Rigicon IPP

[LGXDownunder]

I'm honestly very curious about the out of pocket price. 7000 Australian is 4000 USD. Thst would make it cheaper the cheapest in the world, cheaper than turkey, India, Egypt, etc. But I assume there has to be a catch.

Discovernew, I can't offer anything further. It could be that there are other barriers. The only way to find out is if you make enquiries with a surgeon in Australia as a potential patient coming from overseas. You could maybe try a high volume surgeon like Dr Christopher Love in Melbourne. With a relatively small population we have very few high volume implanters to my knowledge.

[Discovernew]

I'm honestly very curious about the out of pocket price. 7000 Australian is 4000 USD. Thst would make it cheaper the cheapest in the world, cheaper than turkey, India, Egypt, etc. But I assume there has to be a catch.

Discovernew, I can't offer anything further. It could be that there are other barriers. The only way to find out is if you make enquiries with a surgeon in Australia as a potential patient coming from overseas. You could maybe try a high volume surgeon like Dr Christopher Love in Melbourne. With a relatively small population we have very few high volume implanters to my knowledge.

Thanks! Was your surgeon Dr love?

[LGXDownunder]

I'm honestly very curious about the out of pocket price. 7000 Australian is 4000 USD. Thst would make it cheaper the cheapest in the world, cheaper than turkey, India, Egypt, etc. But I assume there has to be a catch.

Discovernew, I can't offer anything further. It could be that there are other barriers. The only way to find out is if you make enquiries with a surgeon in Australia as a potential patient coming from overseas. You could maybe try a high volume surgeon like Dr Christopher Love in Melbourne. With a relatively small population we have very few high volume implanters to my knowledge.

Thanks! Was your surgeon Dr love?

No, I just referenced him because I know he's high volume and has a good reputation.
Also I think he has a larger practice and might be more likely to accept international patients.
I considered using him but I didn't want to have to fly to Melbourne, or return there post op for activation, or if any problems.
He has a colleague who is also high volume, Assoc. Prof. Darren Katz. Might also be worth asking there.

[ready2go]

The cost of an inflatable penile implant in Australia for foreigners can vary, but it's generally in the range of $16,000 to $20,000 AUD. This price typically includes all associated fees and a package deal. Some surgeons may offer different pricing structures, so it's crucial to inquire about specific costs with the surgeon you choose.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Surgery Cost: The procedure itself can cost between $16,000 and $20,000 AUD.
Package Deals: Many surgeons offer package deals that include the implant, surgery, and follow-up care, as noted by EDCure.
Consultations: It's always a good idea to have a consultation with multiple surgeons to compare their fees and discuss your individual needs.
Important Considerations:
Foreigners:
While foreigners can receive this treatment in Australia, they will need to pay out-of-pocket. Medicare, Australia's public health insurance, typically doesn't cover the costs for foreign citizens.
Insurance:
If you have international health insurance, it may cover some or all of the costs, but you should check with your provider.

[LGXDownunder]

Initial outlay for me was much the same, approx. $A7,000. If I had gone with Rigicon I think it would have been the same price. Will be refunded about A$1,300 between Medicare and private health insurance. I think anaesthetist's fee was around A$600 out of pocket. I also had a co payment of A$200 for 2 days stay in private hospital, otherwise that part was fully insured. Nothing for meds in hospital, just paid for the post op antibiotics. I haven't needed anything beyond paracetamol so far for pain.

I assume these kind of prices are only if you are Australian? What if you are a foreigner paying out of pocket?

The short and honest answer is that I don't know, as our medical and related insurance system is so unwieldy and complex. Thinking the whole process through, unless you are either a citizen or permanent resident, and taxpayer, there would be no government sponsored rebate. Also I don't know if you would be able to take out private health insurance locally. In any case there is usually at least a 12 month wait before you can claim any (minimal) benefits. In my experience international visitors to any country usually have to rely on travel insurance for medical cover, which is for emergencies and always excludes pre existing conditions and elective procedures. The actual upfront surgeon's fee I would assume to be the same, as it is before any insurance rebate is applied. But I don't know if there are any complicating factors that would raise the price if not Australian. I don't know what the total anaesthetist's fee would be. And I also have no idea what the private hospital costs would be if paying the entire bill out of pocket, although I could probably find what mine was if I can locate the insurance paperwork. If really keen you would need to research the overall costs with a specific surgeon and hospital.

I'm honestly very curious about the out of pocket price. 7000 Australian is 4000 USD. That would make it cheaper the cheapest in the world, cheaper than turkey, India, Egypt, etc. But I assume there has to be a catch.

Discovernew,
If you are still interested in this last week I received a final statement from the private hospital where my surgery was done.
It enabled me to calculate the full cost of the procedure, which would have been problematic if I had to pay out of pocket.
They itemised everything as follows and the amounts are all in AUD.
Some item numbers are Australian Medicare (I think, without checking) and the "BS" ones I'm assuming are Boston Scientific.

