FrankTalk.org

There are a couple of threads started by fairly young men essentially asking the question, "Should I get an implant?" Rather than post to each of them, I elected to make this thread with a general answer based on 14 months of reading this forum and many medical journal papers. I have gleaned the following: (Sorry, I ramble a bit, but am composing during my lunchtime)

When you elect to have an implant, you should go into the OR expecting to come out with total loss of all erectile function you now enjoy.

This is not 100% guaranteed, but happens more often than not. You will probably retain the ability to orgasm and ejaculate and have some engorgement/tumescence, but no usable rigidity whatsoever.

Your penis will NEVER self-erect again. You will be TOTALLY dependent on the implant for any type of erection (much less penetrative sex). Nothing...mental imagery, physical stimulation (oral, manual, vibratory, whatever) or chemical. Gone.

If losing those functions is no loss to you (that is, they do not function to any satisfactory degree at present nor have any chance to in the future), then an implant may be considered. If you wil regret losing any of those functions it may be better to wait.

Implants, for all the good they do, are not a cure for ED. The are a TREATMENT, and a poor one at that. For all their sophistication, implants are still a crude, blunt instrument. Stem cell therapy is being worked on in several places around the world and other, more refined treatments are being investigated all the time.. So, many men who are partially functional now do choose to wait for a better solution or until they really NEED an implant for any function. Hoping for a better treatment, or an actual cure is not a pipe dream.

I know of one surgeon who implanted a young man who was an EXCELLENT candidate for Viagra. Unfortunately, this was two months before Viagra was available. It still bothers that surgeon, decades later.

Most men do wind up being VERY happy with implants (more than 90%) with few regrets. They fill the ranks of FrankTalk.org. The other 10% do not have as high a participation rate on FrankTalk, so take that into account when you count votes here.

I know, my condition is not one I will regret losing. If my implant operation is a total failure, I lose nothing as my erectile function is nil. (I can get erections, but they collapse immediately after only ALMOST reaching rigidity.)

If you have ANYTHING you will regret losing if the implant does not work, then think long and hard about getting one.

If you decide that it IS your time, more power to you. I pray for you to have an optimal outcome which you will not regret.

In summary,

The cons: You can count on
1) This closes off all other treatment options
2) 98% certain, losing most, if not all. naturally occurring rigidity
3) 98% certain. losing all naturally occuring spontaneous erections (morning wood, sexual arousal, physical stimulation, etc)
4) losing some length, up to a couple of inches even with a good surgeon, though most lose zero to 1/2"
5) taking up to a year to realize your full length restoration (though some take only weeks)
6) taking up to 6 months for sex bo become not painful
7) several days to a couple of weeks of agony while scrotal healing takes place and swelling subsides.
8) Sometimes minor discomfort or numbness is permanent.
9) difficulty hiding (stowing) your penis when not deployed for sex.
not everyone experiences these, but you cannont count on being lucky enough to escape all of them.
10) almost certainly having to have another operation every 10-15 years, sometimes more often, rarely less often.

The Pros: You can count on:
90% to 95% chance of having penetrative sex again and possibly more satisfying for your partner (and probably you, too) than ever before, lasting as long as your back, leg and arm muscles hold out (or your partner can stand).
A bulge in your pants you may not have had before.

Thanks for reading. I hope this helps

Lost Sheep wrote:There are a couple of threads started by fairly young men essentially asking the question, "Should I get an implant?" Rather than post to each of them, I elected to make this thread with a general answer based on 14 months of reading this forum and many medical journal papers. I have gleaned the following: (Sorry, I ramble a bit, but am composing during my lunchtime)

When you elect to have an implant, you should go into the OR expecting to come out with total loss of all erectile function you now enjoy.

This is not 100% guaranteed, but happens more often than not. You will probably retain the ability to orgasm and ejaculate and have some engorgement/tumescence, but no usable rigidity whatsoever.

Your penis will NEVER self-erect again. You will be TOTALLY dependent on the implant for any type of erection (much less penetrative sex). Nothing...mental imagery, physical stimulation (oral, manual, vibratory, whatever) or chemical. Gone.

If losing those functions is no loss to you (that is, they do not function to any satisfactory degree at present nor have any chance to in the future), then an implant may be considered. If you wil regret losing any of those functions it may be better to wait.

Implants, for all the good they do, are not a cure for ED. The are a TREATMENT, and a poor one at that. For all their sophistication, implants are still a crude, blunt instrument. Stem cell therapy is being worked on in several places around the world and other, more refined treatments are being investigated all the time.. So, many men who are partially functional now do choose to wait for a better solution or until they really NEED an implant for any function. Hoping for a better treatment, or an actual cure is not a pipe dream.

