FrankTalk.org

defiant wrote:Hi all,

Personally, I'm in the worst place, mentally, I've ever been in my life. I am very seriously considering implant surgery. Therefore, I am doing my research. Extensive research. I will not be beaten by this.
Note that I'm not at a point myself to address the previous questions.

I would like to ask the implanted among us an exhaustive list of questions that hopefully can serve as a good guide and user-feedback form for those of us considering implantation surgery.

It is a HUGE decision, one with many ramifications, good, bad and ugly (potentially). Therefore, I would like to be as fully armed as I can be with all pertinent information and it is my hope that those with the implant can use these questions to give the fullest and most honest assessment of their device and the impact it has had upon them, their sex lives and wider lives.

Thank you.


8) - Did you feel a degree of regret post-operatively? If I were to go through with this, I fear that my mind being unstable at present, I might swap one form of depression for another. In my experience, being implanted was the best mental boost of my life. Make sure you are accepting of the fact that you will carry hardware in your body that will feel alien to you at first. It only took me about a month to accept this as my new normal. Acceptance was largely a result of the wonderful performance capability I achieved right off.

9) - When the implant fails, mechanically, do you get advanced warning? As in, can you feel the decline in its function? Or do you attempt to inflate one day and it just doesn't work?I've wondered about this myself. I will be asking my doctor at my first appointment with him next month.

10) - On the topic of mechanical failure (end of implant lifespan), typically, how long might it take from day 1 of failure until revision completion? Weeks, months?Same as reply above.

11) - During that period of being out-of-action, does this time spent without erections not have a terrible impact upon mood, the state of one's relationship and psyche?Here I think you're worrying too much. I'm certain that once having been implanted, and the knowledge of your new capability, the wait for a revision wouldn't be all that mentally taxing.

12) - How long does a successful revision take to heal and be ready for action? I've seen this covered by others in comments. Most of them said a revision tends to heal faster.

13) - How have you found the general reaction/reception of partners to the news of your being implanted? Favourable? Dismissive? Nasty? I am of the firm belief that an educated, grounded person, a good person, one who loves YOU, would never ever have an unfavourable reaction. If they do, they are not someone you want to be with. In my case it went a very long way towards restoring a stalled out relationship. Being able to make love successfully without worrying about ED is the best feeling ever for both partners.

14) - Does your flaccid appear larger now than before? (Unimportant really but interesting nonetheless). Does it ever!!! I've commented I'll never again try to get the urinal closest to the corner in a public rest room again! Proud to whip this baby out.

15) - Can one engage in strenuous physical activity. Of course this thing is designed to withstand the throes of sexual intercourse but what about heavy lifting at the gym for example? I had been working out 4 days a week before my implant for over 2 years. No issues at all with resuming full activities at the gym after 5 weeks.

16) - Have you lost length and girth? If so, how much? Has your size returned to normal? Tell me about the effects your implant has had upon your size. It seems my girth is less than before. As far as length, I got the northern European ancestry short end of the stick anyway. However, my new length is incredibly satisfactory. After all, it's not the size of the boat, rather the motion in the ocean.

17) - What effects, if any, has having the implant had upon your sensitivity? Do you feel more able to cum, less able? Has your sensation diminished at all? Tell me about this aspect please. My ability to cum wasn't affected in the least. I think age has an impact on volume, but all in all, I couldn't be happier with it now.

18) - Are you constantly aware of the implant's presence? I guess what I am trying to ask here is, do you have a constant feeling of having a foreign body within your penis? I did at first as I'm sure everyone does. It only stands to reason. Why wouldn't you? I'm now over 4 months from the implant and only notice it when bending forward to put on socks and shoes. It's a pleasant reminder now though and not in the least uncomfortable.

19) - What effects, if any, and I'm sure there are many, has this had upon the quality of your relationship, (if you have one). Sex is only one aspect of a relationship. Since sex has been totally restored and then some, I have a lot of work to do on rebuilding a relationship that waned due to my mental decline with being impotent. I'm getting there. One big thing for me is my newfound confidence talking to other women. I routinely chat up strangers now whereas before I never would. I'm not looking, but it's great to have the confidence if I ever was!

20) - Are you satisfied with your implant? If you can't tell by now, I've commented before there aren't enough adequate adjectives in the English language to convey how thrilled I am with the implant. My sexual capability is so vastly enhanced now with abilities I didn't have as a much younger guy. If I was as good in my 20's as I am in my early 60's I'd have amassed a whole harem of women at my beck and call.

