frwmw1 wrote:Lost Sheep wrote:A man with a bum foot might manage a 20 minute mile, but amputate the foot and fit him with a prosthetic foot and he might do an 8 minute mile. But if the prosthetic fails, he is worse off than before. So it is with a penile implant. He might be able to have sex badly, but dilate the corpora and insert a prosthetic and he can have great sex. But if the prosthetic fails, he is worse off than before.
Hold out from a prosthetic for as long as you can (and other means still work). But when other means quit working, do not hesitate to go the next step if sex is important to you.
So is the issue then, regarding implants and youth, that successive revisions over 20-50 year period will increase complications and increase the chances that a replacement implant may not be available at some point?
No. You misunderstood my point.
A prosthetic is a very good treatment for E.D. But it should be reserved for cases that do not respond to less radical treatments. As long as your foot (or your penis) works adequately (if even poorly, but if it is adequate) I advise you stick with it. There may be an actual cure before your E.D. becomes too much to tolerate (though I admit the chances are slim). Only then get an implant. And at that point, do not hesitate if sex is important to you.
The downside to an early implant is that the implant irreversibly destroys any erectile function you have and makes you totally dependent on the prosthetic for erections.
The other downside to an early implant (as you correctly surmised) is that successive revisions MAY be necessary (and any time a surgeon open your skin there are chances for complications). As far as availability of implants is concerned, I think availability will not be an issue. Affordability might be, so save up or make sure you have good medical insurance coverage. But, given my earlier admonition (to not get an implant until it is the only treatment that will work), the revision question is irrelevant. If I needed an implant, delay for fear of revision is ridiculous.