Will the penis be shorter after a penile implant?

Many men notice some loss of length compared with the erections they had before erectile dysfunction developed. This is expected rather than a complication, and it is one of the reasons the operation is discussed carefully beforehand rather than offered as a first step.

What symptoms after penile implant surgery need to be seen the same day?

Fever or chills, spreading redness or discharge from the wound, pain that increases after the first few days rather than settling, inability to pass urine, a tense or rapidly swelling scrotum, or any part of the device becoming visible. Implant infection can also appear months later as pain that never settles, and reporting it early decides whether the device can be saved.

Do I need to tell other doctors about the implant?

Yes. Keep the device identification card and tell any doctor, surgeon or radiographer about the implant before imaging, catheterisation or any operation. A urinary catheter in particular should not be passed by someone who does not know the device is there.

How much does penile prosthesis surgery cost?

Cost is not discussed on this site. Please email the Urology department at Bangkok Hospital Headquarters at bhquro@bdms.co.th, who handle all pricing enquiries.

Penile Prosthesis Surgery (IPP) Bangkok

Q: Will the prosthesis be visible or detectable?

Modern three-piece inflatable prostheses are entirely internal. When deflated the device is unnoticeable, and when inflated the erection looks and feels natural. Sexual partners are typically unaware of the implant unless told.

Q: How does the prosthesis work?

Squeezing the pump in the scrotum transfers fluid from the reservoir to the cylinders in the penis, producing rigidity. Pressing a release valve on the pump returns the fluid. The process takes seconds, though most men need a few weeks of practice before it feels easy.

Q: Will sexual sensation be affected?

Sensation, orgasm and ejaculation are preserved. The prosthesis restores the ability to achieve an erection; it does not alter nerve function or natural sexual response.

Q: What are the risks of penile prosthesis surgery?

The principal risks are infection, mechanical malfunction and erosion. If the device becomes infected, the whole prosthesis has to be removed and a replacement implanted at a second operation. Infection risk is higher in men with diabetes, in revision surgery, and in men who are immunosuppressed. Mechanical failure is uncommon in the first ten years.

Q: Is penile prosthesis surgery reversible?

No. Removal is technically possible but implantation permanently alters the natural erectile tissue, so natural erections do not return and earlier treatments such as tablets or injections no longer work afterwards. This is the single most important point to be sure about before agreeing to the operation.

Q: When can I start using the device?

Not until the activation visit at 4 to 6 weeks, when you are taught how to inflate and deflate it. Inflating or cycling the device before then risks damaging or displacing it. Sexual activity is restricted for the same period.

Q: How long do penile prostheses last?

Most modern three-piece inflatable prostheses have a mechanical life of 10 to 15 years or more. When a device eventually needs replacing, revision surgery is well established but carries a higher risk of infection than the original implantation.

Penile Prosthesis Surgery in Bangkok

Definitive surgical treatment for erectile dysfunction unresponsive to conservative therapy. Three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) with AMS 700 and Coloplast Titan devices — the gold standard for restoring spontaneous, on-demand erections.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone, MD — Board-Certified Urologist · Fellowship in Andrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2019), under Prof. Po-Hui Chiang · Research Scholar & Clinical Observer, Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine

احجز استشارة سرية

What Is a Penile Prosthesis?

A penile prosthesis is a surgically implanted medical device that restores the ability to achieve erection on demand. It is considered the definitive treatment for الضعف الجنسي لدى الرجال in men who have failed or cannot tolerate oral medications, injections, or other conservative therapies. Patient satisfaction in published series is among the highest of any ED treatment, consistently reported above 90% — but it is an irreversible operation, and that trade-off is the heart of the decision.

Types of Penile Prostheses

Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis (IPP) — the gold standard. Comprises paired cylinders in the penis, a fluid reservoir in the abdomen, and a pump in the scrotum. Most natural-looking and feeling option. Devices include AMS 700 (Boston Scientific) and Coloplast Titan.
Two-Piece Inflatable — reservoir combined with pump in scrotum; suitable for patients in whom abdominal reservoir placement is challenging.
Malleable (Semi-Rigid) Prosthesis — single bendable rod; simpler surgery; suitable for select patients with manual dexterity limitations or severe scarring.

Selecting the right device depends on anatomy, hand dexterity, prior surgery, and personal preference — and on which devices can be sourced at the time, which is confirmed during consultation rather than assumed. How modern implants work and how to choose the right one →

Disclosure of industry relationship. Boston Scientific, which manufactures the AMS 700 device named above, has provided travel and accommodation support for Dr. Soarawee’s prosthetic urology training workshops. No manufacturer has any role in the content of this page or in which device is recommended to any individual patient, and both manufacturers’ devices are described here on the same terms. You are entitled to know this before reading anything written about implants, and you are entitled to ask the same question of any surgeon anywhere.

