Anyone "solve" their venous leak ED with a penile implant?

[Wooderson]

I have venous leak ED myself (about 8 yrs now), where I can't stay or get fully hard without constant physical stimulation. A constriction ring also helps keep the blood from escaping. I'm wondering if for those with VL-based ED is the implant experience different than for those without VL?

Specifically my concern is the implant is not supposed to harden the glans, just the shaft. If I understand correctly, the glans will either get hard on its own or it won't. Does the fact that one has VL-based ED mean after an implant the glans will still have an inability to fill up and STAY filled up with blood by itself?

All responses welcome of course but I'd specifically be interested in anyone who had a fully-functional penis during part or all of their youth only to be struck down by VL and then resume their sex life via implant. Did the implant restore everything you had before onset of venous leak?

[rlm1818]

When a 'normal' guy gets aroused and gets an erection, the erectile tissue inside the caveronsa expands and presses against the tunica. That creates the hardness and rigidity of the erection. The spongiosum, which runs the full length of the penis on the underside (including inside the body) also engorges and swells up. That adds girth and sensitivity, and some stiffness, though primarily the stiffness is from the erectile tissue in the cavernosa. There are LOTS of nerve endings in the spongiosum and there is lots of sensitivity there. The glans is considered a separate part of the spongiosum, and what happens to the glans is normally also what happens with the spongiosum.

An implant, of course, only replaces/supplements the erectile tissue in the cavernosa. Provided the surgery is done properly, there should be no adverse impact on the ability of the spongiosum or glans to engorge or be sensitive. However, nothing about the implant itself improves blood flow to the spongiosum and glans. Do some guys get full engorgement of the spongiosum and glans after an implant? Yes. Do some get virtually none? Yes. Do some get partial engorgement? Yes. Do some guys with an implant use cock rings to help keep blood trapped and improve engorgement and the longevity of it? Yes. Does it work? Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

All the implant surgeons I visited told me NOT to count on getting 'normal' engorgement of the spongiosum or glans. I get partial. Anything you can do to keep blood flowing (VED, masturbation, masturbation or sex with a cock ring) is helpful. Some guys, with the added stimulation that comes from regular sex with an implant do see improvement in glans engorgement. I've read of some who suddenly see improvement as much as a year and a half after implant.

What would your result be? I doubt you will know for sure one way or the other until you have an implant and find out. And it could take a year or more to have a final conclusion.

[ED2013]

I have vl and got an implant. My glans does engorge. Whatever blood flow to your glans you have now will be the same after implant if it is done correctly

[Wooderson]

Guys, thank you for your responses. I think you've pretty much confirmed my suspicion that there are no guarantees as far as a complete return to one's "former glory" and that I shouldn't rush into an implant unless and until I'm fully prepared for all possible trade-offs. Having said that, I may still get one. I just don't know right now. I need to wrap my head around the idea a bit more until I know I'm ready and I've exhausted all other (less invasive) alternatives first.

For now I feel like there's still plenty more I could be doing to promote better penile health. Especially since I REALLY (unintentionally) neglected my dick this past year.

For example, I didn't realize how important regular sex and/or masturbation is for a guy who already has venous leak. Instead I let work and personal stress get the better of me and dominate my life. I also let my girlfriend of 5 yrs slip away and into the arms of another man. I did just about everything wrong that I needed to do right. And the result has been the disappearance of nocturnal/morning wood as of 2-3 months ago (as weak as they might have been before they finally said "auf wiedersehen" for good).

Since then however I've begun a daily VED exercise regimen; it hasn't even been a week since I started and I'm already seeing some benefits. I've also become a lot more aware of my pelvic floor muscles and have begun exercising them throughout the day. I haven't taken PDE5 inhibitors in years, and never on a daily basis--another thing I might want to (re)consider. Nor have I ever tried SHOTS...

Basically I want to EMPTY OUT the existing arsenal of weapons at my disposal before I pass the proverbial point of no return with an implant.

I'm also meeting Dr. Tom Lue at UCSF in a little less than three weeks. I've wanted to meet him for the past 5+ yrs and looks like I'll finally have my chance. Let's see what he has to say. Who knows, he may just say, "Get the implant already!"

@rlm1818: Your post was incredibly descriptive and helpful. Thank you! I do have a couple questions. You mentioned the use of VED and constriction rings with an implant. Is use of these items "allowed" with an implant? I was under the impression that they could damage the prosthesis. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Also was your ED due to venous leak like ED2013 and myself?

