Inflatable vs Malleables

[newbiehere23]

newbiehere23,

Here's a different perspective to consider.

https://www.franktalk.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=26145&start=10#p248863

- Chuck

The thought of getting revisions every 5-7 years at 33 is mortifying

Yes I totally get it. That's why its such a tough decision and I am not sure what direction to lean in

[Kodixx]

newbiehere23,

Yeah that was a tough thing for me to think thru also - and I'm 25 years older than you. However with parents in their 80's, I could be looking at several revision surgeries if things don't go well.

Here's a couple things to think about:
1) I think its helpful to have your urologist/implanter/surgeon near by. If you live near one of the ubiquitous "high volume implanters" maybe you're set. If not you might consider a "mid-volume" implanter closer to you.
2) If you plan on constant hard pounding action, I'd go with what's most durable. On the other end of the spectrum if your action is more easy going then you can probably place more value on level of overall comfort.

There are lots of threads & posts relating experiences of guys moving from IPPs to MPP's and vice versa. I encourage you to read thru those and see how their circumstances and thoughts compare to your own.

- Chuck

Yes I totally get it. That's why its such a tough decision and I am not sure what direction to lean in

[newbiehere23]

newbiehere23,

Yeah that was a tough thing for me to think thru also - and I'm 25 years older than you. However with parents in their 80's, I could be looking at several revision surgeries if things don't go well.

Here's a couple things to think about:
1) I think its helpful to have your urologist/implanter/surgeon near by. If you live near one of the ubiquitous "high volume implanters" maybe you're set. If not you might consider a "mid-volume" implanter closer to you.
2) If you plan on constant hard pounding action, I'd go with what's most durable. On the other end of the spectrum if your action is more easy going then you can probably place more value on level of overall comfort.

There are lots of threads & posts relating experiences of guys moving from IPPs to MPP's and vice versa. I encourage you to read thru those and see how their circumstances and thoughts compare to your own.

- Chuck

Yes I totally get it. That's why its such a tough decision and I am not sure what direction to lean in

I am from Montreal, Canada and would be travelling to a high volume surgeon (thinking Hakky or Clavel) so I would be travelling quite a bit of distance.

[LastHope]

Here's another perspective from a 33 yr old user Principles who personally experienced both malleable and inflatables just like thedriver. He got unlucky with repeated infections and eventually stopped posting. I hope he is doing fine now.

A short comparison of Malleables and Inflatables
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22405

[Kodixx]

newbiehere23,

That is quite a distance. Many many do so with the help of a good support companion.

- Chuck

I am from Montreal, Canada and would be travelling to a high volume surgeon (thinking Hakky or Clavel) so I would be travelling quite a bit of distance.

[Kodixx]

LastHope,

Good info - thank you for sharing. There were a couple things I'd question, the recovery experience and availability of qualified IPP surgeons for revision surgery. I was sorry to read that his level of pain following IPP surgery was >=8/10 for the first 3 weeks. And like you, I hope he's found a path to get beyond the problems described. However, I don't think that's the norm based on info from the Dr, and feedback I've read on FrankTalk. In fact my level of pain for the first 3 weeks was higher than most I've compared with, but it was nowhere near 8/10, and nothing I'd fear doing again if I needed revision surgery. Not saying I'd want to do that again - but its doable.

The second question is regarding the availability of qualified IPP surgeons for revision surgery. A quick Google search produced this:

AI Overview
In the United States, approximately 20,000-30,000 inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgeries occur annually, while malleable penile prosthesis (MPP) surgeries are significantly fewer, at about 1500.

If true, that alone speaks to the number of available IPP surgeons. Additionally from my own experience, and many experiences I've read here, would indicate that getting an IPP revision does take longer than a trip to Urgent Care - but not as restricted as his comments describe.

- Chuck

A short comparison of Malleables and Inflatables
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22405

(Recovery) My recovery from the initial surgery with the Titan was close to traumatic. I experienced intense pain for three weeks straight and couldn't walk without feeling pain >= 8/10. For the first year, I also felt discomfort and pain around the reservoir during intense workouts, such as running.

(Revisions) I also know that I'm not dependent on a few specialists who have experience with installing an IPP. It is easier to find surgeons to perform a malleable implant revision than to find a highly experienced IPP specialist.

[LastHope]

LastHope,

Good info - thank you for sharing. There were a couple things I'd question, the recovery experience and availability of qualified IPP surgeons for revision surgery. I was sorry to read that his level of pain following IPP surgery was >=8/10 for the first 3 weeks. And like you, I hope he's found a path to get beyond the problems described. However, I don't think that's the norm based on info from the Dr, and feedback I've read on FrankTalk. In fact my level of pain for the first 3 weeks was higher than most I've compared with, but it was nowhere near 8/10, and nothing I'd fear doing again if I needed revision surgery. Not saying I'd want to do that again - but its doable.

The second question is regarding the availability of qualified IPP surgeons for revision surgery. A quick Google search produced this:

AI Overview
In the United States, approximately 20,000-30,000 inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgeries occur annually, while malleable penile prosthesis (MPP) surgeries are significantly fewer, at about 1500.

If true, that alone speaks to the number of available IPP surgeons. Additionally from my own experience, and many experiences I've read here, would indicate that getting an IPP revision does take longer than a trip to Urgent Care - but not as restricted as his comments describe.

- Chuck

A short comparison of Malleables and Inflatables
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22405

(Recovery) My recovery from the initial surgery with the Titan was close to traumatic. I experienced intense pain for three weeks straight and couldn't walk without feeling pain >= 8/10. For the first year, I also felt discomfort and pain around the reservoir during intense workouts, such as running.

(Revisions) I also know that I'm not dependent on a few specialists who have experience with installing an IPP. It is easier to find surgeons to perform a malleable implant revision than to find a highly experienced IPP specialist.

Great points, Chuck. The user is from a country in South America. Yes, in the US, we are blessed with excellent IPP surgeons.

[LastHope]

Many thanks to user Principles for his excellent comparison of malleables versus inflatables, the kind drawn from firsthand personal experience. In his most recent thread, he did report some issues with his suboptimal malleable surgery, which is also worth noting. While his comparisons are highly objective, this aspect must also be factored in. I’ll quote him here. Thank you again, Principles, your contributions are greatly appreciated!

Principles wrote:
3rd Procedure:
01/2023 Salvage to a Tactra 13mm 23cm. Post op was a breeze. Lost 3-4cm (1.5"). Lost alot of girth, rigidity was crappy. From the infection, my previous right titan tip extruded the Tunica but not the skin. That wasn't corrected during the salvage procedure and I ended up with a Tactra that was already close to extruding the skin. And to make things worst, the left Tactra tip descended another 1" due to extrusion of the proximal left tunica. So it was very unstable. It's hard for me to judge the Tactra or the malleable because my situation was so unique. I'd like to have tried the Tactra without the infection constraints and see it to it's full sexual potential.

[thedriver]

Just a quick add-on to this thread.
When I got my MPP which was my last surgery a year ago in Feb, it was a day surgery, I was there at 7am and wheeled out to the front door at 3pm that same day, once outside the wifey brought the car around, told her I was driving, and off we went 300 miles for home.

[LastHope]

Just a quick add-on to this thread.
When I got my MPP which was my last surgery a year ago in Feb, it was a day surgery, I was there at 7am and wheeled out to the front door at 3pm that same day, once outside the wifey brought the car around, told her I was driving, and off we went 300 miles for home.

A 300 mile drive on your discharge day? That’s epic! It screams how much less the MPP rattles our system.