Who Is a Candidate?

Penile prosthesis surgery is suitable for men who:

Have moderate to severe erectile dysfunction
Have not responded to PDE5 inhibitors, ICI, or shockwave therapy
Cannot tolerate medications due to side effects or contraindications
Have ED related to diabetes, post-radical prostatectomy, or severe مرض بيروني
Prefer a permanent, on-demand solution over ongoing medications
Are in good general health to undergo elective surgery

An implant is not a first step. Conservative treatment is tried properly first, and men with poorly controlled diabetes or an active infection anywhere in the body are stabilised before surgery is considered, because both raise the risk of the one complication that matters most.

The Procedure

Anesthesia: General or spinal anesthesia
Operative time: 60–120 minutes
Surgical approach: Penoscrotal or infrapubic incision
Hospital stay: 1–2 nights
Antibiotic prophylaxis: Strict protocol to minimize infection risk (reported at roughly 1–2% or below with modern coated devices in primary cases; higher in revision surgery and in men with diabetes)
Return to non-strenuous activity: 1 week
Sexual activity resumed: 4–6 weeks postoperatively
Device lifespan: 10–15+ years with modern prostheses

Recovery — and What Is Not Normal

Swelling, bruising and soreness of the scrotum and penis are expected for the first one to two weeks, and can look more dramatic than they are. A few things are different.

Go to hospital the same day for any of these

حمى أو قشعريرة — the sign that matters most after any implant operation
Spreading redness, increasing pain after the first few days, or discharge from the wound
Inability to pass urine
Rapidly increasing swelling, or a scrotum that becomes tense and hard
Any part of the device becoming visible, or skin breaking down over it — this is erosion and needs urgent assessment, not observation

Implant infection does not always announce itself in the first week. Pain that never settles, or that returns months later along with the device feeling fixed or tethered, needs to be reported rather than tolerated — early recognition is what determines whether a device can be salvaged.

Practical points for living with a device

Do not inflate or cycle the device until you are told to. The device is activated at a follow-up visit once healing allows, and you are taught to use it then. Attempting it early risks damage and displacement.
Keep the device identification card you are given and tell any doctor, surgeon or radiographer that you have an implant — it matters for future imaging, for any catheterisation, and before any operation.
Tell any clinician performing a procedure elsewhere in the body, since antibiotic cover is sometimes considered to protect the implant.
The device is designed to be undetectable when deflated, but it is a mechanical device: learning to use it comfortably takes a few weeks of practice, and that is normal rather than a sign anything is wrong.

Why Choose Dr. Soarawee for Penile Prosthesis Surgery

🎓 Fellowship-trained in Andrology — a clinical fellowship at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2019) under Prof. Po-Hui Chiang, alongside a second fellowship in robotic and minimally invasive urology. This is the formal qualification behind the men’s health and prosthetic work described on this page
🌍 Research Scholar & Clinical Observer at Baylor College of Medicine — the Scott Department of Urology takes its name from F. Brantley Scott, who developed the original inflatable prosthesis there, and prosthetic urology remains one of its central interests. This is an observer and research appointment rather than a fellowship, and it carries no licence to practise in the United States
🔬 Current with prosthetic best practice — including no-touch technique and modern antibiotic and infection-prevention protocols
🏥 مقر مستشفى بانكوك — fully equipped operating theaters with infection-control protocols meeting international standards
🗣️ Honest pre-operative counselling — including the parts men are not always told: that the operation cannot be undone, that a small loss of length is common, and what happens if a device ever needs replacing
🌐 International patient program — surgical packages with accommodation, post-operative follow-up, and English-speaking nursing staff
🔒 سرية تامة — sensitive surgery handled with the highest professional confidentiality

الأسئلة المتكررة

Q1: Will the prosthesis be visible or detectable?

Modern three-piece inflatable prostheses are completely internal. When deflated, the device is unnoticeable. When inflated, the erection appears and feels natural. Sexual partners are typically unaware of the implant unless informed.

Q2: How does the prosthesis work?

For three-piece inflatable devices: squeezing the pump in the scrotum transfers fluid from the abdominal reservoir to the cylinders in the penis, producing rigidity. To deflate, a release valve on the pump is pressed, returning the fluid. The process takes seconds and is easily learned.

Q3: Will sexual sensation be affected?

Sensation, orgasm, and ejaculation function are preserved. The prosthesis only restores the ability to achieve erection — it does not alter nerve function or natural sexual response. Most men report sexual experiences comparable to before ED developed.

