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Aesthetic and dermatology physician, Dr. Mobola Savage, has cautioned that non-surgical penis enlargement using injectable fillers carries serious risks, following the death of Nigerian-British businessman and social media personality, Igho Ubiribo.

Reacting to reports of Ubiribo’s death in a post on X shared on Tuesday, Savage said the procedure is still an invasive medical treatment and “non-surgical does not mean risk-free.”

“And perhaps the biggest lesson from this tragedy is that non-surgical does not mean risk-free. Penile filler is still an invasive medical procedure involving highly vascular anatomy,” she wrote.

Ubiribo, 43, died after undergoing a penile filler procedure while on holiday in Bangkok, Thailand.

According to evidence presented at an inquest at the Inner West London Coroner’s Court, 40ml of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine was injected into his penis at an unnamed clinic.

A UK coroner ruled the cosmetic procedure caused a fatal pulmonary embolism. A postmortem examination reportedly found material in Ubiribo’s lungs consistent with the hyaluronic acid used in the procedure.

The businessman, also known as “Tiny”, “Denisi” and “Ego”, had travelled to Thailand with his wife, Danielle Simba Allen. After the procedure, they returned to their hotel. During a massage, Ubiribo complained of chest pain and fainted twice. He was rushed to Sukhumvit Hospital, where he spoke to doctors and told them about the recent injections.

Doctors suspected a pulmonary embolism and recommended a CT scan, but he reportedly lost consciousness before it was done. He was moved to ICU where CPR was performed for over 100 minutes. He died in the early hours of March 6.

Pathologist John du Parcq told the inquest the material found in Ubiribo’s lungs matched the filler substance and was consistent with a pulmonary embolism — a blockage in a lung blood vessel that puts severe strain on the heart.

Ubiribo had a history of joint surgery and was described as pre-diabetic with gout, but his GP reportedly said he had no other major health conditions.

*Doctor’s warning on safety*
Savage explained that the procedure Ubiribo had was not conventional surgery but non-surgical penile augmentation with hyaluronic acid filler, mainly used to increase girth, not length.

“What immediately stood out to me was the reported 40ml administered in one treatment,” she said. “Penile augmentation does require larger volumes than facial aesthetics, but this raises an important conversation about how we approach volume.”

She advised that augmentation should be staged rather than done all at once, and tailored to a patient’s anatomy, tissue capacity and goals.

“There is a tendency for patients seeking penile enhancements to focus on ‘How many mLs am I getting?’, as though more filler automatically means a better result. It doesn’t work that way,” she said.

Savage also noted that many HA fillers contain lidocaine. While she said there was not enough evidence to link lidocaine toxicity to Ubiribo’s death, she said total anaesthetic exposure must be considered in large-volume procedures.

She further warned that medical tourism can create pressure to complete treatment in one visit.

“When someone has travelled internationally for treatment, there can be pressure to achieve the entire desired result in one visit because returning for staged treatment may be difficult. But travel schedules, convenience and even patient demand should never override clinical judgement,” she said.

According to her, the safety of penile filler depends on patient selection, anatomy, product choice, injection technique, appropriate volume, and the ability to manage complications.

“Patient selection, anatomy, product choice, injection plane and technique, appropriate volume, total local-anaesthetic exposure and the ability to recognise and manage complications all matter. More is not always better. And faster is not always safer,” she said.

Penile fillers with hyaluronic acid are marketed as a less invasive way to increase girth, but Savage stressed they still carry potentially serious complications.

Her warning comes as Ubiribo’s death draws fresh attention to the risks of cosmetic procedures done abroad.

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Gunmen killed twelve people in the early hours of Monday in Nzangula village, Guyaku Ward, Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The Chairman of Gombi Local Government Area, Mr Markus Ishaya, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online on Monday.

According to Ishaya, the attack occurred in Guyaku Ward, saying that the report from Nzangula village indicated that 12 people were killed, while two others were injured and receiving treatment at the Cottage Hospital in Gombi.

Ishaya added that a woman was abducted, while the EYN Church, three houses were burnt and two shops vandalised.

He said, “Report from Nzangula village of Guyaku Ward, Gombi LGA, stated that 12 people were killed, two were injured and are presently at Cottage Hospital, Gombi.

“One lady was abducted. EYN Church was burnt. Three houses were also burnt, and two shops were vandalised.”

Barely two weeks after terrorists killed over 10 people in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, another 11 people were reportedly killed on Monday in Zaranga village in Gombi Local Government Area.

A resident of the village, who also spoke on condition anonymity, said Boko Haram invaded the village in the early hours of Monday, shooting and burning houses.

He said, “For now, 11 dead bodies have been recovered. Many are still missing. Search teams and security personnel are in the forest searching for the missing people.”

Another resident claimed that his wife and two other family members were among the dead bodies recovered.

He said, “My wife and two of my family members were also killed during the early morning invasion of my village.”

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the attack.

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An Arizona real estate executive has reportedly lost his job following an alleged mid-flight outburst that resulted in him being restrained with duct tape and zip ties during a commercial flight.

Arthur Layne Lundeen, 67, of Tucson, Arizona, was reportedly terminated from his position as a vice president at Long Realty following the incident aboard American Airlines Flight 618.

The flight was travelling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Newark when it was forced to divert to Baltimore after Lundeen allegedly became disruptive and engaged in an obscene outburst.

According to reports surrounding the incident, Lundeen allegedly directed racist remarks at a flight attendant and shouted homophobic insults at other passengers on board.

The situation reportedly escalated to the point where other passengers and crew members had to restrain him.

He was allegedly secured to his seat using duct tape and zip ties for the remainder of the flight to prevent further disruption.

The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where authorities reportedly took over the situation.

The incident has drawn considerable attention because of the alleged nature of Lundeen’s outburst and the extraordinary measures reportedly required to keep him restrained while the aircraft was in the air.

Lundeen’s employer, Long Realty, has since taken action against him.

The company reportedly terminated his employment following the incident, separating the real estate executive from his position as vice president.

The development marks a significant professional consequence for Lundeen as details of the alleged behaviour continue to emerge.

American Airlines Flight 618 was originally scheduled to operate between Dallas and Newark, but the alleged disturbance forced the crew to change its flight plan and make an emergency diversion to Baltimore.

Incidents involving unruly passengers have become a major concern for airlines because disruptive behaviour can affect the safety of passengers and crew members and, in severe cases, force aircraft to divert from their intended destinations.

In Lundeen’s case, the alleged use of racial and homophobic slurs reportedly contributed to the increasingly tense situation on board.

The circumstances surrounding the incident have also prompted discussions about passenger conduct and the consequences of disruptive behaviour during air travel.

For airlines, crew members have a responsibility to maintain order and ensure the safety of everyone aboard an aircraft. When a passenger becomes uncontrollable or poses a potential threat, additional security measures may be necessary.

Lundeen’s reported restraint with duct tape and zip ties illustrates how seriously the situation was treated by those on board.

The flight eventually continued after the diversion, while authorities were reportedly left to deal with the passenger involved.

The allegations against Lundeen should be distinguished from any criminal findings unless and until established by the relevant authorities or a court.

Meanwhile, his reported dismissal from Long Realty demonstrates that the incident has already had consequences beyond the flight itself.

The case is likely to continue attracting attention as more information emerges about what happened aboard Flight 618, the allegations against Lundeen and any action taken by law enforcement following the emergency diversion.