Indications for Penile Implant Surgery
Penile implant or prosthesis surgery is slowly but surely proving to be the most effective treatment method for individuals with erectile dysfunction who’ve not been able to restore erectile function after trying all other less invasive techniques. Rapid strides made in the area of prosthetic devices in the past few decades. The advancements have meant that males suffering from erectile dysfunction now have better access to advanced penile implants and superior surgical implantation techniques that considerably reduce the risk of infection and device malfunction.
Who are the potential candidates for penile implant surgery?
More and more men are opting for prosthetic penile implantations for remedying erectile dysfunction, thanks to technical progressions in genitourinary surgery. The (penile) implant, in the majority of the cases, facilitates men with ED to enjoy a spontaneous and normal sex life, almost like males without ED.
The following groups of the male are the best candidates for penile implant surgery:
- Individuals with an atrophied or deformed penis
- Those diagnosed with permanent erectile dysfunction
- Those who fail to have an erection due to the side effect of a medication or complications resulting from a past surgical procedure
- Those who have undergone treatment for prostrate, colon or bladder cancer
- Those with a vascular condition resulting from diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, smoking or heart disease
- Those who’ve used a penis pump
- Those who’ve taken drugs (for treating ED) like Viagra, Levitra, Stendra, and Cialis
And those who are not
Penile implants may not work for you if:
- A psychological or emotional issue is behind your ED
- You have a urinary tract infection (UTI)
- You lack sexual drive
- The possibility of the ED reversing
- You suffer from a condition relating to your penis’s or scrotum’s skin like inflammation, cyst or abrasion
How is the procedure carried out?
Penile implant surgery is generally carried out under general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. The entire area that will be operated upon is clean shaved before the procedure is performed. An IV or intravenous tube is inserted for feeding antibiotics (to prevent the chances of infection), and another tube is implanted for collecting urine.
Once the anesthesia is administered and it starts taking effect, the surgeon creates an opening in the lower part of the abdomen or beneath the ‘glans penis’ (the tip of the penis) or underneath the organ’s base. After that, the tissues that swell with blood which makes the penis tumescent are extended, and the dual inflatable canisters are installed inside the organ. In case, you’ve opted for a three-piece implant, then the siphon is placed in the scrotum, and the tank goes beneath the wall of the abdomen.
On the other hand, if you’ve selected a two-piece implant, then the pump, release valve, and the saline reservoir is embedded into the scrotum. Once the device is successfully installed inside your penis, the surgeon sutures the incisions or openings.
Postsurgical recovery
Post surgery, the surgeon will guide you on how to care for the area that was operated upon as well as how to take advantage of the pump. Initially, you may need to take painkillers to get relief from the pain which could linger for weeks. You may also have to continue taking antibiotics for minimizing the likelihood of infection.
Though you could be able to resume a normal lifestyle about a week after the surgery, full recovery could take a month or two. However, you could go back to having an active sex life within 5-6 weeks.
Outlook
The ergonomic design of the penile implants not only ensures that you get a strong erection for coitus but also guarantee that they stay perfectly concealed. For more details fix an appointment with our experts and get a detailed consultation.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4442986/
- https://www.urologicalcare.com/penile-implants-prosthesis/who-is-a-good-candidate-for-penile-implant-surgery/
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-4615-9409-3_9
- https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/penile-implant-surgery
- https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Penile-prostheses-for-end-stage-erectile-dysfunction.pdf
- https://erection-info.com/en/penil-implant/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8702352
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2004.05025.x