I know of one surgeon who implanted a young man who was an EXCELLENT candidate for Viagra. Unfortunately, this was two months before Viagra was available. It still bothers that surgeon, decades later.

Most men do wind up being VERY happy with implants (more than 90%) with few regrets. They fill the ranks of FrankTalk.org. The other 10% do not have as high a participation rate on FrankTalk, so take that into account when you count votes here.

I know, my condition is not one I will regret losing. If my implant operation is a total failure, I lose nothing as my erectile function is nil. (I can get erections, but they collapse immediately after only ALMOST reaching rigidity.)

If you have ANYTHING you will regret losing if the implant does not work, then think long and hard about getting one.

If you decide that it IS your time, more power to you. I pray for you to have an optimal outcome which you will not regret.

In summary,

The cons: You can count on
1) This closes off all other treatment options
2) 98% certain, losing most, if not all. naturally occurring rigidity
3) 98% certain. losing all naturally occuring spontaneous erections (morning wood, sexual arousal, physical stimulation, etc)
4) losing some length, up to a couple of inches even with a good surgeon, though most lose zero to 1/2"
5) taking up to a year to realize your full length restoration (though some take only weeks)
6) taking up to 6 months for sex bo become not painful
7) several days to a couple of weeks of agony while scrotal healing takes place and swelling subsides.
8) Sometimes minor discomfort is permanent.
9) difficulty hiding (stowing) your penis when not deployed for sex.
not everyone experiences these, but you cannont count on being lucky enough to escape all of them.
10) almost certainly having to have another operation every 10-15 years, sometimes more often, rarely less often.

The Pros: You can count on:
90% to 95% chance of having penetrative sex again and possibly more satisfying for your partner (and probably you, too) than ever before, lasting as long as your back, leg and arm muscles hold out (or your partner can stand).
A bulge in your pants you may not have had before.

Thanks for reading. I hope this helps

Lost Sheep,
That's a really good synopsis of what you've read and should be helpful for any guy contemplating this, especially the younger guys. Thanks.
Bob
2.3

This is a good topic. I think the fact that young men are searching this "treatment" option out speaks to the improvement in surgical outcomes and satisfaction of penile implantation. With high-volume experienced surgeons, operations are <30 minutes, outpatient, size and sensitivity is maintained, devices last 10-15 years, and recovery is fairly short. This means that a young man who determines his ED is permanent could go from looking forward to a lifetime of fighting ED with pills/injections/pumps to a lifetime of no ED and instead living with an implanted device. What is usually lost in this discussion is the potential downsides of what living with ED and waiting for "the cure" may yield:

1. unsatisfactory sex life (struggling to maintain erections, failing, etc)
2. long-term loss of sexual confidence and desire
3. depression and anxiety
4. stressed relationships due to the points 1, 2, 3
5. long term cost of medications (pills and injections) and therapy because you're young and have ED
6. avoidance of intimate relationships
7. development of scar tissue due to prolonged use of injections
8. atrophy of the penis
9. depression and anxiety
10. depression and anxiety

What I find incredible about implantation is that the above points do not seem to plague the implanted community, especially those with good surgical outcomes. In fact, there is almost a consensus that the above points are overcome by implantation. However, there is still a large voice here on FT that believe that living with the above points is better than living with an implant. What the older gentlemen have a difficult time considering is what it is like to be in your twenties and face this issue, especially single. The important point is that at this age you will experience the above points whether less invasive treatment options "work" or not. Those who are satisfied with the less invasive treatments and aren't suffering from the above points are not here on FT looking at getting an implant. Most young men who are here are suffering from 1-10 and have tried other treatments and are still suffering from 1-10, despite whatever effectiveness the other treatments might have on them.

To the original poster's cons:

