Penis Surgery : Everything you Need to Know – Part 1

Penis surgery is a treatment option commonly available for men who have erectile dysfunction, or that require the surgery (signed off by a urologist). This article provides detailed information about penile implant surgery, including its likely risks and benefits, the different types of penile implant devices available, and also offers tips for those planning on taking the surgery.

Types of Penis Surgery For Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

Surgery can get recommended when other available treatment options do not improve erectile dysfunction. Different types of surgery can be used to treat ED. These are discussed below.

Penile Implant surgery

This surgical procedure involves inserting a medical device or prosthetic into the penis to achieve an erection. Penile implant surgery is mostly considered among all other surgery options. However, it carries some risks of post-op infection and device failure.

Arterial Reconstruction

Reworking the arteries that supply blood to the penis to increase blood flow to the penis is another procedure that helps men with ED achieve an erection.

Venous Surgery

The venous surgery is done by blocking or removing sections of the veins that cannot trap blood in the penis to maintain an erection.

What is Penile Surgery Implant?

Penile implant surgery is the implantation of a prosthetic or device in the penis to achieve and maintain an erection. The device implanted helps with ED by mimicking the natural mechanisms of an erection by allowing blood to flow into the penis, get trapped then result in an erection.

The device is placed in the penis through a surgical incision; the surgery is an outpatient procedure, done under general anesthesia, and typically takes one to two hours to complete. This surgery is mainly recommended for men with ED who have tried all other treatments of ED without improvement. You should note that inserting a penile implant does not help with penis enlargement.

There are two major types of implants available:

• Inflatable Penile Implants
• Non-inflatable Penile Implants

Inflatable Penile Implant

This implant consists of two cylinders, a pump, and a reservoir. The cylinders are inserted into the penis, the pump goes into the scrotum, and the reservoir is placed in the lower abdomen. The fluid that controls the inflation and deflation of the penile implant is contained in the reservoir.

The inflatable penile implant causes an erection when the pump is squeezed, and the reservoir sends fluid to the cylinders in the penis. The penis becomes flaccid when fluid gets sent back to the reservoir.

There are two types of inflatable penile implants available: Two pieces implants and Three pieces implants.

• Two-piece Implant: the size of the pump and reservoir doesn't give room for better user control. It is simple and easy to use, although you might only be able to enjoy your penis in one state (the flaccid or the erect), not both.
• Three-piece Implant: as the name implies, it consists of an additional reservoir. It is more complex than the two piece implant. The additional reservoir allows for better user control giving a wide range of benefits like a fully flaccid penis and a firmer erection.

Non-inflatable Penile Implant

The non-inflatable penile implants are also known as semi-rigid implants or semi-rigid rods. The rods connected to an inflated balloon are inserted into the penis. The rods go into the penis while the balloon is placed in the scrotum. The rods can be raised to achieve an erection when needed. It can also be bent down when an erection is not required.

Potential Risks of Penile Implant Surgery

It is important to note that not everyone can have penis surgery. Also, appropriate care must be taken before penile implant surgery can occur. For example, a person with a urinary infection or a sexually transmitted infection has to completely treat these infections before attempting an implant surgery.

Penile implant has surgical and postoperative complications that make them risky. Some of them are:

• Damage to penile tissues and vessels.
• Hypersensitivity to materials used for the implant.
• Bleeding.
• Scarring.
• Technical issues with the device used for the implant.
• Discomfort during or after sex if the implant is improperly placed into the penis.
• Nerve damage can lead to change in penile sensitivity
• Infection.

Purpose for Penile Implant surgery

The primary purpose of penile implant surgery is to help men with erectile dysfunction achieve and maintain an erection adequate for sexual activity.

The procedure is typically recommended for men who have not had success with other ED treatments and whose ED is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes, Peyronie disease, or prostate cancer. Read more about Peyronie disease and how to overcome it?

A penile implant surgery does not increase ones libido or sexual desire, nor does an increase in penis size increase sensitivity. However, penile implant surgery is not for everyone. Therefore, it is essential to talk to your doctor about other treatment options for erectile dysfunction.

Other Available Treatments (Instead of Surgery)

Oral Medication

Oral medicines like Sildenafil, Tadafil, or hormone supplements like testosterone, are used to manage erectile dysfunction. Alternative to regular drugs in the pharmacy, you can also use volume and recovery supplements. It helps with penis growth and increases blood flow to the penis.

Penis Injections

The penile injections increase blood flow to the corpus carvernosa, causing an erection.

Shock Wave Therapy

Shock wave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses sound waves to stimulate healing in the body. It is thought to stimulate blood flow to the penis, improving erectile function in some men.

However, shock wave therapy still needs further research to evaluate the efficacy and frequency of the treatment. Therefore, it should not be the first treatment option when treating ED.

Non-invasive Enlargement Devices

These are external non-invasive devices that are aimed at increasing the penis length and girth and also maximizing the blood flow into the penis. These include:

Penis Rings

The purpose of penis rings, worn around the penis base, is to support erection maintenance. They function by limiting blood flow out of the blood vessels in the penis, which aids in maintaining an erect penis. ED can be managed using penis rings.

Vacuum pumps

Vacuum pumps, also called penis pumps, are non-invasive treatments used to manage ED by using suction to draw blood into the penis to obtain and maintain an erection.

You should also consider using an automatic penis pump when considering penis pumps, as they use technology that makes the pump easy, safe and effective.

Penis Weight Hanger

Penis weight hangers work by hanging weights to the penis for a period every day to cause the tissues to stretch, causing the penis to grow and increase in length.

ADS- All Day Penis Stretcher

The ADS device allows you to use the stretching feature all the time. It can be worn for a long time. The penis stretches use traction to enhance the penis.

How to Prepare for The Surgery

After talking to your doctor and deciding to do penile implant surgery, you must discuss the necessary information and your preference for the type of implant you want with your doctor. Below are tips that can help you prepare for your surgery.

(These are just the tips not medically proven statements)

Location

Your surgery would most likely be done in an operating theater or medical center. And that should be near your home.

What to Wear

Don't worry about this too much, wear comfortable clothes. You might want to wear pants with a lot of open space to accommodate the bandage on your pelvis.

Food & Drink

You must do a dry fasting after midnight on the night before your surgery. For more on this kindly consult your doctor.

Medications

You should talk to your doctor about your current medications and follow instructions if they need to be stopped or adjusted. It would help if you also discussed drugs to avoid before the surgery.

What to Bring

You go to the hospital with a means of identification, your medical insurance information, and a cash or credit/debit card if you are not using insurance. It would also be helpful to go along with someone like a friend or family member.

Pre-op Lifestyle Changes

You do not need any particular form of lifestyle change before the surgery. However, anything that would be necessary would be communicated by the surgical team.

Conclusion

Penile implant surgery is an effective treatment for ED. However, you do not need to undergo surgery to manage erectile dysfunction.

If you want a penile implant surgery, discuss with your Urologist if it is right for you, the risks and benefits, and also evaluate other treatment options to make the best decision for your penis health.

Medical Disclaimer: If you have any medical conditions, questions, or concerns, please speak with your healthcare provider directly. The articles on Zen Hanger are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice diagnosis, or treatment.