Questions before and after Implant

[proctor]

Hi all,

As I am waiting for my implant date from Dr Kramer (expecting it to be early September, unless the COVID situation gets much worse), anxiety is not permitting me to do a methodical research re what I should be doing to prepare myself for the "D-day".

Seeking help from FT fraternity about the following questions (some questions may be trivial, please bear with me):

PRE-OP

1. Can I shave the area beforehand or it will be done on that day by hospital staffs?
2. Apart from VED, is there anything I can do for
a) length/girth recovery,
b) quick healing or
c) most importantly, reducing the infection possibility?
3. Is it a surgeons call on whether or not I will be given a RTE or I can request an implant w or wout RTE ?


POST OP

1. Based on your experience, do you think a 9 hour flight in economy class back home would be too risky on the 3rd day of the surgery? If its too risky, when is usually the less risk free time for a long plane journey in economy class?

2. Does the suture dissolve itself or I need to see a local urologist after certain days?

Thanks.

[Old Guy]

The hospital nurses will use some cream to remove all your hair. They prefer you not to shave.
A VED will help some to maintain length, but once the surgeon decides on which implant he's going to use that will be your size.
To re-gain length and girth you will need to cycle your implant as often and as soon as possible. Some guys can inflate around 3 weeks post, some sooner, me was much later. Inflate to the max you can tolerate, keep it up for as long as you can stand it, at least once a day.
We all heal differently, so no time frame. It took me close to 5 months to feel good. Some guys can be having sex without pain at 6 weeks or less. Ice is good to reduce pain and swelling the first few days.
Keep clean is most important to avoid infection. The stitches will heal in about 3 days. My doc let me shower, but no baths until after 4 weeks.
You need to discuss with your surgeon what you want. You are better off than I was because I went into my surgery blind. I didn't know there were differences, what to do after, etc. until I found FT at 5 months post.

Flying home at 3 days post is going to be tough. 9 hours in a plane is a long time to sit. Took me close to 2 months before I could sit in a hard chair without pain. I'd dose up with pain meds and bring some ice packs.
It would be good to find a local urologist, just in case you have issues after surgery. Another 9 hour flight when you're hurting is going to be even tougher.
Good Luck- keep us posted.

[Waynetho]

Hi all,

As I am waiting for my implant date from Dr Kramer (expecting it to be early September, unless the COVID situation gets much worse), anxiety is not permitting me to do a methodical research re what I should be doing to prepare myself for the "D-day".

Seeking help from FT fraternity about the following questions (some questions may be trivial, please bear with me):

PRE-OP

1. Can I shave the area beforehand or it will be done on that day by hospital staffs?
2. Apart from VED, is there anything I can do for
a) length/girth recovery,
b) quick healing or
c) most importantly, reducing the infection possibility?
3. Is it a surgeons call on whether or not I will be given a RTE or I can request an implant w or wout RTE ?


POST OP

1. Based on your experience, do you think a 9 hour flight in economy class back home would be too risky on the 3rd day of the surgery? If its too risky, when is usually the less risk free time for a long plane journey in economy class?

2. Does the suture dissolve itself or I need to see a local urologist after certain days?

Thanks.

Point#1 - Shaving self - do not shave yourself. If you give yourself an irritation or skin infection, you could delay the implant surgery to another day and you could still cause infection complications even if no irritation is visible. The surgical staff uses an electric shaver/trimmer and it has been sterilized to prevent the introduction of bacteria into the skin.

Point#2c - Infection reduction (see my response to point#1). The doctor may give you medicated disinfecting soap to wash with prior to the surgery. Hibiclens is a common brand. If he doesn't plan to give you any Hibiclens before your surgery, you can buy it at drugstores. Use it for several days up to the date of surgery.

Point#3 - RTEs will depend on your own physical anatomy as well as the size of implant the doctor uses. If you use a doctor that doesn't stock all sizes, beware - he may do a guestimate sizing and add RTEs to increase the length if needed. The depth of the crus and whether the surgery will be infrapubic or penoscrotal, determine where the tubing should exit the corpora and for a deeper crus with penoscrotal incision, it might be necessary to add RTEs to bring the tubing closer to the DISTAL* position. The rear hard plastic portion of the implants is between 4.5-5.0 cm (~1.75-2.0") and the tubing exits from the front of the tips. A crus deeper than that may need RTEs.

(*Edited to correct "DISTAL" in last paragraph, previously stated as "PROXIMAL".)

[proctor]

. You are better off than I was because I went into my surgery blind. I didn't know there were differences, what to do after, etc. until I found FT at 5 months post.

