So far, the most headline-making Olympic news has nothing to do with gold medals. But rather, what some male Olympians are willing to do for them. Enter: Penisgate. Mere days after the Olympics began, word spread about male ski jumpers allegedly injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid to fly further.
The claim (which so far is just a rumor and is being investigated by the World Anti-Doping (WADA) agency) is that ski jumpers used the aforementioned penis filler before getting fitted for their ski suits, causing a temporary increase in penis size and giving them a slightly baggier suit. The bagginess (allegedly) acts as a sail in just the right place, leading to a slightly longer jump. It should be noted that hyaluronic acid isn’t one of the substances banned by WADA, but if it’s giving competitors an edge, that may change.
Seem far-fetched? There’s actually been scientific research on this. A 2025 scientific study published in Frontiers found that a two-centimeter change in a ski suit can give an extra 5.8 meters in jump length. There’s currently no proof that the ski jumpers used any sort of penis filler, but the allegations are raising questions about how effective hyaluronic acid is when it comes to increasing penis size. Wondering if it’s legit? We talked to urologists to find out.
Can hyaluronic acid injections actually increase penis size?
We talked to four experts (three urologists as well as a very sought-after nurse practitioner who specializes in penis injections) and they all say that hyaluronic acid injections can, in fact, result in a bigger member. “Hyaluronic acid is placed just under the penile skin and not inside the erectile tissue. That way it doesn’t interfere with erectile function,” says Paul Perito, MD, FACS, a urologist and the founder of UroFill.
Chris Bustamante, DNP, a highly in-demand nurse practitioner who does penis injections at Lushful Aesthetics in New York, adds that hyaluronic acid filler adds volume under the penile skin. “The filler physically occupies space and creates a sort of customizable non-permanent injectable ‘implant,’” he says. This won’t increase length, but he says that it does add girth, both when the penis is flaccid and erect. “It makes men go from ‘growers’ to ‘showers,’” Bustamante says.
Martin Gross, MD, a urologist with Dartmouth Health, adds that the length that hyaluronic acid filler might add to the penis is pretty minor and only noticeable when flaccid. “The added penile bulk prevents some penile retraction, which is what creates that effect, but erect length does not meaningfully change,” he says. In terms of how much of an increase in girth you can get, Dr. Gross estimates that most people see an increase of between 1 and 2.5 centimeters.
Alex Tatem, MD, a urologist who does hyaluronic acid injections regularly, says that it’s best to spread injections out over four sessions instead of getting all the filler at once. “When hyaluronic acid penis injections first started in the 2010s, researchers in Korea would give all the filler at once, but it ended up making the penis look kind of like Humpty Dumpty. Filler can migrate, which is why it’s best to get it slowly,” he says.
Just like other aesthetic fillers, Dr. Tatem says that the effects of a hyaluronic acid penis injection don’t last forever; the hyaluronic acid is slowly reabsorbed in the body over time. He says that maintaining the effect requires a single injection about every 18 months.
There are other injectable fillers out there that are used for penis enlargement, but all four experts we talked to say that hyaluronic acid is the gold standard. “It’s naturally occurring in the human body, reversible, and well-tested. We see far too many complications in patients who have undergone girth enhancement with 'permanent' fillers. The reason why non-hyaluronic acid-based fillers are 'permanent' is that they’re foreign to the human body and run a gamut of negative side effects," Dr. Perito says.
“Permanent fillers lead to permanent problems,” adds Dr. Tatem, who says he’s had men who have had permanent silicone injections come to him for reconstructive surgery.
Considering penis filler? Here’s what to know first
If all this is sounding like something you want to try, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. First, all four experts say that it’s very, very important that you go to a healthcare expert who specializes in hyaluronic acid penis injections. You don’t want just anyone sticking your junk with a needle.
That brings us to the risks and side effects to be aware of. Dr. Gross says that short-term, hyaluronic acid penis injections could cause some bruising, swelling, and discomfort. As with any aesthetic procedure involving filler, there is a risk of infection. Long-term, Dr. Gross says that there is a slight risk of the injection making the penis look lumpy or asymmetrical. There are also small risks of reduced penile sensation (which Dr. Gross says is typically temporary) and vascular injury (which he says is rare, but can be very serious).
“Highly serious and extremely rare reported risks include skin necrosis, pain with erection, and embolization of the filler if injected incorrectly. Embolization means that the medication can travel elsewhere in the body via the blood vessels, and that can be quite dangerous,” Dr. Gross adds.
After getting a hyaluronic acid injection, Dr. Gross says it’s recommended to avoid sex and masturbation for one to two weeks.
As for the claims about Olympic ski jumpers getting hyaluronic acid penis injections, Bustamante says that if it’s true, it’s likely being done for a reason other than going for the gold. “If you think about a man’s ‘bulge’ playing a winter sport versus a summer sport, there’s going to be some major differences. I think this is the winter athletes’ way of feeling more confident in their gear by preventing major shrinkage from the cold,” he says.
Dr. Tatem—who just released a YouTube video explaining Penisgate—says that it’s definitely possible that getting a hyaluronic acid penis injection could lead to a longer jump. Doing this would involve getting the injection before the 3D scan ski jumpers get as a way to be fitted for their ski suit. Then, another injection could be used to dissolve the hyaluronic acid. That way, the suit would be just a little bit baggy in exactly the right place.
Regardless of whether the allegations are true or not, Penisgate is raising awareness about hyaluronic acid penile injections. And if you’re wanting more girth, it could be worth a, well, shot.