Penis filler is a thing and we're going to need to talk about it.

It has been brought to my attention that 'penis filler' is a thing, and we simply must talk about it.

Yes. Filler! Like the stuff you might get in your face, only it's for the schlong!

You see, the Winter Olympics have brought this to my attention.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is investigating extraordinary claims that Olympic ski jumpers may be using unusual methods to alter their suit measurements — including injecting hyaluronic acid into their penises, according to German newspaper Bild.

The rumours, called "Penisgate," come after Norway's ski team faced suspensions for modifying suit seams. The idea is that making the suits larger reduces the descent rate of the jumpers, due to a bigger wingspan.

WADA director Olivier Niggli said any method that endangers athlete health or breaches anti-doping rules would be examined, but stressed there is no confirmed evidence yet.

Watch: Okay, but what is "Big Dick Energy" and who has it? Post continues below.

Of course, I have some urgent questions about this. Where do I start investigating? With someone who knows what they're talking about, probably.

To find out the long and, er, short of it, I hit up Queensland-based cosmetic doctor and general practitioner Dr Ingrid Tall.

But before anyone rushes to Google it, let's break it down.

Woah. Hold up. What is 'penis filler'?

A good place to start. Put simply, penis filler is similar to facial filler — only it's put in the willy.

"There are generally two different types of volumising agents used," Dr Tall, author of Private Renovations and founder of Cosmetic Image Clinics, told Mamamia.

"One is the standard volumising treatment that we've been using for nearly three decades in Australia, which is commonly used in many areas of the body, including lips and cheeks. For the penis, we tend to use the same firm, long-lasting volumising agent that we use in the cheeks.

"There is another one that is much more rarely used because we don't have a simple reversing agent or antidote to it." This means the treatment usually can't be reversed.

"That's called a collagen stimulating agent, which encourages people to grow their collagen."

So, what's involved in the procedure?

"They [the patient] come in fairly nervous, of course, and there's a lot of paperwork and consent processes — they've got to agree to the acknowledgment of the risks of the procedure," Dr Tall said.

After a "very strong" numbing cream is applied to the area, the patient waits for about half an hour before treatment. Dr Tall noted that the actual volumising agent (the filler) has a local anaesthetic in it as well.

There are two different ways that filler can be inserted into the penis, she explained.

"One is using a blunt cannula, which is like the little plastic tube that's inserted into the back of the hand when you're having an intravenous drip," she said.

"The volumising agent can be then be inserted through this little tube into the lining in between the sliding skin layer and the fixed layer underneath. It's quite superficially placed — not deep into the penis where the erectile chambers become engorged with blood."

Sounds 10/10 terrifying. The other method?

"Sometimes we just use the standard needle technique or the 'sharp' technique. And then, often there's a combination of the two techniques that are employed."

Why are men getting penis filler?

Dr Tall told Mamamia, there's a reason non-surgical penis enhancements are occurring (outside of the Winter Olympics).

"Interestingly, 42 per cent of Australian men think that they have a small penis — but that's too many to actually have a small penis on average," she said.

Meaning? A lot of people may think they have a small penis when it's actually a perfectly normal size.

"Nowadays, people are on PornHub and they're watching increasingly more nude scenes in movies and TV shows, and they're getting a false sense of insecurity or inadequacy, which, ideally they shouldn't have."

As for the type of client coming in for the procedure?

"We get a lot of guys who are driven, go-getting alpha males," Dr Tall said. "Generally, it's the competitive types who just want to be the 'alpha dog' in a way.

"We're seeing very successful guys — a lot of CEOs and property developers. But it's becoming more mainstream — we also see lots of labourers and tilers.

"In Western Australia, we have a lot of miners who come into our clinic, where their discretionary spending is a lot higher than average.

"Really, it's any guy who can afford it."

What does penis filler do?

When it comes to penis filler, candidates are hoping to increase girth (and flaccid length slightly).

To put this into perspective, a 2014 international study found the average erect length of a penis sits at 5.16 inches, with an average girth of 4.6 inches. When flaccid, the average penis was noted as 3.6 inches long and 3.7 inches in girth.

There is a big catch, though.

While the procedure may make a penis appear longer when it's flaccid, unfortunately, when it comes to the length of an erect penis, what you see is what you get.

What a time.

In addition, Dr Tall said some men report changes in sexual experience, but this is highly individual and not guaranteed. Other potential side effects include swelling, lumps, and migration of the filler.

What are the side effects?

Dr Tall highlighted the potential risks and side effects, including migration of the product because of its placement in the 'sliding skin layer'. She also emphasised the importance of proper care and maintenance of the treated area to minimise the risk of complications and ensure optimal results.

"We recommend that men do not have sexual intercourse for two weeks after, and they also shouldn't masturbate for two weeks," she said. "They also shouldn't do any exercise involving the lower body for about a week.

"You've got to massage and mould it, and keep it in shape as much as possible. We recommend doing this twice a day, for at least a minute in the morning and at night, and then every time they go to the toilet."

A compression bandage worn for five days is also recommended to prevent any kinks.

How much does it cost?

"It's still a very expensive procedure," Dr Tall said.

"While a lot of people can afford to get their lips treated, it can cost 20 times as much to get your penis treated because we need a lot more of the products that we use."

This is in the realm of several thousand dollars, so yes, it's expensive indeed.

So, what is happening with the ski jumpers?

According to Bild, there is research to show that a marginally bigger suit can assist in performance outcomes.

A study in Frontiers found that 2cm in suit size can reduce drag by four per cent and life by five per cent. So why the willy?

Bild reports that jumpers are measured on their suits by a 3D scanner that measures from the lowest point of their penis. Therefore, the longer it is, the bigger the suit.

Dr Kamran Karim told the paper, "It is possible to achieve a temporary, visual thickening of the penis by injecting paraffin or hyaluronic acid. Such an injection is not medically indicated and is associated with risks."

While there may not be a specific rule against it as there are for anti-drug rules, WADA does have rules against methods that endanger the health of an athlete or go against the spirit of the sport.

We will have to wait and see the results of their investigation for now.

This article is for news purposes only. Anyone considering cosmetic procedures should consult a qualified medical professional.

Have you heard of penis filler before? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Getty

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