Thanks, you are making me feel bit better about myself.

. Flying home at 3 days post is going to be tough. 9 hours in a plane is a long time to sit.
It would be good to find a local urologist, just in case you have issues after surgery. Another 9 hour flight when you're hurting is going to be even tougher. Good Luck- keep us posted.

r

I am feeling neervous about it. Do you think staying at the site for a day or two more could help me to regain strength for a 9 hour flight?

THanks, a lot for your response.

[proctor]

Hi all,

As I am waiting for my implant date from Dr Kramer (expecting it to be early September, unless the COVID situation gets much worse), anxiety is not permitting me to do a methodical research re what I should be doing to prepare myself for the "D-day".

Seeking help from FT fraternity about the following questions (some questions may be trivial, please bear with me):

PRE-OP

1. Can I shave the area beforehand or it will be done on that day by hospital staffs?
2. Apart from VED, is there anything I can do for
a) length/girth recovery,
b) quick healing or
c) most importantly, reducing the infection possibility?
3. Is it a surgeons call on whether or not I will be given a RTE or I can request an implant w or wout RTE ?


POST OP

1. Based on your experience, do you think a 9 hour flight in economy class back home would be too risky on the 3rd day of the surgery? If its too risky, when is usually the less risk free time for a long plane journey in economy class?

2. Does the suture dissolve itself or I need to see a local urologist after certain days?

Thanks.

Point#1 - Shaving self - do not shave yourself. If you give yourself an irritation or skin infection, you could delay the implant surgery to another day and you could still cause infection complications even if no irritation is visible. The surgical staff uses an electric shaver/trimmer and it has been sterilized to prevent the introduction of bacteria into the skin.

Point#2c - Infection reduction (see my response to point#1). The doctor may give you medicated disinfecting soap to wash with prior to the surgery. Hibiclens is a common brand. If he doesn't plan to give you any Hibiclens before your surgery, you can buy it at drugstores. Use it for several days up to the date of surgery.

Point#3 - RTEs will depend on your own physical anatomy as well as the size of implant the doctor uses. If you use a doctor that doesn't stock all sizes, beware - he may do a guestimate sizing and add RTEs to increase the length if needed. The depth of the crus and whether the surgery will be infrapubic or penoscrotal, determine where the tubing should exit the corpora and for a deeper crus with penoscrotal incision, it might be necessary to add RTEs to bring the tubing closer to the proximal position. The rear hard plastic portion of the implants is between 4.5-5.0 cm (~1.75-2.0") and the tubing exits from the front of the tips. A crus deeper than that may need RTEs.

Hey, thanks a lot for your response. Given Dr Kramers reputation, I hope he will make the best decision for me.

[Gt1956]

An opinion. As for staying an extra few days before flying. Sure, it might help. But the bigger point is. It won't hurt anything but your wallet. If within your means. I'd say try to stay. If after 3 days & you feel great. Get a hold of your airline & see if they can move your flight ahead a few days.

[Old Guy]

Thanks, you are making me feel bit better about myself.

Good. Here at FT are all the questions you need to ask doc. Prepare a list if you have to. Remember the body part that's getting worked on, you don't want a screw up.
Flying home, maybe a couple more days would help. Maybe not. Looking back if I had to fly it would have been almost right after getting released. I was still doped up enough that nothing hurt and the anesthesia knocked me out the rest of the day.

[OregonStrong]

I went home 2 days after surgery and wished I waited at least one more day. You'll have a lot of swelling sitting upright in a plane for 9 hours.
As for shaving, I think you could be fine using a trimmer, not razor blade a week before surgery to at least keep the stubble short. I did nothing prior and had so much razor burn wounds from them shaving me, it looked like they dragged my pubic area along asphalt pavement just before surgery that took 2 weeks to clear up.

[proctor]

An opinion. As for staying an extra few days before flying. Sure, it might help. But the bigger point is. It won't hurt anything but your wallet. If within your means. I'd say try to stay. If after 3 days & you feel great. Get a hold of your airline & see if they can move your flight ahead a few days.

Do you think, buying a business class ticket would make it easier for me to leave on Day 3 post op?

[proctor]

I went home 2 days after surgery and wished I waited at least one more day. You'll have a lot of swelling sitting upright in a plane for 9 hours.
As for shaving, I think you could be fine using a trimmer, not razor blade a week before surgery to at least keep the stubble short. I did nothing prior and had so much razor burn wounds from them shaving me, it looked like they dragged my pubic area along asphalt pavement just before surgery that took 2 weeks to clear up.

hmm... thanks....