What are some pros and cons of penile implants?

Penile implant surgery is a long-lasting treatment for erection dysfunction (ED) in that it allows a man to have an erection essentially at any time.

Some benefits of penile implant surgery are:

• surgery takes only about an hour to perform
• can be done as an outpatient procedure, in most cases
• it has been done for over 40 years on hundreds of thousands of men
• high rates of patient satisfaction
• does not affect a man’s sensation, orgasm, ejaculation or urination

Some drawbacks of penile implant surgery are:

• may not be covered by insurance

If your surgery is not covered by insurance, one easy way to look for an affordable service is to search online for flat-fee “penile implant surgery packages.” 

Broadly speaking, there are two types of penile implants -- inflatable implants and semi-rigid (malleable) rods. Inflatable implants may have a two- or three-piece design.

Advantages of a three-piece inflatable penile implant include the following:

• Acts and feels more like a natural erection than semirigid models.

Disadvantages of a three-piece inflatable penile implant include the following:

• Requires more manual dexterity than other implants.
• Possibility of leakage or malfunction.
• Most expensive type of implant.
• Requires the most extensive surgery of all implants.

Advantages of a two-piece inflatable penile implant include the following:

• Penis looks more natural in erect and flaccid states than with the semirigid implant.
• Easier to operate than the three-piece implant.
• No abdominal incision.

Disadvantages of a two-piece inflatable penile implant include the following:

• Possibility of leakage or malfunction.

Advantages of a semirigid (malleable) penile implant include the following:

• Easy to use, especially for those with limited dexterity.
• Requires the least extensive surgery.
• Fewest parts, so less chance of malfunction.
• Least expensive type of implant.

Disadvantages of a semirigid (malleable) penile implant include the following:

• Constantly firm.
• Somewhat harder to conceal than inflatable implants, but new designs make this less of a concern than in the past.