Mechanical failure study...very interesting..

[Mark1974]

https://www.auajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1097/JU.0000000000003352.10

This is a study involving 1105 implants. It's only one study, but that is a big sample

2 things of significant interest to me were that
(a) median time to revision for AMS was only 2 years and average time for Coloplast was only 4 years
(b) Coloplast was twice as durable as the AMS

Again, it's just one study, but I wasn't expecting those results

Mark1974,, I think you misinterpreted the study objective (and subsequently, came to an unwarranted conclusion)

The study stated "We sought to characterize IPP component failure at time of device revision and stratify by manufacturer [American Medical Systems (AMS) and Coloplast (CP)]"

The study included ONLY devices that had revisions. Those devices not requiring revision are excluded. Those devices are the ones implanted in the vast majority of patients.

Respectfully submitted

Yes I see what you mean, but almost every IPP will require a revision.

So this practice did 76 mechanical revisions over the course of 15 years Most of what they did was primary implantation (by my math they did 829 primary implantations.) And they did 200 non-mechanical revisions

Of the 76 mechanical revisions they did they state that the median life-span of the AMS device before their revision was less than 3 years and the median life-span of a Coloplast before their revision was less than 5 years

The other 829 primary implants aren't even really relevant. If they required revisions they may have gone to other practices. I shouldn't have even mentioned the 1105 implants to begin with, because it really isn't relevant to the problem.

They are stating that of the 76 revisions they did perform these were the average life-spans before revision. And this seems to correspond with the kind of numbers I'm seeing on Franktalk

I know this is confusing and I need to find a better way to explain this 

[PowerliftingDad]

Some of us are going to have implants that last for a year....some are going to last 15 years.
My first one last 6 years.
For me the real question is....what's the alternative?
A penis that doesn't function correctly?
Anxiety and stress about getting and keeping it up as opposed to an absolutely perfect rock hard erection on demand for as long as I want?!
I'd rather live 10 years as a lion than 100 years as a sheep. Not having a functioning penis wasn't an option for me personally.

Everything in life is a gamble right?
I tried to mitigate some of the risks by picking a high volume super talented surgeon.
I think that is a variable not accounted for in the studies.
Think about the quality of weld a master welder can lay down as opposed to a brand new apprentice.
I am 51 years....I fully expect that I will need at least one more revision. Maybe a few.
However worrying about when is pointless.
For now....I am smart with it. I am done cycling, I use it for sex only and make sure to protect it from injuries.
My sex life is absolutely incredible and my wife and I couldn't be more pleased.
When it fails....I will have the revision.
Worrying and anxiety is the worst use of imagination.

[Mark1974]

I see what you are saying, but I think this kind of information can inform our decisions.

For instance, I changed my mind about my primary implant and have gone back to the decision to start with a Coloplast

I know that I must be conservative with the implant and not over-use it or use it like a toy.

I also know at some point I might have to go with a malleable, because I can't handle too much surgery (on top of the other surgeries I might need in other areas of my health). I just hope I can get through my 50's with an IPP

[ready2go]

https://www.auajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1097/JU.0000000000003352.10

This is a study involving 1105 implants. It's only one study, but that is a big sample

2 things of significant interest to me were that
(a) median time to revision for AMS was only 2 years and average time for Coloplast was only 4 years
(b) Coloplast was twice as durable as the AMS

Again, it's just one study, but I wasn't expecting those results

again, "the gold standard of implants" not exactly 24k gold . what is the price for a ipp in usa 30 thousand ?and a patient is back to be cut open again in 2 -4 years .if not sooner .some go only 2 months . that's a lot of money for a unreliable system coupled with the operations that go with it .

[Witheringhog]

Some of us are going to have implants that last for a year....some are going to last 15 years.
My first one last 6 years.
For me the real question is....what's the alternative?
A penis that doesn't function correctly?
Anxiety and stress about getting and keeping it up as opposed to an absolutely perfect rock hard erection on demand for as long as I want?!
I'd rather live 10 years as a lion than 100 years as a sheep. Not having a functioning penis wasn't an option for me personally.

Everything in life is a gamble right?
I tried to mitigate some of the risks by picking a high volume super talented surgeon.
I think that is a variable not accounted for in the studies.
Think about the quality of weld a master welder can lay down as opposed to a brand new apprentice.
I am 51 years....I fully expect that I will need at least one more revision. Maybe a few.
However worrying about when is pointless.
For now....I am smart with it. I am done cycling, I use it for sex only and make sure to protect it from injuries.
My sex life is absolutely incredible and my wife and I couldn't be more pleased.
When it fails....I will have the revision.
Worrying and anxiety is the worst use of imagination.

Truth!

[Mark1974]

https://www.auajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1097/JU.0000000000003352.10

This is a study involving 1105 implants. It's only one study, but that is a big sample

2 things of significant interest to me were that
(a) median time to revision for AMS was only 2 years and average time for Coloplast was only 4 years
(b) Coloplast was twice as durable as the AMS

Again, it's just one study, but I wasn't expecting those results

again, "the gold standard of implants" not exactly 24k gold . what is the price for a ipp in usa 30 thousand ?and a patient is back to be cut open again in 2 -4 years .if not sooner .some go only 2 months . that's a lot of money for a unreliable system coupled with the operations that go with it .

This is why insurance companies hate them and I understand their reluctance

[newbie443]

When I had a mechanical failure at 3 years, I started paying attention to the time of failures reported on this site. I understand that folks with no issues may tend to stay quiet while folks with failures complain. Of those who complained, I noted very few failure complaints in the “expected” 10 year range, and many in the 2-5 year range.

The life data we see is reported by the manufacturers who benefit from optimistic projections. Life cycle is broken into infant mortality (manufacturing defects which show up very early), random failures during life cycle (typically small numbers) and wear out at end of life. Think care tires where some tires leak when installed, some small number of tires get a blowout during their life, and all tires wear out at 40k miles.

The other big deception is using “up to” in the advertising. LED lights last up to 40,000 hours. That was one bulb at optimal power and temperature conditions at manufacturing test. The expected life is actually 3000 hrs.

If the implant manufacturer sells you on a 10-15 life, then sells you a new unit every 5 years, that is a win for they and physicians on initial sale, and wins every 5 years or so thereafter with a captive market. As a businessman I admire that almost perfect business model. If it is not apparent, I personally am skeptical of manufacturers claims of 10-15 year expectation.

I posted a study where 15K men who received implants were used as a data base. And the results were in excess of 90% of devices lasting 10 years. This is not brag or speculation from the manufacturers. This is a study of a large number of men and I would bet a very large number of them have never heard of Frank Talk let alone posted on this site. My device is still working and coming up on 6 years. I am already past your life expectancy. And others on this site have post after 10 or more years with a working device.

If you look for failures you will find them. But if you look at all the publications they most all agree that the life span is 10 years on north of 90% of devices implanted.

Didn’t you say you had something fixed? Even if you have the same parts, I would still consider any cutting into your balls a revision

A repair of a perforation. Not a replacement of any part of the original device. Not a repair of any part of the original device. The original device (each and every part) will be 6 years old in just over a month.

[newbie443]

You can continue to look at small batch studies that are by the size skewed. You can keep ignoring the larger studies and the information published by the really good doctors. I cannot change the process you are committed to. All I can do is provide information to others that show larger studies that are less skewed and well-known doctors agree that the life of a IPP is 10 years for greater than 90% of men who have this surgery. Using the very small batch of FT post where you are looking for information on problems is again a very skewed group and not a clear picture on the tens of thousands of IPP devices implanted.