Penile Implant: Purpose, Procedure, Effectiveness, Risks & Recovery
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If you study statistics, you can find that one out of every 10 men in India is impotent, which means they have erectile dysfunction (ED). Are you one of these men? You don’t have to struggle with this health condition. When other alternative ED treatments fail to provide the desired results, undergoing penile implant operation can be a life-changing option. This penile prosthesis surgical procedure can offer you a reliable and effective solution for ED, helping restore your sexual function and confidence.
But what exactly does this procedure involve, and what can you expect before, during, and after surgery? How can it change your life? Read further to discover your answers.
What is Penile Implant Surgery?
Penile implant surgery, also known as penile prosthesis surgery, is a medical procedure performed for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). You are a good candidate for this surgery if you:
Suffer from persistent erectile dysfunction that hasn’t responded to other treatments.
Have conditions such as Peyronie's disease, which affects your penis’ shape and function.
Wish to improve your sexual performance and intimacy without taking any medication.
This surgery involves placing a prosthetic device inside the penis, allowing men with ED to achieve and maintain an erection. Usually, two types of penile implant are used to treat erectile dysfunction in men:
Inflatable Implants | Inflatable implants consist of two inflatable cylinders that are placed inside your penis. A pump is implanted in the scrotum, and a reservoir filled with saline is placed under the abdominal wall. Whenever you desire an erection, the implant is inflated in such a way that it provides a natural look and feel. |
Malleable Implants | These are non-inflatable, semi-rigid rods. Once implanted, this penis implant stays firm all time. The best part is you can easily bend your penis away from your body or position it against your body to have sex. |
What to Expect from Penile Implant Surgery?
Are you curious to know what happens during penile prosthesis surgery? How should you prepare for the surgical procedure? Or what will your days look like after the surgery? In this section, we will discuss pre-surgery preparation, the surgical process itself, and post-surgery recovery.
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What Happens Before Penile Implant Surgery?
Before undergoing penile implant surgery, you will have a consultation with a urologist to assess your health and discuss the procedure. During this consultation, your doctor will perform a physical examination- urological exam, review your medical history, and discuss your expectations and concerns. They will also explain the types of implants available, helping you choose the best option.
Once you have chosen the penis implant, your doctor will instruct you on how to prepare for the surgery. For instance, you will be advised to avoid eating or drinking for a specific period before the procedure. In addition, he will ask you to arrange a ride home post-operation.
What Happens During Penile Implant Surgery?
The first step during the penile implant operation is administering general or spinal anaesthesia, which lasts about 1 to 2 hours. Before performing the surgery, the specific area is shaved, and the medical expert places a catheter to collect urine and an intravenous line (IV) for antibiotics.
Next, your surgeon will make a small incision at your lower abdomen, your penis’ base, or below the head of your penis. Then he stretched the tissue in your penis, which is filled with blood during an erection, to place two inflatable cylinders inside your penis.
For a two-piece inflatable implant, the pump, valve, and saline reservoir are all positioned in your scrotum and for a three-piece inflatable implant, the pump is placed in your scrotum and the reservoir goes under your abdominal wall.
Once the penile implant is placed, your surgeon closes the incision with stitches. The entire procedure can be completed in 45 to 90 minutes.
Recovery After Penile Implant Surgery
After the surgery, you might have to stay in the hospital for a few hours. During this time, your healthcare team will monitor you and provide you with instructions on how to use the implanted pump and take care of the surgical site.
You may be prescribed pain medication to manage discomfort and antibiotics to prevent infection. Although you might be able to go to work within a few days post-surgery, it might take about 4 to 6 weeks for you to fully recover.
How Penile Implant Surgery Can Change Your Life?
Life after penile prosthesis surgery usually has higher effectiveness, user safety, and patient satisfaction. Here’s how this surgical procedure can change your life:
Restored Sexual Function
The primary purpose of penile implants is to regain sexual function by treating erectile dysfunction. Implanting penile prostheses comes across as a dependable and manageable technique to obtain and maintain an erection. It will enable you to restore and relish your sexual activities without relying on any medication. Hence, this surgical procedure can renew intimacy and improve your relationship, helping you reconnect with your partner.
Discrete and Reliable Implants
The penile implant, especially the inflatable penile prosthesis, is designed to look and function like a natural erection. For inflatable implants, you can inflate or deflate them as needed, while malleable implants will provide you with a permanent firmness that can be positioned discreetly. No matter what penile implants you choose, they offer you a reliable and long-term solution to erectile dysfunction.
Increased Self-Esteem Confidence
Struggling with ED can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, frustration, and even depression. It can cause straining relationships while impacting your emotional health. You can preserve your mental well-being along with your relationship by undergoing a penile implant surgery.
This surgical procedure will make you capable of having good sexual experiences, which can reduce your stress and improve your mental health. By having intimate moments with your partner without any ED-imposed restrictions will make you feel more secure in your body and interactions.
Freedom from Medications and Devices
Unlike alternative erectile dysfunction treatments, penile implants don’t require you to have medication or use any external device before intercourse. Therefore, you don’t have to think about how much time before you should take medicine or use an external device to stimulate erection. The increased convenience of a penis implant makes spontaneous intimacy possible.
Improved Relationship Dynamics
Intimacy is one of the most important aspects of any healthy relationship. No matter how much love your relationship has, sometimes it can suffer from erectile dysfunction since it can create misunderstandings or cause feelings of rejection. A study found sexual dissatisfaction to be the cause of 20% to 30% of divorces in India.
Undergoing penile implant surgery can actually save your relationship. It can increase the possibility for couples to restore their physical and emotional bonds by enabling men to provide greater contentment and happiness to their partners.
The Bottom Line!
If you are worried about your sexual fitness and intimacy with your partner due to erectile dysfunction, undergoing a penile implant operation can help. This surgical procedure only takes 45 to 90 minutes, and you can expect to recover fully after, at most, 6 to 7 weeks. The best part is you will be able to stimulate and maintain an erection without relying on any medication or external device.
Are you considering undergoing a penile prosthesis operation? Schedule a consultation with a Medanta urologist to take control of your sexual health and well-being.
