Penile Implants

A penile implant is a prosthesis that helps men with dysfunction get an erection. In short, it involves a surgical insertion of malleable or inflatable rods in the penis. There are two kinds of penile implants: semi-rigid and inflatable.

Semi-rigid Penile Implant

A semi-rigid prosthesis is a silicon-covered flexible metal rod. Once inserted, it provides the rigidity necessary for intercourse and it can be curved slightly for concealment. It requires the simplest surgical procedure of all the prostheses. However, its main disadvantage is that concealment can be difficult in certain types of clothing.

Inflatable Penile Implant

The inflatable penis prosthesis consists of two soft silicone or BioFlex (plastic) tubes inserted in the penis, a small reservoir implanted in the abdomen, and a small pump implanted in the scrotum. To produce an erection, a man pumps sterile liquid from the reservoir into the tubes by squeezing the pump in the scrotum. The tubes act as tissue and expand to form an erection. When the erection is no longer desired, a valve allows the fluid to return to the reservoir. Inflatable prostheses are the most natural feeling of the penile implants. They allow for control of rigidity and size.