21) Is there a risk an implant surgery could be so botched or encounter catastrophic circumstance that you lose any hope of being implanted thus losing ALL erectile function. Any surgery carries risk. Implants however are overwhelmingly safe bets. The infection rates are infinitesmal as well. Nothing to worry about if you follow after care directions.

22) - Are you happy? I am complete.

Thank you, so much, guys and to anyone who answers these questions. I really hope this can form some kind of comprehensive user-feedback form for those considering this journey.

We are stronger together. United in brotherhood. Fortified by knowledge.

DEFIANT.

DaveKell wrote:

defiant wrote:Hi all,

Personally, I'm in the worst place, mentally, I've ever been in my life. I am very seriously considering implant surgery. Therefore, I am doing my research. Extensive research. I will not be beaten by this.
Note that I'm not at a point myself to address the previous questions.

I would like to ask the implanted among us an exhaustive list of questions that hopefully can serve as a good guide and user-feedback form for those of us considering implantation surgery.

It is a HUGE decision, one with many ramifications, good, bad and ugly (potentially). Therefore, I would like to be as fully armed as I can be with all pertinent information and it is my hope that those with the implant can use these questions to give the fullest and most honest assessment of their device and the impact it has had upon them, their sex lives and wider lives.

Thank you.


8) - Did you feel a degree of regret post-operatively? If I were to go through with this, I fear that my mind being unstable at present, I might swap one form of depression for another. In my experience, being implanted was the best mental boost of my life. Make sure you are accepting of the fact that you will carry hardware in your body that will feel alien to you at first. It only took me about a month to accept this as my new normal. Acceptance was largely a result of the wonderful performance capability I achieved right off.

9) - When the implant fails, mechanically, do you get advanced warning? As in, can you feel the decline in its function? Or do you attempt to inflate one day and it just doesn't work?I've wondered about this myself. I will be asking my doctor at my first appointment with him next month.

10) - On the topic of mechanical failure (end of implant lifespan), typically, how long might it take from day 1 of failure until revision completion? Weeks, months?Same as reply above.

11) - During that period of being out-of-action, does this time spent without erections not have a terrible impact upon mood, the state of one's relationship and psyche?Here I think you're worrying too much. I'm certain that once having been implanted, and the knowledge of your new capability, the wait for a revision wouldn't be all that mentally taxing.

12) - How long does a successful revision take to heal and be ready for action? I've seen this covered by others in comments. Most of them said a revision tends to heal faster.

13) - How have you found the general reaction/reception of partners to the news of your being implanted? Favourable? Dismissive? Nasty? I am of the firm belief that an educated, grounded person, a good person, one who loves YOU, would never ever have an unfavourable reaction. If they do, they are not someone you want to be with. In my case it went a very long way towards restoring a stalled out relationship. Being able to make love successfully without worrying about ED is the best feeling ever for both partners.

14) - Does your flaccid appear larger now than before? (Unimportant really but interesting nonetheless). Does it ever!!! I've commented I'll never again try to get the urinal closest to the corner in a public rest room again! Proud to whip this baby out.

15) - Can one engage in strenuous physical activity. Of course this thing is designed to withstand the throes of sexual intercourse but what about heavy lifting at the gym for example? I had been working out 4 days a week before my implant for over 2 years. No issues at all with resuming full activities at the gym after 5 weeks.

16) - Have you lost length and girth? If so, how much? Has your size returned to normal? Tell me about the effects your implant has had upon your size. It seems my girth is less than before. As far as length, I got the northern European ancestry short end of the stick anyway. However, my new length is incredibly satisfactory. After all, it's not the size of the boat, rather the motion in the ocean.

17) - What effects, if any, has having the implant had upon your sensitivity? Do you feel more able to cum, less able? Has your sensation diminished at all? Tell me about this aspect please. My ability to cum wasn't affected in the least. I think age has an impact on volume, but all in all, I couldn't be happier with it now.

18) - Are you constantly aware of the implant's presence? I guess what I am trying to ask here is, do you have a constant feeling of having a foreign body within your penis? I did at first as I'm sure everyone does. It only stands to reason. Why wouldn't you? I'm now over 4 months from the implant and only notice it when bending forward to put on socks and shoes. It's a pleasant reminder now though and not in the least uncomfortable.

19) - What effects, if any, and I'm sure there are many, has this had upon the quality of your relationship, (if you have one). Sex is only one aspect of a relationship. Since sex has been totally restored and then some, I have a lot of work to do on rebuilding a relationship that waned due to my mental decline with being impotent. I'm getting there. One big thing for me is my newfound confidence talking to other women. I routinely chat up strangers now whereas before I never would. I'm not looking, but it's great to have the confidence if I ever was!

