What are the different type of penile implants? Medical professionals conduct a surgery in which they place an implant in the penis to help men with erectile dysfunction get an erection. Doctors will first prescribe other treatments such as medication for erectile dysfunction before recommending Penile implants.
You can find two major type of implants for your penis: inflatable, and semi-rigid. Both implants work differently and have different benefits and drawbacks.
To insert penile implants inside the penis, you need to undergo surgery. You need to know how this surgery works before making a final decision and choosing this procedure. Things that you should know include complications, possible risk, and follow-up care.

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Benefits of Implants
Many men, who are keeping in mind the following benefits of implants, are choosing implants rather than medical treatments.
- They have control over the duration of the erection and how much they can utilize it.
- Their sex life has the ability to become very impulsive.
- They experience a satisfied and rigid erection for sexual activities.
- The erection will not be triggered with any device or encounter any barrier as the erection will be natural. This means there is a lack of paraphernalia.
Type of Penile Implants
You can select from various implants. Your preferences and needs will define which type of implant you should use. You and your doctors should consider various factors while defining the most suitable implant. These factors are:
- Life expectancy.
- Well-being and overall health.
- If your penis is circumcised or not.
- If you have any kidney transplant history.
- Colostomy is present.
- Any pelvic or abdominal surgical history.
- Body type and size.
- Size of the scrotum, glans, and penis.
- Your age and your partner’s age.
Below you will find three common types of implants that you can choose from:
1. Three-Piece Inflatable Pump
In this type of surgery, two cylinders are placed in your penis, a container that contains fluid in the abdomen, and in the scrotum, an inflatable pump. With the help of special tubing, all the above-mentioned components are joined together.
For erection, you need to squeeze the scrotum that includes the pump, which moves the fluid in the cylinder from the container. When you squeeze the release valve, the fluid will leave the cylinder and enter back in the container. When the fluid is back again, your penis will become flaccid.
The implant of a three-piece inflated pump works and appears the same as a natural erection. Even when the penis is flaccid, you will feel comfortable and natural.
Advantages Of Three-Piece Inflatable Pump:
You can enjoy a better sex life, and your partner will have no complaints either. You need to pump this implant whenever you want an erection. When you want your penis to shirk, you just press the release valve located above your pump.
- A single larger pump will make it easy to pump up other than a two-piece pump.
- Pain after the surgery as the penis has to adjust on a certain erection.
- With this method, you will have the most erected and rigid from all the above method.
- The flaccid position is very comfortable, as the implant will be very soft.
- All the components will be hidden inside the body.
- After the surgery, the penis will be flaccid, so you will not feel a lot of pain.
2. Two-Piece Inflatable
The two-piece inflatable device is similar to a three-piece inflatable because both devices work using a similar process. But the fluid is stored inside the scrotum with the help of a pump, unlike a three-piece inflatable, which includes a separate container for storing fluid. This device is not rigid.
Advantages of Two-Piece Inflatable:
- This method is easy for you, as well as your partner. You just have to pump it for erection.
- This is the best option with restricted dexterity for men. If you are suffering from arthritis or having difficulty in using hands, you should consider this procedure. However, you will find this pump difficult to inflate and is very small.
- The device will be concealed in your body. All the components will be inside.
- The implant will be concealed completely in your body. Every part of this implant will be in your penis; however, some men are irritated with a permanent erection.

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3. Malleable Rods or Semi-Rigid
In this penile implant, a surgeon will implant two flexible rods into your penis. There won’t be any change in the stiffness or size of the implants and sustain the semi-rigid state. It is easy to set those implants in various positions. Normally, the implants are bending in a downward position; however, when you need to have sexual intercourse, you can change the position to upward. Although many men find this implant easy to use, some find that the constant rigid state is very uncomfortable.
Advantages of Malleable Rods or Semi-Rigid:
- This is another easy implant for you and your partner to use. For erection, you simply need to bend the penis upward, and if you want the penis down, you need to bend the penis down.
- If you have limited dexterity, then this implant is good for you. You should consider this treatment if you are using your hand with difficulty or are suffering from arthritis.
- You may feel abnormal, or the appearance may not be as you want it to be.
- These types of implants are less expensive penile implants. If you do not have insurance, then you should consider this implant.
- The penile flesh will become thin and weak after a long time.
- In the USA, only 20% of implants are performed.
- The procedure of the surgery is very simple.
- You will experience a lot of discomforts
Conclusion
You can achieve the best possible results if the particular penile device you selected is suitable for you. Our goal is to find the perfect blend of variables according to your satisfaction level. The decision is made going through patient history, available devices and attributes.
The surgeons at Fifth Avenue Urology will provide you with the best advice and surgery options to help correct your condition.
Contact us today at 212-541-6239 or visit the website and schedule an appointment.
* Telehealth consultations available *

Penile Implants are used to treat Erectile Dysfunction (ED). They provide physical support to the penis so that the patient can achieve an erection. Semi-rigid implants are by far the cheapest and simplest to use. They are composed of two flexible, silicone rods that are surgically placed into the erectile tissue of the penis. Whenever the patient is ready for sexual activity, all he has to do is bend his penis upward. When he is done, he can turn the penis downward for concealment.
As with any medical device, there are pros and cons to the semi-rigid implant. The prosthesis provides a constant state of erection for the penis; therefore it is effortless to use primarily for men who have problems with manual dexterity. This also allows for spontaneous sexual activity because the patient does not need to wait for the device to be primed before using. Because of the relative simplicity of this implant and its installment, there are fewer components that can individually malfunction over time.
Despite all of these issues, satisfaction rates continue to remain high (91%) for patients who have undergone semi-rigid penile implant surgery. The malleable implants continue to be an excellent choice especially for men who have difficulty with their hand and finger dexterities or who have limited mobility. Today, with many patients demanding higher quality and safer medical devices, there is continued research being done to improve upon the semi-rigid penile implants currently available on the market.
If you’re someone with erectile dysfunction disorder, you must have tried several treatment options, starting from medications to vacuum constriction device (penis pump) for correcting the problem. In case, the traditional treatment techniques have not served their purpose, do not lose hope-there is still light at the end of the tunnel. It would not be out of place to assume that you might have heard of penile implants as you have experimented with a range of remedial techniques.
Talking about penile implant types, there are two distinct categories-inflatable implants and non-inflatable implants. Inflatable implants are again classified into two sub-categories; two-piece implants and three-piece implants. The non-inflatable devices, as their terminology indicates, are semi-rigid implants that cannot be inflated.
Inflatable implants, both the two-piece and three-piece ones, are more popular (compared to their non-inflatable counterparts) throughout the world, including the US. The three-piece device has three distinct sections or parts whereas the two-piece has only two. When you choose a three-piece prosthetic implant for the surgery, the dual cylinders are inserted in the penis, the pump with a built-in release valve is installed in the scrotum, and a reservoir containing fluid is placed in the lower abdomen.
The non-inflatable or semi-rigid implant being a very simple device makes it easy to use. During the surgery, the device which comprises a semi-rigid or ductile tube is slotted inside your penis. When you wish to have sex, you push your penis upwards and push it down when you’re through.