Men with erectile dysfunction or with lack of penile stiffness need to seek for an urologist in order to identify the cause of the problem and to find appropriate treatment. This condition may be linked to a hormonal imbalance, the advancing of age, or it may be a consequence of other conditions such as Diabetes, Prostate Cancer or Peyronie’s Disease. Very often, in order to solve the problem for complete, the most indicated procedure might be the implant of a penile prosthesis.
Find out when penile prostheses are indicated and if you may need them one day
Since this is a subject that raises doubts concerning the preparation and brings some insecurities regarding the need for anesthesia and hospitalization, I have decided to write this post and explain in detail all the care that should be taken during the pre and postoperative of the penile prosthesis, as well as the process that the patient undergoes on the day of surgery.
Keep reading the text and you will see that the whole process is much simpler than you think. With the right directions, the chances of success can only increase.
The preparation for the surgery of penile prosthesis implant
The secret to the success of any surgery is planning. And to implant a penile prosthesis it is no different.
The first step towards preparing for the surgery is to check how the blood circulation inside the penis is and if there are signs of fibrosis that may be causing difficulty in having an erection. We need to perform an examination with induced erection and colored ultrasound, which will measure the penile functionality and will help the doctor to understand the procedure that shall be done. If erectile dysfunction is associated with Peyronie Disease or to a decrease of penile size, all these problems can be solved in one single procedure, with the Egydio’s Technique.
With all the exams done, it’s time to choose the type of the prosthesis that will be implanted. The decision is based on conversations between the doctor and the patient, considering the results of the examinations mentioned above. Important factors for the choice are patient preferences, lifestyle, medical conditions, and costs. Besides personal preference, the indication of the type of prosthesis also depends on a precise examination of the penile anatomy in order to guarantee greater vertical rigidity after the implantation.
After identifying the real condition and choosing the model of prosthesis to be implanted, it is time then to set a date. The surgery is performed in a few hours and there is no need for an overnight in the hospital.
Patients living outside São Paulo need to book from five to seven days to stay in the city: one day for consultation and exams, another for surgery and 3 to 5 days for medical follow-up at the beginning of recovery. Those who choose inflatable prosthetics should take into account the possibility of a medical follow-up after the surgery, in order to receive guidance regarding the handling of the implant. In case there are no questions left, this can be re-evaluated according to the patient.
The surgery is scheduled, what should I do before it?
When the surgery of penile implant has finally a scheduled date and time, just wait for the day to come and think about the confidence that it will give you afterwards.
If the exams have indicated the existence of fibroses, it will be treated before placing the prosthesis, but in the same surgical procedure. This is of extreme importance to ensure good blood circulation in the penis, which is responsible for maintaining the natural penile temperature after placement of the prosthesis, in addition to ensuring its proper functioning, helping in malleability, in the case of the malleable model, and allowing the full filling of the inflatable prosthesis model.
The procedure does not require extensive preparation. As with any surgery, it will be necessary to perform blood tests, urine and cardiac evaluation to avoid any setback. It is important that glucose levels are controlled to ensure good healing and to avoid the risk of infection. In addition to that, a fasting of eight hours, both solid and liquid, is required before the surgery begins.
You will also be advised about hygiene of the pubic area with antibacterial soap, which should be done for two days before surgery. After that, just have a good night’s sleep and get ready for the day you will heal from the erectile dysfunction once and for all.
What happens on the day of surgery
With the planning done and the previous care taken, it is time for the doctor to put into practice all his knowledge and experience, taking care to obtain a great functional aspect and also aesthetics. In order to regain firmness of the penis, it is possible to regain its size and caliber up to the maximum limits of the nerves and urethra.
The whole procedure usually does not take long. The patient will be admitted in the hospital early in the morning and, at the most, early in the afternoon he will be released to go home. The surgery takes between two and three hours and it’s done with local anesthesia.
The doctor and his team do the shaving of the pubic hair in the surgical center. Therefore, you do not need to worry about this, since they will take great care so that there is no risk of infection.
What happens after the implant of the penile prosthesis
Like the whole procedure, the post-surgical of the penile prosthesis is not complicated.
The return to the doctor happens on the same day of the surgery, in the afternoon. In this consultation it will be evaluated the success of the surgery and it will be given the last guidelines so that the healing and adaptation happens in the best possible way.
Your penis will receive a bandage, which is not necessary to remove for the first five days. After this period, the bandage must be changed daily for another five days. Because of the simplicity of the exchange, it is not necessary for the patient to return to the doctor to do this. You can do it yourself in a few minutes.
For patients who choose an inflatable prosthesis model, a return to the doctor is requested after 28 days. Since it requires a greater knowledge of its manipulation, the physician must follow the evolution of the surgery and instruct the patient on the correct way to use it. This way you will have no doubts. It will ensure you a better sexual life.
There are three steps for the patient to return to normal life: between 7 and 10 days it is possible to return to work if it does not require physical effort; from 30 days on you can resume physical activities and from 45 to 60 days resume sexual life.
The recovery process is even simpler because the stitches on the penis are absorbable, preventing the patient from having any discomfort in the future or during sexual intercourse. In about two months they will all have fallen naturally.
How to solve cases of unsuccessful surgeries
There are situations in which the patient has already placed the prosthesis to resolve the erectile dysfunction, but the surgical procedure was not satisfactory. Usually this is due to the lack of a general evaluation of the penis to identify other issues related to the problem of erection. Most of times, patients complain that the penis have gotten smaller or too thin; the prosthesis was placed in an incorrect size and cause a rupture or the decrease of the glans; it was necessary to change the prosthesis because of problems of adaptation or, even, the implant did not solve the lack of rigidity.
The first step in these cases is to perform a functional reassessment of the penis doing the same induced erection procedure indicated in the preoperative period. It is fundamental to evaluate if there was a loss of size or thinning of the penis to correct the problem in the surgery, or if there is the occurrence of fibrosis that, when not removed, directly affects the final result of the implant.
You will never be unaccompanied
To my patients, I offer a follow-up service during the 60 days of post-surgical care. Whether through WhatsApp or with the support of a specialized team, you will always be supported and will be able to be attended by distance, sending pictures and videos that illustrate the recovery of the surgery. We are also available for any questions that may arise in this process.
And now, how about scheduling an appointment to evaluate the problem of erectile dysfunction and pursue a return to your sex life?
I await your contact to talk and to start with the treatment.
