Penile Implant (Inflatable Penile Prosthesis) for Treatment of ED: Top Specialist in NYC

Dr. Alex Shteynshlyuger is a board-certified urologist, who specializes in all aspects of care for sexual problems in men including ED. He has successfully treated hundreds of men with sexual problems including ED and poor libido.

Dr. Shteynshlyuger is an experienced urological surgeon in NYC who performs inflatable penile implants for men with ED.

If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation or if you need a second opinion, please contact us or call 1-(646) 663-5211.

What is a Penile Implant?

A penile implant is a prosthetic device that is used for the treatment of erection problems in men. The implant is surgically inserted inside the penis to produce a natural-like erection. This allows a man to engage in sexual intercourse ‘on-demand’ as the erection is readily available.

With an implant, there are no medications that need to be taken to get an erection. There are no additional or ongoing costs with use of the penile implant. Most insurances cover the cost of a penile implant in men with impotence.

The penile implant allows men to obtain and maintain a firm erection sufficient for intercourse for up to 1 hour or more. Men are able to ejaculate and experience orgasm as they normally do.

A penile implant is intended to be a permanent treatment solution for erectile dysfunction. It is most appropriate for men with moderate to severe erection problems for whom oral medications do not work well.

How Satisfied are Men with Penile Implant?

Studies show that among men who chose to have a penile implant, the satisfaction rate with a penile implant is around 90%. Similar satisfaction rate has been reported among men’s partners. Men who underwent penile implant surgery at New York Urology Specialists are highly satisfied with outcomes. Schedule appointment to see if a penile implant is a right solution for your erection problems.

Does Penile Implant Affect Sensation?

Insertion of a penile prosthesis does not affect sensation, orgasm or ejaculation. Most men experience the same sensations that they experienced without a penile implant. The penile implant allows men to get a hard erection. It will not make sensation better.

What does Penis with Implant Look Like?

Penis with penile prosthesis in place looks no different than without prosthesis. Some men do not let their partners know that they have a penile implant. When the implant is inflated, the penis looks and feels erect. When the implant is deflated, penis looks similar to a non-erect penis. View our image gallery.

Who is a Good Candidate for Penile Implant?

Penile Implant in NYC

Nearly every man with erectile dysfunction is a candidate for a penile prosthesis as long as their medical condition allows them to undergo a surgical procedure. We often treat men with the significant vascular disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes and kidney dysfunction on dialysis.

Inflatable penile prosthesis requires good hand function (manual dexterity) and may not be ideal for men with severe Parkinson’s disease or advanced multiple sclerosis for example.

Men who have limited fine motor hand function (arthritis, MS, Parkinson’s) are better served with a semi-rigid penile prosthesis.

How We Decide Who is a Candidate for Penile Implant

In our practice, we feel that a penile prosthesis is a treatment option for men for whom other less invasive treatment options do not work or are not acceptable. Men with mild ED problems are better served with oral medications such as Viagra or Cialis.

We first try men on oral medications for treatment of erection problems such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra. If these medications do not work and other treatment options such as intraurethral alprostadil (MUSE), penile injections and vacuum pump do not work or are not acceptable to the patient, then penile prosthesis is a good option to consider.

Any man whose medical condition allows anesthesia for surgery is a good candidate for the penile implant. Men with diabetes, high blood pressure, Peyronie’s disease, and those with an end-stage renal disease on dialysis can be successfully treated with the penile prosthesis.

Men with erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy, HIFU, cryotherapy or radiation therapy for prostate cancer can also be treated with a penile implant. Similarly, men with advanced prostate cancer who have erectile dysfunction caused by androgen deprivation therapy can be treated with a penile implant.

Penile Prosthesis Placement

Penis anatomy consists of two erectile spaces one on the right side and one on the left side of the penis (corpora cavernosa). During surgery for insertion of a penile prosthesis, the patient receives anesthesia and goes to sleep. While under anesthesia and asleep, the patient has no pain.

Antibiotics are given to minimize the risk of infection. The area is cleaned and prepared for surgery. The surgeon makes a small opening (Dr. Alex Shteynshlyuger usually makes a small opening on the scrotum) into each of the two erection chambers. The erection space is dilated to accommodate the penile prosthesis. The penile prosthesis is then inserted.

The penile prosthesis consists of two cylinders that are inserted in the penis, one on the right side and one on the left side of the penis, similar to how the penis functions normally. For an inflatable penile implant, a pump is placed in the scrotum and connected to the penile cylinders as well as to a fluid reservoir. Usually, the fluid reservoir is placed next to the urinary bladder in the pelvis. The reservoir is filled with solution and the system is tested. The tissues and the skin are closed using sutures that do not require removal.

Starting 10-14 days after surgery, men are advised to inflate and deflate prosthesis daily to maximize penile length and width.

Once the healing period is over, the use of the prosthesis is fairly simple. With a semirigid prosthesis, the man simply flips the penis up. With the inflatable penile implant, when a man or his partner desires an erection, a few squeezes of the pump that is located in the scrotum (3^rd ‘testicle’) transfers fluid from reservoir to the penis and produces a rigid erection. Pressing a button on the pump transfers the solution back to the reservoir when the erection is no longer desired.

Learn about other treatment options for ED as well as the top 5 causes for ED.

The Choice of Penile Implant: Inflatable or Semi-rigid Penile Implant

Penile implants come in 2 varieties: inflatable penile prosthesis – we use the most sophisticated 3-piece penile prosthesis that includes a reservoir and a pump. Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) provides the most natural option with the penis flaccid (non-erect) until the man decides to activate the prosthesis.

Non-inflatable, also known as a semirigid penile prosthesis is also a good option especially for men with limited hand function (limited dexterity) such as men with arthritis in the hands, men with a history of paralysis or stroke, men with multiple sclerosis or other neurological conditions which make it challenging to manipulate the pump.

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