20) - Are you satisfied with your implant? If you can't tell by now, I've commented before there aren't enough adequate adjectives in the English language to convey how thrilled I am with the implant. My sexual capability is so vastly enhanced now with abilities I didn't have as a much younger guy. If I was as good in my 20's as I am in my early 60's I'd have amassed a whole harem of women at my beck and call.

21) Is there a risk an implant surgery could be so botched or encounter catastrophic circumstance that you lose any hope of being implanted thus losing ALL erectile function. Any surgery carries risk. Implants however are overwhelmingly safe bets. The infection rates are infinitesmal as well. Nothing to worry about if you follow after care directions.

22) - Are you happy? I am complete.

Thank you, so much, guys and to anyone who answers these questions. I really hope this can form some kind of comprehensive user-feedback form for those considering this journey.

We are stronger together. United in brotherhood. Fortified by knowledge.

DEFIANT.

You mentioned in your first sentence being in a bad place mentally. I was too. I was totally defeated insofar as feeling like a man anymore. I had been suicidal over it years ago until grandkids came along I adore. My own father killed himself and I remembered how we ended up hating him for it. That's all that kept me from checking out. Now, I can't believe my great fortune at having an implant. It has turbocharged every aspect of my being. The first surgery I ever had saved my life after I developed spontaneous massive internal bleeding. The last surgery, the implant, I regard equally as highly. I'm in a fabulous place mentally now. Best of luck to you my friend!!!

defiant wrote:Hi all,

Personally, I'm in the worst place, mentally, I've ever been in my life. I am very seriously considering implant surgery. Therefore, I am doing my research. Extensive research. I will not be beaten by this.

I would like to ask the implanted among us an exhaustive list of questions that hopefully can serve as a good guide and user-feedback form for those of us considering implantation surgery.

It is a HUGE decision, one with many ramifications, good, bad and ugly (potentially). Therefore, I would like to be as fully armed as I can be with all pertinent information and it is my hope that those with the implant can use these questions to give the fullest and most honest assessment of their device and the impact it has had upon them, their sex lives and wider lives.

Thank you.

Please feel free to copy and paste responses in this thread. Knowledge is power.

Defiant,

First, DaveKell's responses are right on. He has a wonderful perspective and outlook. Second, Depression sucks. First hand experience and the loss of my son to manic depression makes me very concerned about your being in the worst place ever. An implant won't cure depression, but it can be a step in helping you get healthier.


1) - How long do 'most' implants last? I know this is a 'how long is a piece of string' question. Most things I read tend to hint at a decade.I don't know,
but I'm hoping it lasts as long as I do.

2) - As I am from the UK, I only have access to one implant specialist. A Dr David Ralph. However, he is not the best of the best. Would it be prudent for me to seek the best possible option in the world, that being Dr Eid or Dr Kramer in the US? Can't answer. There are lots and lots of docs who are excellent.And a trip to America would add $$$ between the self pay for the procedure, travel accomodations, etc.

3) Indeed, would you advise anyone from anywhere in the world to seek the very best or would local implant specialists suffice? I think just avoid the part-timers. You're doing research -- hopefully you'll get some input about your UK doc.

4) - If one were to travel to the US, would that mean all future revisions would have to be completed by the same surgeon? This cost outlay begins to make one shudder.

5) - Being (just about) 34, I would most likely require at least 4 revisions in my life (were I to live a normal lifespan). By the 4th, would my penis not be at risk of being completely demolished?

6) Would you advise against those on the younger side getting implanted? No. I could make the argument that its more important for younger guys than older guys.

7) - How do you go about inflating when you are about to have sex/foreplay with someone? I would imagine this vastly depends upon who you are having sex with. If it is a long term partner, the will likely know and then I'm sure there are all kinds of fun ways to inflate? But what about at the beginning of relationships or one-night-stands?
I get a little pumped up before-hand (making sure the valve is set for inflation and then maybe 4 pumps. During foreplay I just give it a few more pumps 3 or 4 times.

8) - Did you feel a degree of regret post-operatively? If I were to go through with this, I fear that my mind being unstable at present, I might swap one form of depression for another. My regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

9) - When the implant fails, mechanically, do you get advanced warning? As in, can you feel the decline in its function? Or do you attempt to inflate one day and it just doesn't work?Don't know, don't want to find out.

10) - On the topic of mechanical failure (end of implant lifespan), typically, how long might it take from day 1 of failure until revision completion? Weeks, months?Don't know, don't want to find out.

11) - During that period of being out-of-action, does this time spent without erections not have a terrible impact upon mood, the state of one's relationship and psyche?Don't know, but I would think after experiencing a working dick,
you'd just look forward to the recovery.

