Are You a Candidate for Penile Prosthetic Surgery?
Penile prosthetic surgery is a permanent treatment option for men with erectile problems. It involves a surgeon implanting a small device inside the penis to allow for a natural-feeling erection and more spontaneous sexual activity.
A penile prosthesis can also be used to treat severe cases of Peyronie’s disease. Let’s talk about what makes a man a good candidate for penile prosthetic surgery and where you can go to find out what would work to solve your erectile dysfunction issues.
What Conditions Can Penile Prosthetic Surgery Treat?
Penile prosthetic surgery is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that can offer a number of benefits to men who have a condition that prevents them from achieving a satisfactory erection, such as erectile dysfunction (ED) or Peyronie’s disease.
Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection that is firm enough for sexual intercourse. It can be a distressing health condition, and it is often caused by an underlying physical issue such as diabetes, heart disease, vascular disease, and obesity.
Smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, certain medications, prostate surgery, and psychological issues such as stress can also lead to erectile dysfunction. ED becomes more common with age, but it is not a normal result of aging – it happens for a reason.
Peyronie’s disease is a condition that is caused by scar tissue inside the penis. This scar tissue, known as plaque, can cause the shaft of the penis to curve, especially during erections.
What happens in Peyronie’s disease is that the scar tissue pulls at the skin from the inside and causes the curvature. Most men with the condition can still have sexual intercourse, but in severe cases, sex can be painful and the disease can cause erectile dysfunction.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the Surgery?
For many men, erectile dysfunction can be successfully treated with non-surgical treatments such as medication, injections, or vacuum-assisted devices; penile implant surgery may be recommended by your doctor when other methods of ED treatment have failed to work successfully.
The best candidates for penile implant surgery are men who:
- Have nerve injuries
- Have issues with blood flow to the penis
- Have side effects from prostate cancer or surgery
- Have tried other treatments which have been unsuccessful
Types of Penile Prosthetic Surgery
There are two main types of penile prosthetic surgery, including semirigid and inflatable penile implants. Each type of implant works differently and can offer different benefits. Inflatable implants are the most popular type of penile prosthesis.
Semirigid Implants. With a semirigid implant, the penis is always semi-firm. The penis is positioned away from the body for sexual activity and then kept pushed to the side for concealment when not required.
Inflatable Implants. This type of penile prosthesis can be inflated to create an erection when required, but it can be deflated when not needed. To achieve an erection, the pump is simply pressed, which releases fluid into small inflatable cylinders within the penis, creating an erection. The erection lasts for as long as desired, and the fluid is then drained back into the reservoir by releasing a valve in the scrotum.
Penile Implant Surgery in Concord and Charlotte, North Carolina
If you are considering penile prosthetic surgery, talk to an experienced board-certified urologist and men’s health specialist Richard Natale, MD of Carolina Urology Partners about what type of penile implant may be right for you.
If you would like to find out more about penile prosthetic surgery or other treatments for sexual dysfunction, call us today at (704) 786-5131 or request an appointment via our online form now. Let us help you enjoy being a man again.
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