The penile implant has been a mainstay of treatment for erectile dysfunction for over 30 years. There have been over 300,000 penile implants inserted worldwide allowing surgeons to offer this form of therapy with the confidence of knowing that penile implants are a safe, reliable and effective way of treating even the most severe cases of erectile dysfunction (ED). Penile implants have a greater than 95% patient and partner satisfaction rating.
What are a Penile Prosthesis / Penile Implant?
The penile implant is a synthetic prosthetic device that is inserted directly into the corpora cavernosa to provide a man an erection that is adequately rigid for penetrating intercourse. All of the components of a penile prosthesis are placed under the skin and not visible to unsuspecting people. Each penile prosthesis is custom fit to the patient at the time of surgery. There are two manufacturers of FDA approved penile prosthetics in the United States. Both manufacturers provide a variety of penile implants for treating ED. The technology involved in manufacturing a penile prosthesis is patented and has been refined over the last 30 years to provide a reliable and durable prosthetic device.
What types of Penile Implant is right for me?
There are three general different designs when it comes to penile implants. Penile implants are made in a malleable form, two-piece, and three-piece inflatable prosthesis. Based on manual dexterity, medical co-morbidities, and previous surgeries, your physician will help select the penile prosthesis that is right for you.
What about the Minimally Invasive Penile Prosthesis procedure?
Alaska Urology physicians are experienced in performing both the traditional penoscrotal and the minimally invasive infrapubic approach. The preference is to always perform the minimally invasive infrapubic approach because of the small (3 cm) incision, minimal dissection required, decreased healing time and convalescence associated with the minimally invasive infrapubic approach. The surgery is done under general or regional anesthesia and takes under 30 minutes for the entire procedure. Patients are able to cycle the pump mechanism and resume normal activities faster than with the penoscrotal approach.
Does a Penile Implant look and feel like a natural erection?
The patient satisfaction rate in published studies of penile implant surgery is over 95% and this is largely attributed to the natural look and feel of penile implants. Many patients are surprised to find out that there are no external devices and that everything is concealed under the skin for discretion. Oftentimes, patients will request to see photos of previous penile implant procedures. We have included pre-operative photos, intra-operative photos and final cosmetic results of the flaccid and inflated penile prosthesis in the following section.
What is the cost of penile implant surgery?
Patients are always surprised to learn that most major insurance carriers and Medicare will cover the entire cost of penile implant surgery. For those patients with Medicare insurance and a supplemental plan, there are usually no out of pocket costs for the operation. Please contact our billing department for an estimate for out of pocket expenses.