Risk/Reward

[defiant]

What's up, mid-30's gang checking in. I see a lot of similarities. I looked into an implant 5-6 years ago, but for all the nightmare scenarios you mentioned I decided to pursue every other option first. Now I've done that, and effectiveness of those treatments has fallen to ~0%, so it's pretty straightforward logic to me:

No surgery = my dick doesn't work, no sex.
Failed surgery = my dick doesn't work, no sex.
Successful surgery = my dick works, sex.

Even the failed surgery outcome doesn't leave me with less of a sex life. The only option that has a good outcome is surgery. And it's not a long shot, with surveys showing patient satisfaction anywhere from 75-98% (depending on the survey).

My surgery is scheduled for two weeks from now. I know the recovery is going to take awhile and won't be pleasant, but I am so grateful that I am born in a time where there is a surgical solution available that is safe and has a high success rate. I understand being nervous, but I can not wrap my head around how someone would rather cling to a life of abstinence or embarrassment than attempt a straightforward, well-recognized surgical solution.

Yeah I mean, if you reach the point where you’ve got barely any function left, it’s a no brainer really!

Good luck with your procedure, dude!! I hope and pray it goes well!

[TANGERINE]

[What's up, mid-30's gang checking in. I see a lot of similarities. I looked into an implant 5-6 years ago, but for all the nightmare scenarios you mentioned I decided to pursue every other option first. Now I've done that, and effectiveness of those treatments has fallen to ~0%, so it's pretty straightforward logic to me:

No surgery = my dick doesn't work, no sex.
Failed surgery = my dick doesn't work, no sex.
Successful surgery = my dick works, sex.

Awesome analysis searchy, above makes sense. I would add that my mindset was such that if i died during the operation, I would be OK with that since sex was that important to me (seems rather extreme, but that is where i was). Also agree with the comments that it is a no brainor if all other options have failed...which was my situation.

That being said, my timing is off in that my wife who is now 61, is not very interested in sex. She likes it well enough one she is aroused, but it is not the end all be all for her. She says regarding me, that "you are having the best sex of my life now with the implant" and she is envious that she can't get a similar solution and result for her aging parts.

So, getting the implant earlier in life makes sense, but we all know that failed surgery, can definitely happen--usually, you can eventually get to an awesome penis, but in the failed situation it might take multiple operations....so it comes down to "how bad do you really want it ?"

As with looking at a financial investment, the upside potential and downside risk need to be assessed. If you need some quotes and "rah rah" words of encouragement, read the last chapter of my "implant pamphlet wiki" here on franktalk -- it talks about various things like only living life once and going for it.

That being said, I totally understand that a man who has a functioning cock (albeit with meds), which usually works well enough for a successful sex session, has, maybe, too much to lose if surgery fails to succeed.
A fomous surgeon in a video lecture states, though, that "the implant is for men who reject injection threapy."

REMEMBER, risk reward is not the entire analysis scheme jer. Instead, you must look at this decision reubric by carefullly analyzing and weighing the:

RISKS and the BENEFITS and the ALTERNATIVES

for your propsed medical intervention.

So, my advice, carefully examine the alternatives to implant, and decide if you are truly ready to reject them. If the answer is "yes, those options are rejected" then at that point implant is the way to go.

Good luck---I am fully aware how this decision is all consuming and takes great courage.

[Fourtytwo00]

How much Cialis are you taking? Have you ever tried other PDE5s?

Moving from some cialis when needed to an implant straightforward sounds like a big jump to me.

[Gt1956]

What's up, mid-30's gang checking in. I see a lot of similarities. I looked into an implant 5-6 years ago, but for all the nightmare scenarios you mentioned I decided to pursue every other option first. Now I've done that, and effectiveness of those treatments has fallen to ~0%, so it's pretty straightforward logic to me:

No surgery = my dick doesn't work, no sex.
Failed surgery = my dick doesn't work, no sex.
Successful surgery = my dick works, sex.

Even the failed surgery outcome doesn't leave me with less of a sex life. The only option that has a good outcome is surgery. And it's not a long shot, with surveys showing patient satisfaction anywhere from 75-98% (depending on the survey).

My surgery is scheduled for two weeks from now. I know the recovery is going to take awhile and won't be pleasant, but I am so grateful that I am born in a time where there is a surgical solution available that is safe and has a high success rate. I understand being nervous, but I can not wrap my head around how someone would rather cling to a life of abstinence or embarrassment than attempt a straightforward, well-recognized surgical solution.

Yeah I mean, if you reach the point where you’ve got barely any function left, it’s a no brainer really!

Good luck with your procedure, dude!! I hope and pray it goes well!

I have to agree. At some point you are actually negotiating with the devil himself over when you need an implant. Remember, the devil only loses in the movies. ED will win the erection battle eventually.

[CuriosDK]

Hey,

I recently turned 30 and am in a similar position. I relate a lot to the tension between continuing as is and maybe meeting someone as things stand or finally taking a risk and approaching life and dating from a place of confidence.

As for your question its impossible to tell. If you go with a top surgeon you've lowered the odds, but the chances of ending up with a non-working penis because of complications isn't something we can predict. Perhaps thats a good thing, as it means its fairly rare.

Also, assuming from your posts you're close enough to London, where did you manage to get an ultrasound test? It's one of the checks I want to work through before making an irreversible decision with the implant.

[defiant]

Hey,

I recently turned 30 and am in a similar position. I relate a lot to the tension between continuing as is and maybe meeting someone as things stand or finally taking a risk and approaching life and dating from a place of confidence.

As for your question its impossible to tell. If you go with a top surgeon you've lowered the odds, but the chances of ending up with a non-working penis because of complications isn't something we can predict. Perhaps thats a good thing, as it means its fairly rare.