ASO ADV SURG PR 1-14 DAYS $1,120.00 (this would be private room accommodation)
Item Code 37429 PENIS artificial ERECTION $2,149.00
Item Code 37426 PENIS artificial ERECTION $485.76
Item Code BS423 AMS 700 Series Inflatable $655.00
Item Code BS414 AMS 700 Series Inflatable $1,881.00
Item Code BS413 AMS 700 Series Inflatable $8,070.00
Total $14,360.76 (this was all paid by my private health insurance except for a $200 co payment)

Adding the upfront costs that I paid of approx. $7,800.00 for surgeon's fee etc the overall would be around $22,000 AUD.
Converting at today's exchange rate = $14,413.74 USD

p.s. An unknown is the full anaethetist's fee. He only billed me for the $600 gap.

[fucked0ne]

Now with the Infla10 coming to the states, hopefully Coloplast and AMS will be forced to step up their game; like REAL developments—not some shitty pump only tested for 1000 cycles.

[Discovernew]

Initial outlay for me was much the same, approx. $A7,000. If I had gone with Rigicon I think it would have been the same price. Will be refunded about A$1,300 between Medicare and private health insurance. I think anaesthetist's fee was around A$600 out of pocket. I also had a co payment of A$200 for 2 days stay in private hospital, otherwise that part was fully insured. Nothing for meds in hospital, just paid for the post op antibiotics. I haven't needed anything beyond paracetamol so far for pain.

The short and honest answer is that I don't know, as our medical and related insurance system is so unwieldy and complex. Thinking the whole process through, unless you are either a citizen or permanent resident, and taxpayer, there would be no government sponsored rebate. Also I don't know if you would be able to take out private health insurance locally. In any case there is usually at least a 12 month wait before you can claim any (minimal) benefits. In my experience international visitors to any country usually have to rely on travel insurance for medical cover, which is for emergencies and always excludes pre existing conditions and elective procedures. The actual upfront surgeon's fee I would assume to be the same, as it is before any insurance rebate is applied. But I don't know if there are any complicating factors that would raise the price if not Australian. I don't know what the total anaesthetist's fee would be. And I also have no idea what the private hospital costs would be if paying the entire bill out of pocket, although I could probably find what mine was if I can locate the insurance paperwork. If really keen you would need to research the overall costs with a specific surgeon and hospital.

I'm honestly very curious about the out of pocket price. 7000 Australian is 4000 USD. That would make it cheaper the cheapest in the world, cheaper than turkey, India, Egypt, etc. But I assume there has to be a catch.

Discovernew,
If you are still interested in this last week I received a final statement from the private hospital where my surgery was done.
It enabled me to calculate the full cost of the procedure, which would have been problematic if I had to pay out of pocket.
They itemised everything as follows and the amounts are all in AUD.
Some item numbers are Australian Medicare (I think, without checking) and the "BS" ones I'm assuming are Boston Scientific.

ASO ADV SURG PR 1-14 DAYS $1,120.00 (this would be private room accommodation)
Item Code 37429 PENIS artificial ERECTION $2,149.00
Item Code 37426 PENIS artificial ERECTION $485.76
Item Code BS423 AMS 700 Series Inflatable $655.00
Item Code BS414 AMS 700 Series Inflatable $1,881.00
Item Code BS413 AMS 700 Series Inflatable $8,070.00
Total $14,360.76 (this was all paid by my private health insurance except for a $200 co payment)

Adding the upfront costs that I paid of approx. $7,800.00 for surgeon's fee etc the overall would be around $22,000 AUD.
Converting at today's exchange rate = $14,413.74 USD

p.s. An unknown is the full anaethetist's fee. He only billed me for the $600 gap.

Thanks for sharing ! i think $15k usd is definetely on the better priced side of things. Europe is ussually more than that, and USA much more

[OregonStrong]

I think the cash prices in this country are probably around 20K now for implants and we only have AMS/Coloplast to choose from, if I could get the total cost around $14,000 in Australia with all the included follow up care it would be very attractive if Rigicon is an option. My LGX is working so probably no reason to swap out a perfectly functioning device, but I am curious.

Does anyone know if the Rigicon inflatable produces better girth when fully pumped compared to the LGX or Titan?


I wish someone could design a contoured cylinder that would be more girthy towards the base and underside that would better mimic the look of a nautural hard penis, seems most of us when fully inflated have these two wide cylinders that are the same girth all the way down to the base but there is no depth to it as you go towards the base.

[2435tjklAS]

My LGX is working so probably no reason to swap out a perfectly functioning device, but I am curious.

One of the few FrankTalk usernames catchy enough that I do remember. But I thought you had a Titan? If my memory serves me correctly (unlikely) I thought that cause I recall talking to you in PMs after finding the attached Henry study of Titans increasing size and you correctly told me it's "aggressive cycling." Learned later VED use post-up was not a method used, albeit was described positively in the text.

Found my relevant comment to remind of the source and material:

Some advice here please, I was under the impression that when using VED with the implant, it's best to inflate the implant to max then apply the VED chamber, pump the VED and hold for 15-30m.

I now read from another member that Dr Hakky advises to inflate to max, apply the VED chamber then pump and release (in cycles) to get as much oxygenated tissue into the penis as possible.

