Choices
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:52 am
Hello everyone!
I have a decision to make regarding which implant to have installed. Before I continue, it's important that I tell you that my stretched flaccid is 19cm and my insurance does not cover IPP's, only malleables.
Not being in the US, and due to my country's health and import bureaucracy, I have the following options available to me:
1)Coloplast Titan (max size available is 22cm + 7.5cm of RTE's).
Due to my stretched flacid being 19cm+, and using the heuristic of having approximately 1/3 of my penis proximal, it is fair to say that I could have atleast 8cm inside of me. Therefore, it is possible that I require an implant of 19-1+8 = 26cm or even more (-1 due to the fact that the cilinder will hopefully reach just 1cm short of the tip of my glans). Suppose 26cm is the size of the prosthesis I require, using a 22cm Titan, that would make the inflatable portion 17cm, and that would also make the inflatable portion start 1cm outside of me, which could produce the dreaded 'hinge effect'. The rigidity factor of this particular case would be 17/26 = 65%. Compare this to a 26cm Titan with no RTE's and it's rigidty factor of 81% and atleast 3cm of inflatable implant proximal.
So, I do have the Titan as an option, but with the limitations mentioned above. Also, for the Titan being an inflatable, that would mean I would have to pay for the prosthesis with my own money. Approximately $10k.
2)Coloplast Genesis 13mm Malleable
All the pros and cons of the malleable are known, so I'll just skip it. For this prosthesis, my insurance would cover it's cost.
3)AMS 700CX
Unaware of the sizes available, but likely wouldn't be available in the 24cm size. Also, approximately 20% more expensive than the Titan and doesn't over the girth nor the axial rigidity that the Titan does. Therefore, I'm not interested as of now.
4)Getting implanted in the US
Not even a current possibility due to recent covid related travel restrictions. Also, it would increase total cost by more than 60%.
Bare in mind that Rigicon, Tactra and most other offerings are not presently available in my country. Also, my insurance covers hospital costs and malleable prosthesis. It does not cover the cost of the medical team and the inflatable penile prosthesis. The surgeon I'm in contact with does work with both types of implants and he's a medium volume surgeon. There are no high volume surgeons where I live as far as I know. Not within my budget atleast.
In short, I'm down to options 1 and 2. Either a potentially 'hingeable', expensive and self-paid Titan or an insurance paid Genesis semirigid.
Every single input would be appreciated. Thank you all in advance!
I have a decision to make regarding which implant to have installed. Before I continue, it's important that I tell you that my stretched flaccid is 19cm and my insurance does not cover IPP's, only malleables.
Not being in the US, and due to my country's health and import bureaucracy, I have the following options available to me:
1)Coloplast Titan (max size available is 22cm + 7.5cm of RTE's).
Due to my stretched flacid being 19cm+, and using the heuristic of having approximately 1/3 of my penis proximal, it is fair to say that I could have atleast 8cm inside of me. Therefore, it is possible that I require an implant of 19-1+8 = 26cm or even more (-1 due to the fact that the cilinder will hopefully reach just 1cm short of the tip of my glans). Suppose 26cm is the size of the prosthesis I require, using a 22cm Titan, that would make the inflatable portion 17cm, and that would also make the inflatable portion start 1cm outside of me, which could produce the dreaded 'hinge effect'. The rigidity factor of this particular case would be 17/26 = 65%. Compare this to a 26cm Titan with no RTE's and it's rigidty factor of 81% and atleast 3cm of inflatable implant proximal.
So, I do have the Titan as an option, but with the limitations mentioned above. Also, for the Titan being an inflatable, that would mean I would have to pay for the prosthesis with my own money. Approximately $10k.
2)Coloplast Genesis 13mm Malleable
All the pros and cons of the malleable are known, so I'll just skip it. For this prosthesis, my insurance would cover it's cost.
3)AMS 700CX
Unaware of the sizes available, but likely wouldn't be available in the 24cm size. Also, approximately 20% more expensive than the Titan and doesn't over the girth nor the axial rigidity that the Titan does. Therefore, I'm not interested as of now.
4)Getting implanted in the US
Not even a current possibility due to recent covid related travel restrictions. Also, it would increase total cost by more than 60%.
Bare in mind that Rigicon, Tactra and most other offerings are not presently available in my country. Also, my insurance covers hospital costs and malleable prosthesis. It does not cover the cost of the medical team and the inflatable penile prosthesis. The surgeon I'm in contact with does work with both types of implants and he's a medium volume surgeon. There are no high volume surgeons where I live as far as I know. Not within my budget atleast.
In short, I'm down to options 1 and 2. Either a potentially 'hingeable', expensive and self-paid Titan or an insurance paid Genesis semirigid.
Every single input would be appreciated. Thank you all in advance!