Also, assuming from your posts you're close enough to London, where did you manage to get an ultrasound test? It's one of the checks I want to work through before making an irreversible decision with the implant.

I'm sorry that I didn't see this.

I had one done on the NHS at King's College Hospital, many years ago which showed a mild venous leak.

Then I went privately on several separate occasions to different andrologists and those dopplers showed I had 'normal' function, despite barely rousing a semi on the tables.

Finally had an NPT under the care of Dr Ralph and it showed I had some normal nocturnal activity.

All that aside, I don't think there is enough study or investigation into the neurotransmitters and hormonal issues that may or may not be at play.

The psychological side of all this really does take its toll.

Now I'm stuck between having absolutely zero confidence to pursue women with what I've got and being very cautious about getting an implant at this stage in my life.

It's honestly fubar.

[defiant]

[What's up, mid-30's gang checking in. I see a lot of similarities. I looked into an implant 5-6 years ago, but for all the nightmare scenarios you mentioned I decided to pursue every other option first. Now I've done that, and effectiveness of those treatments has fallen to ~0%, so it's pretty straightforward logic to me:

No surgery = my dick doesn't work, no sex.
Failed surgery = my dick doesn't work, no sex.
Successful surgery = my dick works, sex.

Awesome analysis searchy, above makes sense. I would add that my mindset was such that if i died during the operation, I would be OK with that since sex was that important to me (seems rather extreme, but that is where i was). Also agree with the comments that it is a no brainor if all other options have failed...which was my situation.

That being said, my timing is off in that my wife who is now 61, is not very interested in sex. She likes it well enough one she is aroused, but it is not the end all be all for her. She says regarding me, that "you are having the best sex of my life now with the implant" and she is envious that she can't get a similar solution and result for her aging parts.

So, getting the implant earlier in life makes sense, but we all know that failed surgery, can definitely happen--usually, you can eventually get to an awesome penis, but in the failed situation it might take multiple operations....so it comes down to "how bad do you really want it ?"

As with looking at a financial investment, the upside potential and downside risk need to be assessed. If you need some quotes and "rah rah" words of encouragement, read the last chapter of my "implant pamphlet wiki" here on franktalk -- it talks about various things like only living life once and going for it.

That being said, I totally understand that a man who has a functioning cock (albeit with meds), which usually works well enough for a successful sex session, has, maybe, too much to lose if surgery fails to succeed.
A fomous surgeon in a video lecture states, though, that "the implant is for men who reject injection threapy."

REMEMBER, risk reward is not the entire analysis scheme jer. Instead, you must look at this decision reubric by carefullly analyzing and weighing the:

RISKS and the BENEFITS and the ALTERNATIVES

for your propsed medical intervention.

So, my advice, carefully examine the alternatives to implant, and decide if you are truly ready to reject them. If the answer is "yes, those options are rejected" then at that point implant is the way to go.

Good luck---I am fully aware how this decision is all consuming and takes great courage.

So sorry that I didn't catch this wonderful and well-written reply.

Thank you, Tangerine! I appreciate it.

Injections, for a young-ish, single man just aren't practical, in my opinion. Most of us know the reasons why. End of the day, that treatment path is a choice. Fair play if you want to go down that path.

I'm honestly just lost between being in the worst sexual place of my life with next to no confidence and libido secondary to ED but retaining some function and relatively recent success with pills vs being in the now but not feeling 'bad' enough to get the implant done.

Trouble is, this paralysis is not likely to improve, what with all my trauma and decreased confidence and all the while, I lose precious time.

[CuriosDK]

The psychological side of all this really does take its toll.

Now I'm stuck between having absolutely zero confidence to pursue women with what I've got and being very cautious about getting an implant at this stage in my life.

It's honestly fubar.

I know what you mean. Managed to book an appointment to check for a leak, half of me is hoping its confirmed so the decision can be made for me. It's all I've been thinking about as of late. Good luck with it all, at the very least it sounds like you're getting closer to making a decision one way or the other.

[jimmi85]

Trouble is, this paralysis is not likely to improve, what with all my trauma and decreased confidence and all the while, I lose precious time.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there.

The reality is, ED rarely gets better with time, and the longer you wait the worse position you will be in both physically and psychologically.

Having suffered with peyronies for the last three years, and having been robbed of over 2.5 inches in length I was at a position whereby I couldn’t comfortably have intercourse due to the severe curvature even though I could get hard enough, both with and without PDE5’s. At the same time I was becoming shorter, thinner and every month I waited I limited the potential size implant I could have gotten.

I am due for surgery in 3 weeks time, at 36 I am relatively young but I don’t feel as though I had a choice. However, the risk bs reward for me is very complex, I can’t really have sex yet I can get hard and orgasm. If surgery goes wrong I can do neither, if it’s goes to plan I can do both and have the best sex of my life. If it does go to plan then I will have to deal with the consequence of waiting too long and sacrificing an extra inch or 2. But then I would far rather a hard as a rock 5 incher than a 8’ deformed banana

[crazyjoe]

Seems like lots of guys on FT -- including me -- have grappled with the decision to get an implant "now". For me, for reasons cited by others in this thread, I am left with no choice if I want to resume a successful sex life. I too will lose some length due to the ill effects of injections -- Dr. Eid advised me that he can't restore that loss. But better to take that consequence now than to wait until I have lost further length -- i.e. cut my losses now.

I have been faithfully using a VED even though it hasn't produced any additional length like the published study says it will. Hopefully it is still preparing my tissues for an easier procedure and healing.

At times I ask myself "am I REALLY going forward with this?" It's a major decision filled with unforeseeable outcome issues. BUT, again, the risk-reward of the decision points at taking the risk now vs later.

Good luck in making your decision.