A strange online craze known as ‘ballmaxxing’ has been making the rounds, and if it’s left you scratching your head, you’re in good company.
If the name alone has your imagination working overtime, you’re probably not far off.
Ballmaxxing refers to men injecting saline — or other substances such as Surgilube — into the scrotum with the aim of making it appear as large as possible.
While testicles are usually around the size of a small egg, images shared on Reddit show some people swelling the scrotum to sizes closer to grapefruits.
Unsurprisingly, medical professionals are warning that the practice can carry serious risks and potentially dangerous complications.
Speaking to the Metro, Dr Shirin Lakhani shared her thoughts about this new and concerning trend.
“Ballmaxxing or scrotal inflation with saline is considered to be quite dangerous, and doctors generally warn against it,” she said.
“The scrotum area is very sensitive and contains delicate structures, including the testes, blood vessels, and nerves, which are not designed to accommodate fluid distension.”
Dr Lakhani added that introducing fluid this way can raise the likelihood of bacterial infection, abscesses, and cellulitis, among other complications.
A major concern is that many people attempting it are doing so themselves, without medical oversight or proper sterile conditions.
There is a Reddit community dedicated to ballmaxxing with more than 9,500 followers, featuring hundreds of photos and videos showing scrotums inflated with saline.
Many of the images appear to show tissue stretched far beyond what would be considered typical — and in some cases, alarmingly so.
Some posts also include step-by-step guidance for attempting scrotal inflation outside of a clinical setting, increasing the risks tied to an already hazardous idea.
According to reports, ballmaxxing is being framed as an extreme next step beyond “scrotox,” a more established cosmetic procedure that involves injecting botox into the scrotum.
Scrotox is marketed as a way to smooth the skin, reduce sweat, and create the appearance of lower-hanging testicles.
Ballmaxxing, however, goes much further — using saline (rather than standard cosmetic injectables) to dramatically increase size.
Writing to icliniq, Dr. Ankita Balar warned that saline injections to the scrotum could lead to severe long-term health issues.
Dr Balar said: “Saline ball injection carries a number of dangers. The scrotum is not supposed to expand beyond its normal size.
“It should be verified that the saline solution, drip tubes, and needles meet hospital-grade sterility standards, and ensured that the entire procedure is carried out in a sterile environment.”
She also cautioned that injecting too much saline may lead to “scrotal rupturing,” where the stretched tissue reaches a limit and can tear.
Those injecting large volumes may also face risks including scrotal cellulitis, Fournier’s gangrene, and permanent infertility.
The doctor added: “This is not a medically approved practice and is not recommended.
“It has no benefits but can cause a lot of side effects, including pain, inflammation, gangrene, or even permanent infertility.”
She concluded by encouraging anyone tempted by the trend to consider accepting their body as it is, rather than pursuing a practice that offers no medical benefit and could cause lasting harm.