What do you all recommend? What methods have worked for you all? And, what have your Doctors recommended?

Thanks,
J

They are recommended. Check out the attached paper, which is one of three I have found that says to use a pump after (as well as before) surgery. (I just noticed that the Journal of Sexual Medicine's abbreviation is jsm, pronounced "jism." LOL

Best regards,
Kevin

I thought this too but if you look closely at their methods that study does not use VEDs after surgery. It does mention VEDs on the bottom of page 1303 and it references the Seller et al. study but it mainly speaks to the benefits of using one before implant or after infection. I do think this could be interpreted as a good thing that it's not only the AMS 700 LGX that is proven to expand in length and girth, but also the Titan will with only fairly aggressive cycling.

viewtopic.php?t=23714#p250466

And I'm glad I just read page 1303 to make sure I didn't misinterpret it. Because this is important:

However, when we analyze the change in penile measurements from 6 to 12 months, there was a statistically significant increase in all 15 penile measurements. This appears be attributed to the protocol of maximum inflation for at least 1 hour daily. Tissue expansion involves making the tunica albuginea more compliant so it will stretch and allow larger distention by the inflated cylinder. Experience with repetitive vacuum device application shows the tunica will respond with short exposures to the vacuum therapy. Sellers et al. showed that 10 minutes a day of vacuum device application twice a day for 7 weeks promoted visible penile lengthening in the vacuum cylinder when marked weekly in first-time implant patients. It also, and more importantly, allowed the implanting physician to upsize his cylinder approximately 3 cm when compared with the average implant without vacuum preparation [21]. The application of vacuum to a penis with corporal fibrosis has also been described to preserve length preventing some of the shrinkage that accompanies removal of an IPP for infection. The published literature is, at best, anecdotal, but the belief is widespread among frequent implanters. The pressure difference between a hydraulic pump push inside the penis compared with low pneumatic suction on the external penis should be more than a thousand-fold stronger. (Henry et al. (2015)

Between 6 to 12 months they found a statistically significant size increase in all 15 penile measurements. Why did these other implant specialists only research the results of using them the first 6 months?

”In this prospective study we report our results regarding penile dimensions and patient satisfaction outcomes after 1 year of follow-up from AMS™LGX700® penile prosthesis implant with 6 months of vacuum erectile device therapy (Antonini et al., 2020).”

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=26381&start=50#p256974

I get the feeling studies such as this intentionally only move up the ladder at a snail's pace. Maybe for insurance reasons of incredibly unlikely damages probably protected by signature agreements?

[OregonStrong]

My LGX is working so probably no reason to swap out a perfectly functioning device, but I am curious.

"One of the few FrankTalk usernames catchy enough that I do remember. But I thought you had a Titan? If my memory serves me correctly (unlikely) I thought that cause I recall talking to you in PMs after finding the attached Henry study of Titans increasing size and you correctly told me it's "aggressive cycling." Learned later VED use post-up was not a method used, albeit was described positively in the text."






yes we did communicate in PM's about the use of a VED, and I am still a huge proponent of using it, but I don't remember if we discussed specific studies, I think you're done more research than anyone on this site into finding good studies to back up the use of the VED. and no I don't have a Titan, I have an LGX. Dr. Kramer who did my surgery refused to put a Titan in me because I had previous penile fillers and he was worried there was higher infection risk with Titan compared to AMS due to the benefit of the antibiotic coating on the AMS products. My penis gets nice and girthy with use of a VED, which I often do prior to intercourse, but I'm not as satisfied with it pumped up without VED use when it comes to sex. The penis just feels too small and flat in the inflated state which many men complain of. Use of a cock ring does help mitigate the empty flat glans problems somewhat. I've been more intrigued to seeing if the Rigicon would produce a more voluminous dick without the VED in the inflated state.
I worry I did somewhat prevent myself from achieving maximal girth gains after implantation as I did not cycle my device enough. I should have been cycling it daily and I really cycled it maybe once a week since I wasn't sexually active after the implant and low sex drive without even interest in masturbation and decreased penile sensation since implantation and I probably let some fibrosis scar tissue form around the cylinders in the deflated state. Evidence of this also is that the penis slightly curves downward even when inflated since I kept it pointing downward in my underwear during and after healing so I think it took on that general shape with scar tissue formation. Using the VED I think did help stretch things out a lot, when I started using it more religiously, but I'm always left wondering if I would be bigger/longer if I had been more dedicated to cycling and VED use in the first year I had the thing. I was probably 2 to 3 years in before I really started using a VED regularly.

And don't know why Dr. Kramer refused to do a Titan, when I have since seen other surgeons putting them in people with fillers. I had really wanted the Titan to begin with but figured all other doctors would have given me the same answer so didn't think to question it. His surgery videos do seem more messy/bloody than other surgeons who put up videos, so maybe he's had a higher infection rate than other docs? For this reason I think I would see if Dr. Hakky would do the revision if/when that time comes. I wonder if they can break up any fibrosis at the time of implant revision? The Rigicon looks attractive to me if the girth it produces is on par with the Titan, and fewer deflated complaints from patients such as the dog ear problem.