List of questions to ask IPP implant surgeon (?)

[asmith]

Does anyone have a comprehensive list of questions that I should be asking the surgeon who will eventually be implanting my IPP?

I am interviewing two surgeons next week and it would be great to have a list of questions that others in this forum may already have developed or used when they interviewed their surgeon.

If you have such a list, I'd welcome it by forum email or PM.

Thanks all.

[steveb]

I would ask what would be the most length he felt you could possibly loose from the implant. Best of luck to you!

Steve B

[ariadne]

You are wise to prepare questions in advance. As I have written, you won't remember any questions with your pants down.
Among the questions, certainly, are:

1. What kind of implant (I have the AMS700LXG and am very happy with the results)

2. Discuss post op penis length and eventual girth and length after a year.

3. Cost

4. Length of stay in hospital (I stayed one night)

5. Incision in scrotum (my incision) or pubic area. Why this preference?

6. Recovery time for incision, first pump up, first intercourse

7. Number of implants MD has performed.

8. Infection rate

9. Life expectancy of the implant

Some MDs may resent such close questioning. I say that you are buying a service and you are entitled to answers. Persevere. I hope that these are helpful. How the thing works, how it feels, change in sensitivity of the penis (I had no sensitivity in the left shaft, but it has returned in about 12 months) are best answered here on the forum. Patience is a great quality to have with this procedure. Your wife should be included in all matters. Best wishes. You may PM me if you wish or ask more questions on the forum. Best wishes.

[ariadne]

asmith, I don't mind a public reply to your question about my MD. I appreciate your reserve, but sometimes public questions and answers are helpful to other men as well. Please go to page 3 of the implant posts, "name of doctors" by mik65 and scroll down to reply by "ariadne" for a review of my good experience with Dr. Joshua Fine, Baylor Medical Center, Dallas, TX. I'd cut-and-paste this for you but I don't know how. Regards, ariadne

[Illuminist]

The most important question to as k is to see pics of his previous patients post op. If he can't show any, pick a surgeon who can.

[rlm1818]

In addition to the above, here are a few more topics:

1) What kind of pre-op conditioning is recommended, if any. Eg. VED therapy
2) What kind of pre-op testing is done.
3) What is the post-op followup protocol.
4) How long, if at all, will you need to have your penis pointed up towards your navel.
5) What condition are the cylinders post op... empty, partial inflation, full inflation. And for how long.
6) How long can you expect to be out of work.
7) What activity restrictions will you have post-op, and for how long (eg. limitations on lifting weights, driving, etc).
8) If you are traveling from a distance, what are the stay requirements (or recommendations) for being near the surgeon. Also what other travel considerations are there? If you are traveling alone, do you need, and can they arrange for a medical companion.
9) You might ask some question about pump placement. Your (or my) interest is to see if they are sensitive to pump placement and tubing placement issues... this seems to be a somewhat frequent source of unhappiness and one that some surgeons seem to blow off as not that important. Does the surgeon put the pump in the final location during surgery, or must you "pull" it into place during your recovery.
10) How much real benefit to the LGX is there in terms of post-op length gains.
11) What pre-op tests (eg flaccid stretch, injected erection or injected stretch, or VED) can predict post-op length and what expectations should you have.
12) When do you begin to cycle the implant. When can you expect to use it for sex.

I'm sure there are more.

[steveb]

Should you use a VED to pump before surgery and for how long before surgery is a good question to ask, to help get all the penile length post-op you can get. Best of luck to you!!!!

[bob1138]

Welcome asmith,

The men above have given you a wealth of info in their posts --- one of the true strengths of the FT Group.
If possible, I would recommend asking the URO to put you in touch with several of his patients who have been implanted by
him with the IPP (Inflatable Penile Implant) you ultimately choose and ask them to share their experiences with you.
This was very helpful to me before my final decision to be implanted in December 2007.
Hope this is of some help.
Best of luck.

Bob
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age: 73; Developed ED in 2004 (After Open Radical Prostatectomy); Post-op PSA remains undetectable as of 12/13/2011;
Implanted December 13, 2007 (Coloplast Titan).