A man posing as a doctor has been arrested after performing penis enlargement treatments for 20 years without any qualifications.
Kittikorn Songsri, from Bangkok, Thailand, is said to have performed implant surgeries and filler injections on hundreds of patients, charging up to £450 each.
But the 36-year-old did not have a medical license, and admitted he dropped out of high school and began teaching himself how to perform implants at age 14.
Police only became aware of the practice after a client claimed to have suffered a “serious infection” after receiving silicone injections and reported it.
Clinics specializing in such procedures often offer a menu of treatments for men looking for a broader package to choose from.
Kittikorn Songsri (pictured), from Bangkok, Thailand, is said to have performed implant surgeries and filler injections on hundreds of patients, charging up to £450 each.
Police only became aware of the practice after a client claimed to have suffered a “serious infection” following a silicone treatment and reported it.
One option is a silicone structure surgically inserted into the penis, similar to some breast implants.
Other treatments involve cutting an internal ligament in the groin area to make the penis appear longer, while others inject substances such as filler to thicken the penis.
Industry experts say they have seen a boom in penis enhancement surgeries after the pandemic, which they say is linked to increased porn consumption and work-from-home policies that allow patients to recover quietly at home.
But clinics offering penis fillers have also been previously accused of preying on male anxiety.
Doctors have also warned that the procedures, which offer short-term results, can have brutal side effects.
Some men, for example, have been forced to undergo skin grafts after suffering severe reactions to the injections.
According to local media, Thai police from the Consumer Protection Division arranged for an undercover officer to contact Mr Songsri posing as a potential customer.
The officers later raided the address to arrest him.
According to local media, Thai police from the Consumer Protection Division arranged for an undercover officer to contact Mr Songsri (pictured) posing as a potential customer.
During questioning, Mr. Kittikorn reportedly admitted that he was not a doctor and that he was not licensed to practice medicine.
There they found beds and equipment on the property that did not meet the hygiene standards required for medical procedures. Bangkok Post he claimed.
During questioning, Mr. Kittikorn reportedly admitted that he was not a doctor and that he was not licensed to practice medicine.
He also said he had two or three clients a month and charged between 5,000 and 20,000 baht (£110 and £450) each.
The arrest followed a complaint from a man who said he was still in pain and unable to get an erection after developing a “serious infection” as a result of the treatment.
Police were told that Kittikorn was reportedly advertising his treatments through a Facebook page.
This comes amid a growing trend of men undergoing cosmetic surgery, including Brazilian butt lifts (BBL), liposuction and abdominal implants.
While penile fillers can be reversed with a dissolvable injection, there is limited research on the risks involved in injecting them into this location.
As with facial fillers, a solution inexpertly injected into or around a blood vessel could result in tissue death.
The arrest followed a complaint from a man who said he was still in pain and unable to get an erection after developing a “serious infection” as a result of the treatment.
Clinics specializing in such procedures offer a menu of treatments that men looking for a more comprehensive package can choose from.
And in the first week after enlargement injections, there is also a risk of filler migration, where the filler moves from the original injection site, resulting in an uneven shape or feel.
If the filler is not applied correctly, it can also harden, bruise and leave permanent disfigurement, or the injection sites can become infected.
In severe cases, skin grafts may even be necessary to repair the damage caused by the filler.
Senior doctors at the British Association of Urological Surgeons have also previously warned there is “no definitive evidence” to show the procedure improves function.
The group urged clinics to “stop misleading” vulnerable patients by taking advantage of male anxiety and to “address the real problems with psychological treatment and reassurance”.
Last year, a German man also died of sepsis after silicone oil from a penis enlargement injection ended up in his bloodstream.
Studies suggest that the average penis size is around 5.1 inches (13.12 cm) when erect.
A micropenis is defined as a penis less than three inches when erect.
Enlargement surgery is only available on the NHS for people with micropenis. Privately, it can cost up to £6000.