Understanding how recovery after penile implant surgery works can help the patient clarify doubts and make an informed decision based on an individualized medical evaluation. The postoperative experience varies from case to case.
When undergoing any surgery, the patient is exposed to risks and possible complications. Surgical treatment for penile curvature or erectile dysfunction is no different; however, in many cases, recovery progresses without relevant complications, although the clinical course and functional impact vary from patient to patient.
Questions and concerns regarding the postoperative period after a penile implant and penile reconstruction are common and expected. It is important for the patient to be informed about this stage in order to decide whether to move forward with treatment.
Before Surgery
For good penile implant surgery recovery, the process begins with an individualized evaluation that makes it possible to assess the specific characteristics of each case
First, the doctor performs a detailed clinical evaluation to identify the specific characteristics of each case, taking into account:
- Penile anatomy (size, girth, and curvature)
- Presence and extent of fibrosis
- Degree of penile rigidity
- Penile blood supply
After this evaluation, it will be possible to determine whether surgery is indicated for the condition of erectile dysfunction and/or Peyronie’s disease.
On the day before surgery, Dr. Paulo Egydio will review all clinical information. In this way, it will be possible to define the most appropriate surgical strategy, the best surgical approach, and the necessary specific precautions, allowing the available clinical information to be reviewed and the most appropriate surgical plan for the case to be established.
See also: Peyronie’s Surgery Cost in Portugal: Is It Worth the Investment?
Day of Surgery
First, the patient is admitted to the hospital unit.
Before entering the operating room, the patient should urinate. This helps with the placement of the inflatable prosthesis and, in the case of the malleable prosthesis, prevents the man from waking up with an urgent need to urinate.
Next, sedation is performed. The anesthesia team administers an intravenous sedative along with fluids so that the patient enters a light sleep state — an experience similar to that of an endoscopic examination.
Once the patient is properly sedated, Dr. Paulo Egydio begins pubic hair trimming, disinfection of the area with an antibiotic and antifungal solution, and local anesthesia at the base of the penis before the surgery itself begins.
After Penile Prosthesis Surgery
Immediately after the surgery is completed, the patient is taken to the recovery room. It is in this setting that the man will wake up from sedation.
Next, special attention is given to pain control after penile implant surgery, ensuring effective management of discomfort in the following hours.
Pain Control During Penile Implant Surgery Recovery
After surgery, many patients report no pain or only mild pain in the first hours, although pain perception varies significantly from person to person, since long-acting local anesthesia is administered during the procedure. Its duration may vary according to each person’s body.
In addition, pain medications appropriate to the intensity of the pain are prescribed. In this way, recovery becomes more comfortable and the postoperative period tends to be smoother.
It is important to emphasize that pain perception varies from patient to patient. Some report no pain throughout the entire recovery process, while others may require stronger analgesia to control symptoms.
Hospital Discharge / Clinic Visit
Hospital discharge usually occurs on the same day as surgery. It is not necessary to stay overnight in the hospital after the procedure.
However, on the day of the procedure, an evaluation is still carried out by Dr. Paulo Egydio. During the following five days, follow-up is maintained either in person or via teleconsultation in order to verify whether penile implant recovery is progressing as expected.
The patient will return home with a surgical dressing, which should be kept in place for the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery.
5 to 10 Days After Surgery
In the first few days after surgery, it is essential for the patient to maintain relative rest in order to reduce the risk of complications such as bruising or infection.
Even so, between the fifth and tenth day after the procedure, the patient may generally return to work, depending on the type of job performed. Professionals whose work involves more intense physical effort may require an additional recovery period.
What About the Stitches?
After the surgical dressing is removed, there is no need to worry about the stitches, since they are absorbable. This means they do not need to be removed, as they will be naturally absorbed by the body after a few days, without any harm to health.
However, the patient must keep the area clean and dry to promote healing.
What About Showering?
The day after the surgical procedure, the patient is allowed to take a full shower. He should carefully wash the incision area during the shower, without rubbing.
See also: How to Eliminate Penile Fibrosis? Learn About the Treatments
30 to 45 Days After Surgery
Throughout the entire penile implant surgery recovery period, the doctor regularly follows the patient and authorizes the return to activities on an individualized basis, according to the quality of healing.
Men who show good healing progress and no swelling are usually able to resume more intense physical activities about one month after surgery. Up to 45 days after surgery, in most cases, the urologist authorizes the return to sexual activity.
However, in certain situations, it may be advisable to wait for an additional period.
Sex After Penile Implant
Very little changes in sexual experience after placement of a penile prosthesis. The penile prosthesis is intended to provide adequate penile rigidity for sexual activity when there is a clinical indication for the procedure. The functional result depends on individual factors and postoperative recovery.
During the first sexual encounters after placement of the prosthesis, an adaptation period may be necessary. There may be additional attention to handling the device and, in some cases, some temporary difficulty reaching orgasm and/or ejaculating.
At the time of intercourse, good lubrication is especially recommended. Although it is always beneficial, at this stage it is particularly important to reduce friction on the glans during penetration until healing is fully consolidated.
The return to sexual activity should only occur after medical authorization, according to healing, adaptation to the implant, and the clinical course of each patient.
In selected patients, improvement in sexual function and quality of life may occur, depending on the underlying clinical condition, the technique used, and postoperative adaptation, especially when erectile dysfunction or penile curvature existed before surgery.
If the doctor considers it clinically indicated, he will also evaluate testosterone and may assess other associated clinical factors, including any hormonal deficiency, when clinically appropriate.
60 Days After Surgery
At this stage of penile implant surgery recovery, it is expected that the patient will receive medical discharge to return to a normal life, provided that recovery is progressing as planned.
However, penile implant recovery time and complete tissue adaptation may extend up to six months or, in some cases, up to one year. It is natural for characteristics such as penile malleability and girth to take longer to stabilize, as the tissues progressively adapt to the implant.
This is a gradual process of tissue adaptation to the implant (similar to adapting to a new shoe), and consolidation may take place over several months.
See also: Penile Prosthesis in Complex Peyronie’s Disease and Erectile Dysfunction
Does the Postoperative Period After Penile Implant Hurt?
The doctor carefully controls pain during the postoperative period of penile implant surgery. You can even hear directly from someone who has already gone through it:
However, in order to achieve this result, it is essential that the patient use pain medication according to need: if there is pain, the prescribed medication should be taken; if there is no pain, preventive medication is not necessary. The patient makes this adjustment according to medical guidance, ensuring recovery with the greatest possible comfort.
The recovery experience varies between patients, and it is important to clarify expectations, limitations, and postoperative care in a medical consultation beforehand, after years of limitation caused by erectile dysfunction or penile curvature.
If your doctor proposes the placement of a penile prosthesis, clarify all your doubts during a specialized consultation. The decision should be made after proper clinical clarification regarding indications, risks, benefits, limitations, and postoperative care.
It is essential to understand how the procedure may impact your sexual life and to be properly prepared for each stage: before, during, and after surgery.
