About Penile Prosthesis Implants
A Penile Prosthesis as a surgical procedures that is used to correct symptoms of erectile dysfunction. During the minimally-invasive procedure, a prosthesis pump is implanted into the scrotum and penis. The goal of this surgery is to provide the patient with a long, wide, and hard erection while maintaining it's natural appearance. The benefits of this surgery is that nobody will know that a penile prosthesis has been done besides the patient.
Who is a good candidate for a Penile Prosthesis Implant?
Men with:
- Permanent erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Deformity of the penis
- Atrophy of the penis
- Side effects from other ED medical treatments
- Vascular disease
No-Touch Technique (NTT)
This is a technique that our surgeons use to ensure our patients are at the lowest risk of infection. During the NTT, the surgeon's hands never come into contact with the patient's skin and certain surgical instruments are kept separate to reduce the spread of bacteria. Our adherence to NTT is key to our low rate of penile implant infections.
Post-Operation
The first two days after surgery should be spent on bed rest - laying on your back. It is common to experience bruising and swelling in the scrotum area after surgery. On the third day after surgery, you can begin taking warm baths to help the swelling. Swelling should go down in 7 to 14 days, which will result in the gradual subsiding of pain. You can increase your activity slowly after surgery and return to work in about 1 week after the procedure.
Inflation of the prosthesis should start between the 4th and 6th week after surgery. You should only try to inflate the prosthesis if you are certain that you know how to deflate it. If there is still swelling present and you cannot identify all of the components of the pump, then refrain from inflation and wait another 2 weeks. It is normal to feel sore for the first 2 weeks after your initial inflation.
Life Expectancy of Penile Prosthesis Implant
The normal life expectancy of a penile implant is 10-20 years; however, there are some that last longer. The life expectancy is dependent on the amount of wear and tear that the pump is put through. The recommended use of the penile implant is 1-2 times per week. In the case that a penile implant fails it can be replaced with surgery. Replacement penile implant surgery is more difficult and has a higher risk of bacteria infection.