The cons: You can count on
1) This closes off all other treatment options
young men don't usually consider injections and shouldn't, pills are the only other option and they have variable effectiveness and are often unsatisfactory, if a young man was satisfied and not suffering from the above 1-10 with pills he wouldn't be on FT
2) 98% certain, losing most, if not all. naturally occurring rigidity
this is the point of the implantation, to replace the natural compromised rigidity with reliable/constant rigidity, we hope 2 is 100% certain
3) 98% certain. losing all naturally occuring spontaneous erections (morning wood, sexual arousal, physical stimulation, etc)
most young men on here have already lost spontaneous erections, some experience these with drugs to varying degrees
4) losing some length, up to a couple of inches even with a good surgeon, though most lose zero to 1/2"
young men should be vigilant in finding the most qualified surgeon available to them to minimize size loss
5) taking up to a year to realize your full length restoration (though some take only weeks)
temporary, ED is permanent
6) taking up to 6 months for sex bo become not painful
temporary, ED is permanent
7) several days to a couple of weeks of agony while scrotal healing takes place and swelling subsides.
temporary, ED is permanent
8) Sometimes minor discomfort or numbness is permanent.
"sometimes" and "minor" are unqualified estimates of the frequency and degrees of this issue, both seem insignificant compared to the above 1-10 conditions
9) difficulty hiding (stowing) your penis when not deployed for sex.
not everyone experiences these, but you cannont count on being lucky enough to escape all of them.
This is an adjustment but again I think insignificant compared to 1-10 above
10) almost certainly having to have another operation every 10-15 years, sometimes more often, rarely less often.
This, and what should be 11: having a pump in your sack 12: having to pump up and deflate are the biggest issues to consider. With improved surgical techniques your 10 should be mitigated, member linebackerj has had one since 18, he's over 40 and has kids.

Young men really need to think long and hard about this, I think the train of thought should be this:

1. Am I able to have satisfactory/enjoyable/reasonably stress free intercourse sustained until ejaculation. (If no, go to 2)
2. Do pills provide conditions stated in 1 without severe side effects? (If not, go to 3)
3. Decide if injections or VED are acceptable treatments (If not, go to 4)
4. Determine to the best of your ability if conditions in 1-3 are permanent (if yes, go to 5)
5. Receive implantation from most qualified surgeon available to you. (then go to 6)
6. Adapt to new lifestyle with implant (physical/mental/social)

Young man accounts and journals:

viewtopic.php?t=5577
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8203&hilit=youngwithed
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6010&hilit=Eid+journal
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8916
http://www.peyroniesforum.net/index.php ... 810.0.html[/quote]

Most thorough young woman's perspective I've found: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6513
The above post was validated by her boyfriend ldnboy: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6441&p=41066#p41066

You only live once and erectile function is a quality of life issue. Are the downsides of living with an implant a better or worse quality of life than your current situation? Impossible to know without being implanted but many men seem to say it's an improvement to the quality of life. Also, the OP says that the 90% satisfied community are here on FT and the 10% are not, I disagree and the statement is complete speculation. There are a lot of reports of issues here on FT and it would be far more intuitive that this forum is disproportionately the dissatisfied population. The satisfied population is out living a normal life, fucking, and not talking on a forum about ED and implantation. A small satisfied group is here to help, for whatever reason.

Geo
an undoubtedly excellent analysis of the situation

Well said, Geo. Your thoughts echo my basic formula: Least invasive to most invasive.

As a guy who has suffered from ED for 30 years and recently had an implant at 61, I just want to say I agree that an implant forever removes my ability to get a natural erection. I tried every single treatment option other than implants and none of them provided me with a satisfactory solution.

I hope that any young man who has ED goes through the list of options to see if something works so he can enjoy his natural erections. If he has tried the options with no success, I also hope he doesn't have to wait 30 years like I did before getting an implant. We never know what new advances will come along and it can be foolish to go on in frustration dreaming about what might be versus moving forward with what is available now.

Greg,

Your insight is particularly valuable because you had normal erections until 30 and then lived with it for 30 years. You say "tried the other options with no success," the debate for young men is what defines "success." And at what point is the amount of success you are getting inferior to the peace of mind and enjoyment of the implant. This is the crux of the entire issue that I think those who are implanted really don't describe well enough.

I imagine a future where implantation is so perfect that men with mild cases of ED elect implantation over any other treatment. Are we there yet?

Pills are imperfect, time dependent, still have difficulty maintaining erections, side effects, costly, become less effective... I won't mention injections... Personally 10 mg cialis daily gives me good erections but I'm straining to keep it erect, as if I can feel the leak and I'm trying to keep up with it. Consequently, sex is a stressor and not a big enjoyment. Is an implant better than that? Would people with implants say: if you can get it up and have sex then don't get an implant? Does that mean that sex with an implant is worse than stressed sex on pills? If it is better than why wouldn't someone get an implant instead of pill? Because it's permanent? So is the ED....

I wish implanted men would put aside everything and consider an ideal implantation, in the erect state while aroused what does it feel like? Does it feel like your natural stiff dick, does it feel like when you used to flex and make your dick really hard, just now It's like that with no effort and constantly when inflated? When you're having sex does it feel like it used to when you were giving your girl your hardest dick you could, just now it's constant and effortless? What are the sensations, how do you think about yourself now with an implant, do you feel like your significant other is enjoying your dick or just accepting it. Is your opinion of sex like it was before ED? Sometimes I tried to imagine the sensation of the implant and it's hard to grasp. What is it about an ideal implant when erect that makes it inferior to a pills erection?

