Helping men navigate the IPP process
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:55 pm
I received my implant 6 years ago. My IPP story is here (viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15678#p139865).
Since then, I have been supporting men facing the IPP decision through the AMS Champion Program. This program provides opportunities for a one-on-one connection between someone considering an implant and someone knowledgeable who has been through the process.
Goals for submitting this post:
1. Raise awareness of the Champion Program in the Franktalk community
2. Make IPP candidates aware of what I believe are important issues I have encountered in 6 years of supporting IPP candidates
If you:
• Are considering and implant and want to talk with someone who has been through the process and living with the implant?
or
• Are an experienced Franktalk poster who would like to volunteer to help men one-on-one?
Please call Michelle at (978) 355-1218
Important issues for IPP candidates to consider:
The typical (complication free) implant surgery is relatively simple. The need for a highly qualified dedicated implant surgeon becomes essential when complications arise. If you have decided on getting an implant and looking for a surgeon and facility, please consider these screening questions for surgeon qualifications and after surgery care and support.
Ask prospective surgeons these questions to evaluate their ability and experience with complications:
• If I need revision surgery, will you do revision surgery or will you refer me to another surgeon? Who?
• How many revisions have you done and why
• If you encounter fibrosis in the corpora cavernosa how will you break through and ensure tips go fully into the glands?
• How will you deal with pyronines?
• If an infection were to occur, will you handle this yourself? Or by referral?
• What is your procedure for dealing with infection should it occur?
• Most surgeons will say they aggressively size the implant. How will you set reasonable expectations prior to surgery?
• Dr.Andrew Kramer’s youtube channel ( Dr. Andrew Kramer - YouTube) has many surgical videos showing revisions and complications. I include this for educational purposes. I encourage you to look at some of the more complicated surgeries. You may not need this level of expertise but maybe you will?
After surgery care and support:
I have surprisingly found that after surgery care and support can be problematic for patients I have worked with. It is advisable that you set clear expectations with the surgeon on after-surgery availability and support
Recommendations:
* Make arrangements for after surgery direct communication (bypass call center) to surgeon or PA/nurse.
• Set expectations that should you have after surgery concerns, you can have direct access to expertise. I recommend you get a direct cell phone number. This way you can take a picture and send it for review. The surgeon has done this many times, this is your first time and you have every right to have your concerns addressed in a professional timely manner. There is no reason you be worrying about “Is this normal?”
• Make arrangements to have the ability to make urgent office visits if needed (bypass call center and office scheduler)
I believe it is important to make the Franktalk community aware of what I have learned working with numerous men looking to get an implant. I will list the issues below.
1. Men typically don’t have anyone to talk to about ED and its impact on the individual and the relationship. This one-one one connection helps to eliminate the stigma, the embarrassment and the fear surrounding ED and seeking the ultimate treatment. Many men reject or delay implant surgery without being fully informed.
2. ED is often a biological process caused by (all too common) medical conditions such as: cardiovascular disease, diabetes. hypertension, high cholesterol, high blood pressure. These conditions effect many millions of men.
3. The underlying conditions and process(s) are often chronic and progressive: chronic meaning continuing and progressive meaning getting worse.
4. While there are treatments for ED that may help along the way, there is no known permanent cure.
5. Regular erections are necessary for erectile tissue health. ED may prevent having the erections necessary to prevent erectile tissue atrophy, fibrosis and permanent loss of size.
6. I recommend men with ED work with a Men’s Health expert to develop a Penile maintenance program as they decide on the treatments and implant to prevent damage and loss of size
7. The IPP comes the closest to a permanent cure. For older men as myself it is seemingly permanent looking at my probable lifespan
8. For men in similar situation as myself: Older 65, Type 2 diabetic, Arteriosclerosis, hyperlipidemia etc. Eventual impotence is all but inevitable
9. My decision for IPP became a no brainer everything to gain and nothing to lose
Gene308
Since then, I have been supporting men facing the IPP decision through the AMS Champion Program. This program provides opportunities for a one-on-one connection between someone considering an implant and someone knowledgeable who has been through the process.
Goals for submitting this post:
1. Raise awareness of the Champion Program in the Franktalk community
2. Make IPP candidates aware of what I believe are important issues I have encountered in 6 years of supporting IPP candidates
If you:
• Are considering and implant and want to talk with someone who has been through the process and living with the implant?
or
• Are an experienced Franktalk poster who would like to volunteer to help men one-on-one?
Please call Michelle at (978) 355-1218
Important issues for IPP candidates to consider:
The typical (complication free) implant surgery is relatively simple. The need for a highly qualified dedicated implant surgeon becomes essential when complications arise. If you have decided on getting an implant and looking for a surgeon and facility, please consider these screening questions for surgeon qualifications and after surgery care and support.
Ask prospective surgeons these questions to evaluate their ability and experience with complications:
• If I need revision surgery, will you do revision surgery or will you refer me to another surgeon? Who?
• How many revisions have you done and why
• If you encounter fibrosis in the corpora cavernosa how will you break through and ensure tips go fully into the glands?
• How will you deal with pyronines?
• If an infection were to occur, will you handle this yourself? Or by referral?
• What is your procedure for dealing with infection should it occur?
• Most surgeons will say they aggressively size the implant. How will you set reasonable expectations prior to surgery?
• Dr.Andrew Kramer’s youtube channel ( Dr. Andrew Kramer - YouTube) has many surgical videos showing revisions and complications. I include this for educational purposes. I encourage you to look at some of the more complicated surgeries. You may not need this level of expertise but maybe you will?
After surgery care and support:
I have surprisingly found that after surgery care and support can be problematic for patients I have worked with. It is advisable that you set clear expectations with the surgeon on after-surgery availability and support
Recommendations:
* Make arrangements for after surgery direct communication (bypass call center) to surgeon or PA/nurse.
• Set expectations that should you have after surgery concerns, you can have direct access to expertise. I recommend you get a direct cell phone number. This way you can take a picture and send it for review. The surgeon has done this many times, this is your first time and you have every right to have your concerns addressed in a professional timely manner. There is no reason you be worrying about “Is this normal?”
• Make arrangements to have the ability to make urgent office visits if needed (bypass call center and office scheduler)
I believe it is important to make the Franktalk community aware of what I have learned working with numerous men looking to get an implant. I will list the issues below.
1. Men typically don’t have anyone to talk to about ED and its impact on the individual and the relationship. This one-one one connection helps to eliminate the stigma, the embarrassment and the fear surrounding ED and seeking the ultimate treatment. Many men reject or delay implant surgery without being fully informed.
2. ED is often a biological process caused by (all too common) medical conditions such as: cardiovascular disease, diabetes. hypertension, high cholesterol, high blood pressure. These conditions effect many millions of men.
3. The underlying conditions and process(s) are often chronic and progressive: chronic meaning continuing and progressive meaning getting worse.
4. While there are treatments for ED that may help along the way, there is no known permanent cure.
5. Regular erections are necessary for erectile tissue health. ED may prevent having the erections necessary to prevent erectile tissue atrophy, fibrosis and permanent loss of size.
6. I recommend men with ED work with a Men’s Health expert to develop a Penile maintenance program as they decide on the treatments and implant to prevent damage and loss of size
7. The IPP comes the closest to a permanent cure. For older men as myself it is seemingly permanent looking at my probable lifespan
8. For men in similar situation as myself: Older 65, Type 2 diabetic, Arteriosclerosis, hyperlipidemia etc. Eventual impotence is all but inevitable
9. My decision for IPP became a no brainer everything to gain and nothing to lose
Gene308
