The procedure was to allow him to increase the circumference of his penis. It ultimately cost him his life. Igho “Tiny” Ubiribo, a 43-year-old influencer, died on March 6, 2026 in Bangkok, after undergoing a hyaluronic acid injection into his penis. A few hours earlier, he began experiencing chest pains before losing consciousness.
But how can a product injected into the penis reach the lungs? And how can you avoid these types of complications? Dr Eric Allaire, vascular surgeon, specialist in the treatment and diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, answers us.
An injection gone wrong
According to information revealed by the investigation, the 43-year-old businessman had 40 milliliters of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine injected into his penis. After the procedure, he reportedly went for a massage with his wife.
But his condition quickly deteriorated. Igho Ubiribo began suffering from chest pains, before losing consciousness twice.
Transported to hospital, he was treated for a pulmonary embolism, then transferred to intensive care. Despite more than 100 minutes of resuscitation attempts, the influencer died.
How could the product reach the lungs?
When a product is injected into the penis, it is supposed to remain localized in the targeted tissues. But this area is richly vascularized. If the needle accidentally enters a vein, the product can then enter the bloodstream directly. This is precisely what must have happened in the case of Igho Ubiribo.
“In view of the data from the autopsy report, we can conclude that the pulmonary embolism was secondary to the injection. There was migration of the product. Instead of the product being injected into the penis, it was injected into a vein therein,”
explains Dr. Eric Allaire.
However, once in a vein, the product can be transported by the blood to the heart, then to the lungs. It can then obstruct a vessel and cause a fatal embolism (in this case, material compatible with the injected hyaluronic acid was found in the lungs).
Any aesthetic act is never trivial
Hyaluronic acid is today widely used in aesthetic medicine to increase the volume of certain parts of the body. Its use in the penis is therefore not new. But any injection carries risks: when done in the wrong place, it can cause serious complications.
In this case, Dr Eric Allaire is even firmly convinced: this is a problem of skills, the injection was carried out incorrectly.
“Because acid, yes, if we inject it anywhere in the body or in the wrong place, there are certain risks: infections, poor tolerance, anaphylactic shocks, even circulatory failure linked to an allergic reaction. However, in a general practice, we are exposed to this type of risk. This is why these injections must be carried out in a secure place.”
“Now, this accident can almost be described as anecdotal. Injecting acid by mistake into a vein of the penis happens very rarely. Normally, before carrying out the injection, the teams check that the needle is not in a vein.” indicates the surgeon.
This news item therefore fortunately remains rare. But theThe death of Igho Ubiribo nevertheless reminds us that aesthetic procedures are never benign: any aesthetic injection remains a medical procedure, with its indications, contraindications and potential complications.
Before getting started, the choice of professional therefore remains essential. The product used, the technique used, but also the place in which the intervention is carried out are all elements to check!