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Who is suitable for a penile prosthesis?
What are the advantages of a penile prosthesis?
How is a penile prosthesis surgery performed?
What to expect after penile prosthesis surgery?
Procedure outcomes
INTRODUCTION
A penile prosthesis is a permanent internal and concealed device that is implanted into the penis to allow men that have erectile dysfunction (ED) to have an erection. There are two main types of penile implants that are available:
- Inflatable implants (most common) – The device consists of paired cylinders that are implanted into the penis. These expand using saline fluid contained in a small reservoir. Using a pump that is implanted discreetly into the scrotum, the fluid is pumped into the cylinders to achieve an erection.
- Malleable implants – consist of semi-rigid paired rods that are implanted into the penis. The patient manually adjusts the position of the penis (and hence the rods). These type of implants are always firm.
Who is suitable for a penile prosthesis?
- Men that have persistent erectile dysfunction (ED) that impacts their sexual activity
- Men who have ED that cannot be successfully treated with oral or injectable medications
- Men who wish to have a permanent and effective solution for their ED
- Men who have a severe case of Peyronie’s disease (a condition that causes scarring inside the penis, leading to painful and bent erections)
What are the advantages of a penile prosthesis?
- A penile prosthesis allows a man to gain an erection in cases where this would otherwise not be possible
- Sensation on the skin and ejaculation are not affected by the implant
- The inflatable implants are discrete and the penis looks completely natural both when flaccid and erect
- Semi-rigid implants are advantageous for men with limited hand dexterity, such as those who have suffered spinal injury
How is a penile prosthesis surgery performed?
- This procedure is performed under general anaesthetic and takes around 2 hours to complete
- The surgeon selects an appropriately sized implant to match the patient’s normal body and penis size
- An incision is typically made at the base of the penis where it joins the scrotum, or alternatively below the pubic bone, through which the implant is inserted
- Sometimes a separate incision is made in the abdomen to implant the saline fluid reservoir
- Once all the components are in place, the surgeon closes the incisions with dissolving sutures
What to expect after penile prosthesis surgery?
- Most patients go home the day following their penile prosthesis surgery
- You will have a urinary catheter overnight for comfort to drain the bladder
- This is a sensitive area and will require multi-modal pain management – your anaesthetist will prescribe an appropriate plan for you
- You will be prescribed antibiotics on discharge to minimize the chance of infection
- Full recovery usually takes 6 weeks; during this time strenuous activity should be avoided
- The prosthesis will be activated at the 6 week mark – sexual activity may then commence over the coming weeks depending on level of comfort
Procedure outcomes
- Most men are very satisfied with the outcomes of penile prosthesis surgery
- Having a prosthesis does not change the sensation on the skin or a man’s ability to reach orgasm. Ejaculation is not affected.
- Over 90% of penile implants produce erections that are suitable for intercourse, making the procedure very effective
- Implant surgery is a permanent solution to ED – it replaces the damaged and non-functioning erectile tissue
- Most devices have a durability of more than 10 years
Penile prosthesis surgery is highly specialized. We understand this is an embarrassing condition which can affect a man’s confidence, relationships and overall quality of life. At Melbourne Urology Centre we have a dedicated team to guide and care for you throughout this process, taking an empathetic and considerate approach to your care.