What Pufferfish Can Teach Us About Girth Enhancement Safety

Years ago, I was in Japan and decided to check out a sushi restaurant that had been recommended to me. Outside of the restaurant was a sign with a picture of a puffer fish, meaning that they had a chef who was certified to prepare it.

Puffer fish, or fugu, is a genus of fish that, as its name implies, puffs up into what looks like a spiky, angry balloon when threatened. It’s an effective warning sign for predators; their livers, ovaries, skin, and eyes carry a potent neurotoxin called tetrodoxin. 

Tetrodoxin is exponentially more potent than cyanide and paralyzes the muscles of whatever consumes it, meaning the mind stays active while the body shuts down around it, making it an extremely unpleasant way to die.

Despite the risk, or perhaps because of it, fugu is also a delicacy in Asia, especially in Japan and Korea. 

What does this have to do with penile girth enhancement safety?

To be able to serve fugu, chefs in Japan need to undergo an apprenticeship for a minimum of three years, and to undergo an exam in how to serve it safely. Only roughly one third of applicants pass the exam. 

Despite the potential deadliness of the toxin, incidents of tetrodoxin poisoning are rare.

The message here is clear: High risk activity requires rigorous training and examination. Chefs need complete knowledge of the anatomy of the fugu, which areas pose the most risk, how to maintain a sterile environment to avoid toxic contamination, and how to safely prepare them for customers.

This rigorous commitment to safety does not extend to penile girth enhancement as it’s practiced around the world and in the United States. This is unfortunate, as the risks of improperly placed filler, or the wrong kind of filler, placed in the penis carry extremely high stakes for the health of patients and the ongoing function of their penises.

Much like fugu chefs needing to know the anatomy of the fish, girth enhancement providers should have a complete knowledge of the anatomy of the penis. Many fall short, and treat an injection or placement into the penis the same way they would injecting into lips, foreheads, or cheeks. This is dangerous, irresponsible, and unethical.

This is one of the reasons why Dr. Perito at the UroFill® Clinic only trains pre-selected board-certified surgeons to undergo training in the technique: generalists and non-medical professionals are turned away. The potential risk of a poorly conducted technique isn’t worth it.

(For the record, I found the fugu somewhat bland compared to other fish.)