12) - How long does a successful revision take to heal and be ready for action?I'll find out.... I'm having a revision in 12 days. Havong the pump re-positioned (actully will get a new pump, and have to break that in.

13) - How have you found the general reaction/reception of partners to the news of your being implanted? Favourable? Dismissive? Nasty? I am of the firm belief that an educated, grounded person, a good person, one who loves YOU, would never ever have an unfavourable reaction. If they do, they are not someone you want to be with.My wife was a bit weirded out, but now that we're having the best sex in 38 years, she's ok with it.

14) - Does your flaccid appear larger now than before? (Unimportant really but interesting nonetheless).Absolutely!

15) - Can one engage in strenuous physical activity. Of course this thing is designed to withstand the throes of sexual intercourse but what about heavy lifting at the gym for example?No problem.

16) - Have you lost length and girth? If so, how much? Has your size returned to normal? Tell me about the effects your implant has had upon your size.Hard to say. I lost both to the prostatectomy. I've regained some and will most likely get it all back. Girth is smaller, with slight progress so far.

17) - What effects, if any, has having the implant had upon your sensitivity? Do you feel more able to cum, less able? Has your sensation diminished at all? Tell me about this aspect please.Sensation is a mixed bag. It was sensitive in an uncomfortable way, but that's gone. I still have some loss of sensation on my shaft,
but getting better. I have difficulty climaxing.

18) - Are you constantly aware of the implant's presence? I guess what I am trying to ask here is, do you have a constant feeling of having a foreign body within your penis?Constantly, no. Occaisionally, yes.

19) - What effects, if any, and I'm sure there are many, has this had upon the quality of your relationship, (if you have one).Tremendous, largely because I no longer have performance anxiety or PE, the hidden barriers to intimacy that developed over the years are disappearing. Actually, the biggest challenge is how to find our new normal. We're not kids anymore, and we've been through a lot of trauma combined with the slow strains of ED. We're sort of re-inventing our relationship.

20) - Are you satisfied with your implant? Yes. Even though the pump is too high. If it couldn't be fixed, I'd still be so much better than before.

21) Is there a risk an implant surgery could be so botched or encounter catastrophic circumstance that you lose any hope of being implanted thus losing ALL erectile function.Extremely unlikely, I think.

22) - Are you happy?YES

PM me any time.

Bob 2.3

Thank you, so much, guys and to anyone who answers these questions. I really hope this can form some kind of comprehensive user-feedback form for those considering this journey.

We are stronger together. United in brotherhood. Fortified by knowledge.

DEFIANT.

defiant wrote:1) - How long do 'most' implants last? I know this is a 'how long is a piece of string' question. Most things I read tend to hint at a decade.
I have been told that usually it is around 10 years.

8) - Did you feel a degree of regret post-operatively? If I were to go through with this, I fear that my mind being unstable at present, I might swap one form of depression for another.
I feel no regret and am only happy that I had it done.

9) - When the implant fails, mechanically, do you get advanced warning? As in, can you feel the decline in its function? Or do you attempt to inflate one day and it just doesn't work?
I tried to inflate one day and it didn't work. After visiting my urologist, he suggested a replacement.

14) - Does your flaccid appear larger now than before? (Unimportant really but interesting nonetheless).
Definitely. I went from being a grower (more than doubling when going from soft to hard) to being a show-er (soft/uninflated it is not much shorter than when hard/inflated).

16) - Have you lost length and girth? If so, how much? Has your size returned to normal? Tell me about the effects your implant has had upon your size.
With regular inflating I regained my original (meaning pre-prostatectomy) length first and then not so long ago I regained my original girth as well.

17) - What effects, if any, has having the implant had upon your sensitivity? Do you feel more able to cum, less able? Has your sensation diminished at all? Tell me about this aspect please.
My sensitivity has not changed, being just as good as it was before I had E.D., and the fact that my penis is hard makes it feel even better!

18) - Are you constantly aware of the implant's presence? I guess what I am trying to ask here is, do you have a constant feeling of having a foreign body within your penis?
I am not aware of my implant, do not feel it in my penis. In fact, the only time I feel it at all is when I'm holding my penis to pee.

19) - What effects, if any, and I'm sure there are many, has this had upon the quality of your relationship, (if you have one).
It made the relationship between my wife and me better than before E.D. began. We could do other things, but we couldn't have intercourse because I couldn't penetrate, and we missed that special "connection" between a couple. We have that back again!

20) - Are you satisfied with your implant?
Oh yes, in case you didn't guess from my answers above.