People say you "suffer" from ED, but are the implanted people suffering?

geophd wrote:Greg,

Your insight is particularly valuable because you had normal erections until 30 and then lived with it for 30 years. You say "tried the other options with no success," the debate for young men is what defines "success." And at what point is the amount of success you are getting inferior to the peace of mind and enjoyment of the implant. This is the crux of the entire issue that I think those who are implanted really don't describe well enough.

I imagine a future where implantation is so perfect that men with mild cases of ED elect implantation over any other treatment. Are we there yet?

Pills are imperfect, time dependent, still have difficulty maintaining erections, side effects, costly, become less effective... I won't mention injections... Personally 10 mg cialis daily gives me good erections but I'm straining to keep it erect, as if I can feel the leak and I'm trying to keep up with it. Consequently, sex is a stressor and not a big enjoyment. Is an implant better than that? Would people with implants say: if you can get it up and have sex then don't get an implant? Does that mean that sex with an implant is worse than stressed sex on pills? If it is better than why wouldn't someone get an implant instead of pill? Because it's permanent? So is the ED....

I wish implanted men would put aside everything and consider an ideal implantation, in the erect state while aroused what does it feel like? Does it feel like your natural stiff dick, does it feel like when you used to flex and make your dick really hard, just now It's like that with no effort and constantly when inflated? When you're having sex does it feel like it used to when you were giving your girl your hardest dick you could, just now it's constant and effortless? What are the sensations, how do you think about yourself now with an implant, do you feel like your significant other is enjoying your dick or just accepting it. Is your opinion of sex like it was before ED? Sometimes I tried to imagine the sensation of the implant and it's hard to grasp. What is it about an ideal implant when erect that makes it inferior to a pills erection?

People say you "suffer" from ED, but are the implanted people suffering?

No my friend, not suffering from having an implant. I am enjoying sex more than I ever did and so is my partner. All stress and strain associated with performance has been removed. Now we concentrate on expanding our sexual repertoire

geophd wrote:This is a good topic.
1) This closes off all other treatment options
young men don't usually consider injections and shouldn't, pills are the only other option and they have variable effectiveness and are often unsatisfactory, if a young man was satisfied and not suffering from the above 1-10 with pills he wouldn't be on FT

I was thinking of of FUTURE treatment/cure options.

Also, If a young man was not suffering, he might well BE on FT exploring other areas of the site for any number of reasons.

But I do take what I think is your underlying point. I did focus heavily on the cons. (and left out one major one, cost in dollars). I did that because I focused on the cons in my own evaluation. And despite the weight I gave them am having the surgery (and wish I had known of the option 15 years ago, because my ED was pretty much to that point at that time).

One goes for the surgery when you KNOW the time is right;l when there is no doubt and all misgivings and second thoughts are dispelled by the reality of one's condition. Maybe that is waiting later than I should have. I get that my tipping point may be later than many others'. That's OK. I thank you for sharing your position.

For your "This is a good topic", I respond with a heartfelt "You're welcome".

Lost Sheep

Thanks for the discussion lost, I hope that young men, both implanted and searching will become active on the boards and in this discussion. I also hope that when they become active they won't be dismissed by an older man who thinks that every guy has to go through years of pills and injections and then reach absolute rock bottom before considering an implant, as I have seen on some threads. There are plenty of accounts of young implanted men who had varying degrees of ED who are completely satisfied and feel the procedure greatly improved their quality of life. I think FrankTalk's job is to communicate the experience of a penile implant as accurately as possible such that men can determine if the procedure will improve their quality of life or not.

I really do appreciate your motive here as I think it is sincere and well-intended and I think you're right on many counts. But I guess I get a little uncomfortable when I think that a young man might be here looking for hope and be met with men saying "it's not for you" and resign themselves to accepting their shit situation for years until ultimately getting an implant and then think they should have done it earlier... makes me shudder.

Personally, it seems your tipping point is late compared to mine but that just means you weren't unhappy enough, nothing wrong with that! You are more content than I am, to your credit. I am looking forward to following your implantation. I hope you will keep a detailed log and describe what it is like having an implant and whether you consider it an improvement in your quality of life. Thoroughly documenting everything about your new penis will help new members determine for themselves. Hope you have a speedy recovery and years of great sex!