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Losing Length so Getting Serious About Implant

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 6:44 pm
by Julios
First I would like to say how grateful I am to those who are willing to take the time to share their experiences; good, bad, ugly or funny. They really help.

I was told I would likely lose length from my prostatectomy, my radiation and my ADT. I had not lost any as of 14 months after surgery, 11 months after start of ADT, and even 7 months after radiation. But then last September my wife and I began noticing obvious shortening. I could see it when I could no longer reach the "high water" mark on the VED I use almost every day since surgery for therapy. And before, Trimix always produced an original looking erection; 5.5" long, 5.2" girth, upward angle of 30-40 degrees and rock hard. I could still hang a towel (ok, a dry one). But within 4 months of that point I'd lost an inch, and 0 angle of lift (horizontal erection). So I visited Dr Karpman a while back, a highly regarded implant specialist in the bag area. He told me he could feel plaque, and that it was probably caused by the radiation since I didn't lose any after surgery. Or that Trimix injectioIns might have a small part in it (from the papaverine). He recommended an implant. I asked if maybe I should wait until I get off ADT in a year to see if I can get natural erections. He said yes, if I have any hesitation on implant, but that I would likely experience more size loss that might not be reversible. He said an implant now would stop further loss, and doing it later would likely complicate the procedure because of additional plaque.

He did a stretch test and said I would have a 4" erection with an implant. He said he would likely propose the LGX, and that it's stretch properties would allow me to gain an additional 10 to 20% eventually, resulting in about 5" total. The 4" length really surprised me. I told him I currently get 5" using Trimix, (to which he said, you can stay with Trimix if you want).

I now have competing issues I must reconcile; forever give up possibility of getting natural erection, lose an additional inch, but stop any additional loss and gain sponteneity in my sex life, or stay with Trimix at least another year, probably losing some more length overtime but possibly (even if low probability) get natural erections again.

I hope someone else may find this info useful. Does anyone have any experience that may help my decision?

I would also like to say that I am impressed with Dr Karpman so far, and at this point, if I decide to go bionic, i would like him to did it. He comes highly recommended by one of us who is a doctor and had him do it, and had him do it, with very good results (no loss!).

Re: Losing Length so Getting Serious About Implant

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:14 pm
by packer
Hi Julios,

I'm afraid I don't have information to help with your decision. I will say that I have met with Dr. Karman and am impressed by him. I am considering an implant with him myself.

Did you go through with the procedure with Dr. karpman. If so, are you happy with the outcome?

Cheers
Packer

Re: Losing Length so Getting Serious About Implant

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 12:59 am
by MARKOS2018
Julio
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I had lost length and girth over time and the doctor recommended an implant. He told me that I would just continue to lose...so I had it done last December by Dr Eid. I really had no choice since nothing could help the plaque build up and the dents forming on either sside of the penis. There were nodules along the sides that were forming, and it was due to Peyronies disease. I was using the VED daily and got tired of doing it so I went bionic.

I have the Titan which he recommended since he said that would be best for me to build up the girth.

If you have any questions you can PM

Mike

Re: Losing Length so Getting Serious About Implant

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:05 pm
by Bionic_by_AMS
[quote="Julios"]From reading your description ... you seem like you are still in the denial state ... I don't mean to be harsh here, but accept the facts and determine the best course of action from there.

If you add "RP July 2010. All nerves spared on right, 25% on left" and "He told me he could feel plaque" and "within 4 months of that point I'd lost an inch" You can basically forget about ever getting a "natural erection ... if it hasn't happened by now ... it's not going to!

So this leaves you with the following options ... Injections, Implant or go without ...

Since Dr Karpman already stated "I would likely experience more size loss that might not be reversible" ... so is this really an option? You said you were worried about size loss from an Implant ... what about size loss from continuing down the path you are on now? It's already happening, right?

Now for your "Stretch Test" ... your URO already said "resulting in about 5" total" ... so where is the size loss? ... you stated you were 5.5" then lost an inch, so with Trimix you are now 4.5" ... and likely to lose even more if you continue Injecting. So again ... where is the size loss? It will only get worse, right?

Dr Karpman explained "and doing it later would likely complicate the procedure because of additional plaque" ... and he is quite right. Look thru the post of guys that had issues with scar tissue/plaque ... many end up with shorter cylinders (size loss) and some have to get models that are designed for scar tissue (AMD CX) which do not have the length expansion feature that the LGX does ...

So you are left with Implant or go without ... and then you have your partner to consider ... is "go without" really an option? Drop into the Chat Room and ask any of the guys ... "I can get an Implant and have a solid 5" erection ... that works every time and completely cures your ED" ... or ... (well I think you know the answer)

Julios ... you are not alone here ... many, many of us have been down the path you are now on ... including myself. It's natural to feel the way you do ... ED can really mess with your mind. However for me getting an Implant has lifted a great weight (ED) off my mind, and I'm glad I did it ...

Re: Losing Length so Getting Serious About Implant

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:58 am
by radiodec
Looks like you hit the decision point. Each of us has their own. Mine was when injections quit working, no choice at that point. Had a few problems getting to implant but not too bad. Now almost 10 weeks past consider it the best decision.

A warning the path might not be as strait as it looks, but it will get there. Surgery results, lost nothing to surgery though I had lost some in the 12 years since the prostatectomy. LGX implant is capable of stretching things a little at a time. My max pumped length has increased over 1/2 inch in the six weeks that I have been actively pumping it up. I was lucky no scar tissue in corpus cavernosa but some inconvenient scarring othe places.

If you trust your urologist, listen to him.

Dave

Re: Losing Length so Getting Serious About Implant

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:51 am
by bionic3rdleg
Ultimately, it is your decision as to whether you can "commit" to the implant or not. As for myself, I am glad I did. As time went on past my prostatectomy, it became clear that the odds of being able to get rid of the ED were just not there, and SRT just made things worse. I developed plaque after the surgery, which then developed into Peyronie's. If the decrease in length wasn't enough, the Peyronie's caused a curvature that was extremely distracting during sex, which was actually worse than decreased length. So when I finally opted for an implant, things finally changed for the better. The Peyronie's was fully corrected with the LGX, and although I saw a slight decrease compared to just before the implant surgery, I have seen at least a restoration to pre-implant length, and I'm pretty sure that after 6 months, I have seen an increase over that. Spontaneity is wonderful, and I love being able to keep going after I'm finished (for my wife's sake). I can't speak to your doc, but can say that I ended up very happy with my choice. I'll also say that the implant should fix any issues you have with plaque (assuming you don't have a severe a case of Peyronie's).
Jeff