When is it time to get an implant?

[StandUpGuy]

I’ve been dealing with ed for 15 years, and up until 2 years ago viagra, and levitra were working. Cialis stopped working 5 years ago. I’ve been on injections for the last couple of years and at first thought they were great. Was able to get a rock hard erection and get 3/8 more length just because the erection was so strong. Unfortunately I developed peyroines and for the last 7 months have pretty much straightened the curve that developed by using a traction device.
So now my erection is straight again, although I still have the plaque in the tunica.
I’ve started on blood pressure medication, and with that my erections on viagra are better but still not reliable. Although I might actually be successful if I tried. Even so the erection would not be very strong.
Long story short - do you wait until any ability to get an erection is gone before getting an implant, or if you have some natural ability but still need trimix to get a reliable erection do you keep that approach going for a while?
Injecting each time I want sex isn’t great for a number of obvious reasons. And a part of me still think I might be able to go back to Viagra/levitra because things have gotten better with my bp medication.

[GoodWood]

I was in your position last year.

I could still get a (shitty) erection on my own. Not enough for penetration. But (sort of) enough for masturbation.

Pills didn’t help enough anymore. Shots used to work great but became less effective.

I was afraid to trade my (shitty) natural erections for an implant. But I decided to take the leap.

I’m so glad I got an implant. In my case I still have my natural erections ability around and on top of the implant. When the implant is flaccid and I get turned on I get engorgement, not only of the glans, but of the corpus cavernosa to a degree. Dr Eid said he tries to place the implant preserving whatever tissue he can.

In my case it hasn’t been either/or. It’s been and.

I have my implant when I need to be hard. But I still get that stirring feeling and thickness when I’m starting to get turned on.

I don’t know how common that is, but I’m glad it worked out.

[Rider1400]

I’ve said this many times…. You will know when you are ready! Sounds like you’re either there or very near it. Many people skip injections altogether. With the plaque it sounds like it’s past time in my biased opinion. Just do your homework and find a great Dr especially with the plaque build up. There’s things a great surgeon can do to insure a better result. Most likely you will need a titan to help with keeping things straight… just my opinion. How old are you… this plays in, and do you have insurance or are you retired with Medicare? Fill out your signature to better help others give better information

[StandUpGuy]

I was in your position last year.

I could still get a (shitty) erection on my own. Not enough for penetration. But (sort of) enough for masturbation.

Pills didn’t help enough anymore. Shots used to work great but became less effective.

I was afraid to trade my (shitty) natural erections for an implant. But I decided to take the leap.

I’m so glad I got an implant. In my case I still have my natural erections ability around and on top of the implant. When the implant is flaccid and I get turned on I get engorgement, not only of the glans, but of the corpus cavernosa to a degree. Dr Eid said he tries to place the implant preserving whatever tissue he can.

In my case it hasn’t been either/or. It’s been and.

I have my implant when I need to be hard. But I still get that stirring feeling and thickness when I’m starting to get turned on.

I don’t know how common that is, but I’m glad it worked out.

That’s a great way of putting it. I am scared to trade my shitty erections for an implant. It’s hard to imagine not having a physical reaction that accompanies your desire for sex. If I loose that will I even want sex? I know that doesn’t seem to be a problem by all the accounts on this forum, but still it’s tough to know that as fact from where I stand.
I have an appointment with Dr. Patel in San Diego on oct 16. I saw some others recommended him here and he is a high volume surgeon. My fist doctor at ucsd said to keep stretching to keep the curve down and continue with injections because if you get the implant I will loose length and therefore I should wait. I didn’t have any confidence on his statements so looking forward to appointment with Dr Patel.
I’ll have to ask Dr Patel if natural engorgement, albeit small, is at all possible with the implant. That is the first I have heard of that and everything I’ve read seems to say that any natural reaction is gone. It would be great to hear if others get that reaction too
I also see that Dr. Patel offers Tunica Expansion Procedure (TEP) which is a way to actually gain length and girth (also read that here from others). I imagine that given the more invasive nature of TEP with the additional cuts in the tunica there is less chance of natural engorgement. I’ll be asking him about that too. Of course that raises more questions on how things would be different physically, but if I’m going to do this I might be able to convince myself that this really is an upgrade, given I am gaining more than I lost.

[StandUpGuy]

I’ve said this many times…. You will know when you are ready! Sounds like you’re either there or very near it. Many people skip injections altogether. With the plaque it sounds like it’s past time in my biased opinion. Just do your homework and find a great Dr especially with the plaque build up. There’s things a great surgeon can do to insure a better result. Most likely you will need a titan to help with keeping things straight… just my opinion. How old are you… this plays in, and do you have insurance or are you retired with Medicare? Fill out your signature to better help others give better information

Yeah I am getting closer, One day I convinced I have to do it, the next day I’m not. It’s exhausting. The fact that I have plaque now only seems to suggest more is coming. It’s not a great situation, but refreshing that this forum exists and is filled with men that have gone through variations of what I am now going through.

I’m 56, and was thinking the new titan prime might be a good choice only because it’s the latest on the market, but not sure if those are widely available yet.
Im going to see Dr Patel who is well regarded by some on this board so we will see what he has to say. A lot will be based on that conversation.
I do have good insurance so I expect the basic implant surgery to be covered, which definitely helps in the decision making process.

[lasthope2.0]

If natural erections are unpleasant, and if pharmacological erections (daily Cialis or injections) are also unpleasant, I would immediately opt for the implant with urgency. My only regret is that I didn’t try injections before committing to the wonderful benefits and risks associated with implants.