Prosthetic surgery can restore confidence and comfort.
Initial attempts at treating many common conditions that may affect a man’s urinary or reproductive system usually involve conservative options such as medication or lifestyle changes. In some cases, men may see better results with the use of specially designed prosthetic devices, especially when other treatment efforts aren’t effective.
For men with persistent urinary incontinence symptoms or erectile dysfunction (ED) issues, two of the most common prosthetic options are an inflatable type of penile implant and an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS).
Inflatable Penis Prosthesis
The most common type of penile implant that’s recommended for men with ED is an inflatable penis prosthesis. These prosthetic devices are designed to be inflated when an erection is desired and deflated afterwards. With a three-piece implant, a fluid-filled reservoir is inserted in the lower abdominal wall, a pump with an attached release value is placed in the scrotum, and inflatable cylinders are inserted directly into the penis.
An erection is achieved when the pump is used to send fluid from the reservoir to the cylinders in the penis. The process is reversed with the valve in the scrotum. Two-piece systems have both the reservoir and the pump implanted in the scrotum. Penile implants aren’t usually suggested for men with ED that’s situational and possibly reversible, or those with an underlying condition like diabetes that’s not under control.
Typically, ideal candidates for an inflatable penis prosthesis are men with:
- Permanent erectile dysfunction
- Painful erections linked to conditions like Peyronie’s disease that may cause serve penile curvature
- Otherwise healthy men experiencing serious side effects from other treatment attempts
Boston Scientific, partnered with American Medical Systems (AMS), offers three types of penile prosthesis with custom sizing and maximum performance:
- AMS 700™ Inflatable Penile Prosthesis
- AMS Ambicor™ Inflatable Penile Prosthesis
- Spectra™ Concealable Penile Prosthesis
Additionally, penile implants from Coloplast offer a dependable method of restoring sexual function. There are two basic types of penile implants that Coloplast offers:
- The Titan Touch® and Titan® OTR inflatable penile implant
- The Genesis™ flexible rod penile implant