@ED2013: You mentioned that you have VL and "Whatever blood flow to your glans you have now will be the same after implant". Well with me, my glans' blood flow is a direct function of my overall blood flow. If my shaft isn't firming up then neither is my glans...and these last few months especially (since losing my girlfriend) getting my shaft/glans rigid enough "for sex" has meant wearing a constriction ring and having constant physical stimulation to my member. These days my glans pretty much only reaches decent/respectable fullness THAT way. Are you saying I should expect my post-implant glans to perform as it currently does WITHOUT the aid of a constriction ring and constant physical stimulation? Because if that's the case then the current outlook for my post-implant glans performance is considerably less rosy...

Let me ask it another way (for either of you or anyone else to answer):

Assuming you can GET blood INTO your glans, does the mechanics of a fully-inflated prosthesis KEEP THE BLOOD TRAPPED IN THE GLANS (the way fully-expanded corpora cavernosa keep blood trapped in the glans, as well as the shaft)?

My understanding is that with venous leak you never get that full expansion of the corpora cavernosa as blood is literally leaking out of those chambers. Thus both glans AND shaft come tumbling down. Does the prosthesis itself press down on otherwise leaky veins (since blood is no longer the means by which the CC chambers expand) thereby maintaining an already-engorged glans--ASSUMING YOU ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE ONE--for the duration of the erection?

[rlm1818]

Basically I want to EMPTY OUT the existing arsenal of weapons at my disposal before I pass the proverbial point of no return with an implant.

I'm also meeting Dr. Tom Lue at UCSF in a little less than three weeks. I've wanted to meet him for the past 5+ yrs and looks like I'll finally have my chance. Let's see what he has to say. Who knows, he may just say, "Get the implant already!"

This is smart. Try everything else first. A good ED specialist is the best one to answer your questions too.

@rlm1818: Your post was incredibly descriptive and helpful. Thank you! I do have a couple questions. You mentioned the use of VED and constriction rings with an implant. Is use of these items "allowed" with an implant? I was under the impression that they could damage the prosthesis. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Also was your ED due to venous leak like ED2013 and myself?

Sorry, my brain was thinking one thing, and what I was writing wasn't quite clear. I intended to suggest you should be working on your blood flow, including VED, before you do an implant.

However, there are guys who use cock rings after implant. Use the advanced search function to search for the user Genome and filter on cock rings. There are guys that use, or at least try, PDE5 inhibitors after implant to improve blood flow too. I've read of a few guys whose doctors have told them using a VED after implant is ok. But many (most?) say definitely not.

Personally, I love the fact that the implant makes everything so simple as well as reliable. The hassle of all the other ED aids is something I take relish in leaving behind. Whatever slight benefit there would be from pills, rings, etc., just isn't worth the hassle to me. I think lots of guys with implants feel the same.

Also, lots of guys have concerns about what an implant will be like. Whether it will 'feel the same'. Will they get glans engorgement. etc etc. For me, and I think for most guys, you very rapidly get used to the new you. The new normal. And its a lot of fun. If its a little different, you don't even think about it. You just enjoy yourself. If you get a successful implant (most do, but this is an important "if") it will be a huge improvement over your other ED solutions which either don't work or work poorly. Worrying about whether an implant 'solves' VL probably won't be a very important issue for you if you actually get an implant. You'll just enjoy it regardless.

[jryancey44]

My doctor told me to use Viagra for the glans I do and it works. He said muse would also work.



Jim

[sliphill]

My doctor told me to use Viagra for the glans I do and it works. He said muse would also work.



Jim

That makes sense. Better than having to put a ring on.

[ED2013]

Yes your blood flow should be the same to the glans as it is without any ring. No the implant does not trap blood there. I saw Dr Lue as well. He has the ability to do Doppler test and a separate test that identifies venous leak. He prefers ligation surgery for vl before implant depending on the age of the patient.

[TANGERINE]

here are my answers to your original questions:

Question:

Does the fact that one has VL-based ED mean after an implant the glans will still have an inability to fill up and STAY filled up with blood by itself?

ANSWER:
I have VL. Before surgery, neither my shaft (cavernosa) or glans (songiosa) worked well. The implant has done a spectacular job fixing the shaft, and now I can have sex again. However, For me, the glans still is not great; but that does not matter since , for me, the glans swells up big time at the point of orgasm. That is good enough for me.

I think my wife really enjoys a big hard glans since it rubs her g-spot, but sometimes, I think that I might be hurting her since i might be too big. So I am not sure how important, if at all, the glans happens to be.

[alibaba]

Yup, those two rubber cobs jammed right in the leak and filled with salt water plugged them suckers plump tight. rAMMED THEM IN WITH A ROD LIKE PUTTING POWDER IN A BARREL. made for the hole. put in the hole. HOLE NO MO. DONE!