22) - Are you happy?

merrix wrote:2, 3
Personally I travelled literally to the opposite side of the planet to do it with Eid. At the time, my shortlist was Eid, Kramer and Perito. Coincidences (or rather Eid’s fast response time) made me decide for Eid. Today I am very glad that I chose Eid.
I say get the best doc you possibly can. I would never ever let travelling, staying away in hotels, etc stop me from picking the best. The only thing would be money. I was lucky not to have that limitation. If you have a limitation based on money, then that’s how it is and you must accept it. So let me say then that get the absolutely best doc your finances allows. But don't save on your implant doc and then spend the money on a new fancier kitchen... Then you can't blame your finance anymore. Just your priorities.

4
No. Any implant doctor would be able to do it. But my reasoning in 2,3 above still holds. Maybe even more so for a revision, since risks are higher with revision than virgin surgery.

5
No

6
I would say age has nothing to do with it. How bad your ED is has everything to do with it. If you can’t have sex and it is negatively impacting your life, then an implant is as excellent a solution if you’re 30 as if you’re 70.

7
With wife, this is not really an issue. Even though I don’t really like to do it in front of her, I still could. But mostly I just do it in the shower before sex.
With other women, shorter relations, Same thing really. In the shower/WC before, or just preparing with whatever level you can possibly inflate to and keep in your pants. Then finishing during foreplay.

8
Never. It hurted pretty badly right after surgery, and I was even scared that I had an infection for various reasons. Check ‘My Journal’ for details. But even then, before I knew there was no inflation, I never regret anything. I took the decision based on thorough research. I knew the risk. To say that I would regret it just because I was unlucky would be silly. Regret is for not having done the homework. Not for falling victim of a calculated minimal risk. Same goes for the future. Should my implant fail tomorrow, I still wouldn’t regret anything,

9
Don’t know, but would guess both options can be possible.

10
Depends on how quick your doctor is to schedule you.

11
Since it hasn’t happened to me, I don’t know. But I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem. I’d just be pissed that I had the bad luck of having implant failure and needing to go through the surgery and recovery again. But that’s it.

12
Normally shorter than a virgin implant surgery. But infection risk is higher.

13
Women who notices something won’t understand it’s an implant. They will just feel a foreign object in the scrotum during a thorough blow/hand job. But just saying “I had an accident before and needed surgery. Don’t worry”, works well.

14
Approx 15 cm vs 10 cm. So very much larger.

15
No problem. As I have said many times before, I lift some decent weights and have not backed off one tiny little bit after implant. Deadlifting 180 kg (400 lbs) for 5 reps, squatting 130 kg (290 lbs) for 15 reps. No problem at all.
Also playing decent level of tennis (5.0 NTRP) and doing some boxing.

16
No. On the contrary, my erect dick is longer now than my best day before surgery on Viagra/Cialis. Not much, but still longer. 17.5 cm vs 16,5 cm (6.9” vs 6.5”). Girth is marginally larger as well. 14.3 cm vs 14.0 cm (5.6” vs 5.5”).

17
Sensitivity now compared to a good Viagra erection is same. But sensitivity now compared to a shitty semi-erection, which often was all I got before, is better. It is easier to enjoy and get orgasm with a hard dick than a soft dick.

18
No. I basically never notice it’s there except for when I inflate it for sex.

19
OF course, positive. Sex is important in a relationship and this has turned half-assed sex to great sex. Also the feeling of being able to satisfy my partner is great. It is not nice knowing that she knows my dick is crap and that she knows other men could fuck her a million times better. Now that’s not the case anymore. If I am not a good lover today, there are no excuses. It’s all up to me. My dick will never fail.

20
Yes. I think I got the best results one can possibly get. I think I used the best doc in the world. I also think I got the best possible implant one can get. A Titan without RTEs.

21
Yes this can happen, but it is rare of course. Looking at the top docs’ statistics, They have an inflation rate of <0.5%. Out of those a few percent can’t be saved. They end up with a completely destroyed penis. With all natural erection ability gone and no implant either. A shrunken little inch long dead piece of skin. But that happens to only a few of those 1 in 200 who gets the infection in the first place. A risk worth taking. If backing out of highly beneficial surgery for such low risk of fatal consequences, nobody would do any surgery on this planet.

22
Yes. But I was overall happy with my life before surgery as well. Life is more than having a hard dick. But this was the icing on the cake for me. I am very happy.

defiant wrote:Thanks so much, Merrix,

I have only one question - You say that it would only be noticeable if she were really going at it, whether by hand or mouth. Why is that? If you feel hard enough, do you begin to feel the tubing? Is this to say that it feels abnormal at a certain point?

Thanks!!