them, seeing an experienced urological surgeon would be vital”, he told STV News.
“This is the latest example of why urgent regulation of the surgical and non-surgical aesthetics industry is needed in order to protect the public from harm.
“There are a number of significant risks involved with injections to this region, including infection, allergy, necrosis (dying of tissue) and even death.”
Dr Darren McKeown, a plastic surgeon, told STV News that providers on social media platforms such as TikTok are taking advantage of “common insecurities”.
“Penis size is a concern for many men”, he said. “Research shows that most men underestimate the size of their penis and worry that it is smaller than it is. It’s a very common insecurity.
“Unfortunately, there are a growing number of clinics popping up offering quick fixes by injecting fillers into the penis to make it thicker. Some are even injecting Botox to make the penis hang lower when flaccid.”
Dr McKeown has warned that while the procedures may seem “logical and straightforward”, they can cause lifelong problems.
“There are many videos on social media, particularly TikTok that make this look like a quick and easy fix, but the reality is very different”
Dr Darren McKeown
He has even warned of rare cases where men have had to have their genitals amputated.
“They are plagued with problems, including infections, product reactions, and lumps, and many men are left desperately embarrassed and in need of corrective surgery”, he added.
“Even after corrective surgery, however, some men can be left with lifelong problems, and in rare cases, some have even needed to have their penis amputated.
“I would strongly urge any man considering cosmetic procedures to see a specialist urological surgeon for advice.
“Most urologists advise against these types of procedures because of the high risk of complications and the poor chances of patient satisfaction. You should not be treated in a pop-up clinic and you should not be treated by someone who is not a specialist, or worse still, someone with no medical qualifications whatsoever.
“There are many videos on social media, particularly TikTok, that make this look like a quick and easy fix, but the reality is very different, and by the time many men are finding this out, it’s too late, and they have to live with life-changing injuries.”
‘Seek a professional’
It is not the first dangerous trend offered by unregulated pop-up clinics offering cosmetic procedures. In May last year, a woman had to be taken to hospital after undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift in a Glasgow hotel.
Thousands of pounds of unlicensed and unprescribed products used in cosmetic injections were seized by authorities from a warehouse in the city in a separate incident.
Healthcare professionals previously warned that Scotland was becoming the “worst country in Europe” for unqualified beauticians injecting customers with cosmetic treatments due to the lack of legislation preventing anyone from advertising on social media offering beauty treatments.
Currently in Scotland, under-18s are not banned from receiving these treatments, unlike in England, where stricter regulations have been implemented.
Last month, the Scottish Government revealed proposals to crack down on “cowboy” Botox, fillers and cosmetic surgery procedures.
The plans mean dermal fillers and the use of Botox will have to be supervised by a qualified healthcare professional, while “breast and buttock augmentations” must be carried out by a qualified professional.
Improvements in the safety and standards in the non-surgical cosmetic procedures sector have been set out, with a minimum age of 18 to be introduced for all procedures.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland has urged anyone seeking cosmetic procedures to put “their care into the hands of professionals”.
“Private clinics provided by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dental care professionals, midwives or pharmacy technicians are required to be registered with our organisation,” a spokesperson said.
There are over 500 registered and regulated clinics across Scotland, the vast majority providing cosmetic procedures. We do not regulate on the basis of particular treatments.
“Having a cosmetic treatment is a serious undertaking that should only be entered into with due consideration of the very real risks to an individual’s health and safety.
“We would urge anyone looking to get cosmetic interventions to think about their health and wellbeing, and put their care into the hands of professionals with appropriate training and experience, and where they can trust them to make their wellbeing a priority.
“People should always check that a clinic is registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland before undertaking treatments.”
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
Have you been impacted by unregulated cosmetic treatments?
STV News would like to hear from you
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
