What is a Penile Implant?

A penile implant or penile prosthesis is a medical device designed to help gain and maintain an erection. It is placed into a man’s body and is designed to help him get an erection. This is a saline (liquid with water and salt) fluid-filled device that is placed inside the penis and help expand the penis to gain an erection. The penile implant consists of three components: Two cylinders or tubes that are placed inside the penis, a pump placed inside the scrotum, and a reservoir (or bag) that contains the fluid, which is transferred by the pump into the cylinders, causing the penis to expand and become rigid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4pTbnk6tGI

What are the benefits of a Penile Implant?

• Reliable: For men who have erectile dysfunction, the penile implant provides a reliable option to gain an erection. Sometimes oral medications or penile injections cause undesirable side effects, are inconvenient, or simply do not work. The penile implant has no side effects when used and gives you a reliable erection that will assure you to have sexual intercourse.

• Durable: Studies how that most penile implants last more than 10-15 years.

• Natural: The penile implant feels natural for both the patient and his partner.

• Prevents Penile Shrinkage: The penile implant occupies the entire space within the penis, therefore preventing shrinkage. Erectile dysfunction causes penile atrophy or shrinkage. The penile implant will occupy the space within the penis, and will give the resting penis a fuller, ‘longer’ looking shaft.

• Convenient: There is nothing to carry with you, nothing to take by mouth or by needle, nothing to forget at home, and most importantly, it is ready when you are.

• Corrects Curvature: Patients who have Peyronie’s Disease or penile curvature, are likely to have less curvature with the presence of a penile implant. The penile implant is strong enough to overcome many curvatures. If you have severe curvature, your urologist will discuss with you if you need any additional procedure to make your penis look normal again.

• Maintains Erection After Orgasm: With the penile implant, once you reach orgasm, the penis remains erect until it is no longer desired. The penis will remain erect as long as you want it erect. Premature ejaculation is no longer an issue. You may even have a second orgasm during the same sexual encounter.

• High Satisfaction Rate: When compared to other treatment options, the penile implant provides the highest satisfaction rate, approximating 94-97%, and far outpacing satisfaction levels for oral medications (51.6%) and injection therapy (41%).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2cJiUH6NGg

How is the penile implant placed?

There are different approaches to placing the penile implant, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages.

Penoscrotal

Advantages

· Provides better exposure of the corporal bodies in case there is fibrosis (scar tissue).

· Low risk of dorsal nerve injury.

· Incision is not visible.

· Allows fixation of the prosthetic pump inside the scrotum.

· Gives the surgeon the ability to perform adjunct procedures (ventral phalloplasty, vasectomy, etc) if needed .

· Allows for the “No-Touch Technique”

Disadvantages

· Possible complications associated with pump and tubing since the wound can be over these parts.

· Possible difficulty to placing the reservoir or might require a counter incision.

· Larger incision than infrapubic.

Infrapubic

Advantages

· Reservoir is placed under direct vision.

· Shorter surgical time

· Possible quicker recovery and shorter delay for patients to start cycling the implant.

Disadvantages

· Higher risk of injury to dorsal nerve bundle.

· Possible suboptimal pump placement.

· Limited Exposure for complex revisions.

· May be technically challenging for obese patients.

Penile Implant Options

Coloplast® Titan® Touch

The Cololoplast Titan is a 3-piece (has 3 components) inflatable penile prosthesis made from Bioflex and silicone. Bioflex is a durable, biopolymer material which makes the implant emulate the look and performance of a natural erection. This implant is surrounded by a hydrophilic coating which aids in surgical plcaement and absorbs antibiotic solution.

The Titan Touch Offers the Following Unique Features

• Mechanical Reliability Rates: Recent studies show the Coloplast Alpha 1 and Titan to have mechanical reliability rates of 97.5% after five years on first time implants.2

• Concealable: When implanted, the Coloplast Titan penile implant is not visibly noticeable. The penis appears relaxed and normal in the flaccid state, and it is not obvious by looking at a man that he has an implant.

Learn More About Coloplast Titan Penile Implants

Genesis™ Flexible Rod Penile Implant

The Genesis is a malleable penile implant. The primary difference between the two implant types is that the Genesis produce a permanently firm penis, while the inflatable implants (the Titan) produce a controlled, more natural erection.