What is penile prosthesis placement?
Penile prosthesis placement is a treatment option for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). A penile prosthesis is an inflatable or malleable (bendable) device that is surgically implanted within the erection chambers of the penis. With this implant, the penis is able to have the rigidity required for penetrative sexual intercourse. If there is a clear medical cause for your ED, and the problem is unlikely to improve or resolve naturally or medically, then penile prosthesis placement may be the best option for you.
How does penile prosthesis work?
There are two types of implants: a 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis and a malleable (bendable) penile prosthesis. The 3-piece implant consists of a pair of cylinders, a pump that is implanted in the scrotum and a fluid reservoir implanted in the lower abdomen. A malleable implant is always semi-erect and can be bent downwards when not in use and upwards for sexual intercourse. The advantage of the malleable prosthesis is that the surgery is shorter and less complicated, and there is nothing implanted in the abdomen. This treatment is very beneficial for men with spinal cord injuries and/or limited hand strength. The disadvantage is that, with a smaller reservoir, it may not result in adequate erections in some men.
To inflate the 3-piece inflatable prosthesis, all you have to do is press on the pump. The pump will transfer saline from the reservoir to the cylinders in the penis. The cylinders inflate and cause an erection. By pressing on a deflation valve at the base of the pump, the fluid will return to the reservoir. This will deflate the penis and return it to a flaccid state.
What can I expect from the procedure?
Penile prosthesis placement takes to complete, and it can be perfor the hospital. You will be given general or spinal anesthesia and IV antibiotics to help prevent infection.
During the surgery, an incision is made at the base of the penis. The spongy tissue in the penis that would normally fill with blood during an erection is then stretched. The implant cylinders, which are customized to your body measurements, are then placed inside the penis. With a 3-piece device, the pump and valve are placed inside the scrotum and we will also implant a fluid reservoir under the abdominal wall through a separate incision. Once the device is in place, we will sew up the incisions.
What can I expect from the results and recovery?
In most cases, you can resume sexual intercourse 6 weeks after surgery. A penile prosthesis will not change any sensations on the skin of the penis nor your ability to ejaculate or have an orgasm. The main difference is that it may negatively impact your natural erection reflex. You can usually only get an erection if you inflate the implant. If the implant is removed, you may never have natural erections.
Schedule a consultation in Southern California
If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, schedule an appointment at South Bay Urology in Torrance, California. We provide several treatment options for men with ED, and our physicians will determine which treatment is right for you. In cases where penile prosthesis is need, we can perform the procedure. To get started, fill out the appointment request form on our site or give us a call at (310) 542-0199.
(310) 542-0199