Q4: What are the risks of penile prosthesis surgery?

The main risks are infection, mechanical malfunction, and erosion of the device through tissue. Infection is the one that matters most: it is uncommon in primary surgery with modern coated devices and no-touch technique, but if it occurs the whole device usually has to be removed, and a second operation is needed later to replace it. Risk is higher in men with diabetes, in revision surgery, and in men who have had radiotherapy. Mechanical failure is rare in the first decade. Satisfaction and long-term outcomes are excellent overall, but these possibilities should be understood before, not after, surgery.

Q5: What symptoms after surgery mean I should be seen urgently?

Fever or shaking chills, spreading redness, wound discharge, pain that increases rather than settles after the first few days, inability to pass urine, a rapidly swelling or tense scrotum, or any part of the device becoming visible through the skin. Implant infection can also appear months later as pain that never resolves — early reporting is what determines whether a device can be saved rather than removed.

Q6: When can I start using the device?

Not until you are shown how, at a follow-up visit once healing allows — usually a few weeks after surgery. Inflating or cycling it earlier risks damage and displacement. Sexual activity generally resumes at 4–6 weeks. Learning to operate the pump comfortably takes a little practice, which is normal.

Q7: Is penile prosthesis surgery reversible?

No, and this is the single most important thing to understand before proceeding. Removal is technically possible, but implanting the device permanently alters the erectile tissue (the corpora cavernosa), so natural erections and any response to tablets or injections will not return afterwards. This is why an implant is considered only once conservative treatments have genuinely been tried.

Q8: Will I lose length?

Many men notice their erection is slightly shorter than it once was. Part of this is the implant, and part is the underlying condition — long-standing erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease both shorten the penis over time, so some of the loss has usually already happened before surgery. It is discussed honestly beforehand rather than discovered afterwards, and expectations set at that conversation are a large part of why satisfaction with this operation is so high.

Q9: How long do penile prostheses last?

Modern three-piece inflatable prostheses have mechanical longevity of 10–15 years or more in most cases. When a device eventually needs replacing, the procedure is well established, though revision surgery carries a somewhat higher risk of infection than the original operation.

Q10: Do I need to tell other doctors that I have an implant?

Yes. Keep the device identification card you are given and mention the implant to any doctor, surgeon or radiographer — it matters before imaging, before any catheterisation, and before any operation, and antibiotic cover is sometimes considered for procedures elsewhere in the body to protect the device.

Q11: Does the surgeon have any relationship with the device manufacturers?

Yes, and it is set out openly above. Boston Scientific, which makes the AMS 700, has provided travel and accommodation support for Dr. Soarawee’s prosthetic urology training workshops. Manufacturer-supported training is common in prosthetic surgery worldwide, because the companies run the courses where the technique is taught. It should still be disclosed rather than assumed, and no manufacturer has any role in which device is recommended to an individual patient — that is decided by anatomy, hand dexterity, prior surgery and preference. It is a fair question to ask any implant surgeon, anywhere.

Q12: Can international patients have penile prosthesis surgery in Bangkok?

Yes. Bangkok Hospital Headquarters offers comprehensive international patient services including pre-arrival consultation, airport transfers, accommodation arrangements, and structured post-operative follow-up. Most patients can fly home 5–7 days after surgery with detailed recovery instructions. Plan the trip with enough margin for the device to be activated and for you to be taught to use it before you leave.

Q13: Can I discuss this by video consultation before travelling?

Yes, and for international patients it is the sensible first step. Bangkok Hospital operates a Telemedicine service and Dr. Soarawee sees patients through it; arrange it in advance by email to the Urology department at bhquro@bdms.co.th. A video consultation is well suited to reviewing what treatments you have already tried, discussing whether an implant is the right choice at all, and understanding what the operation involves. Examination and surgery are of course in person. Samitivej Sriracha Hospital does not offer telemedicine and is in-person only.

Q14: How much does the surgery cost?

Prices are quoted by the hospital rather than by Dr. Soarawee, and they depend heavily on which device is used. For a quotation covering the device, surgery, hospital stay and follow-up, email the Urology department at bhquro@bdms.co.th.

احجز استشارتك السرية

Definitive treatment for erectile dysfunction, for men who have tried the alternatives.
All consultations conducted with complete discretion.

مستشفى بانكوك - حجز عبر الإنترنت

سميتيفيج سريراشا — اتصل على 088-022-1445

تتوفر خدمة الرعاية الصحية عن بعد من مستشفى بانكوك للمرضى غير القادرين على الحضور شخصياً، بما في ذلك المرضى الدوليين - يرجى ترتيب ذلك مسبقاً عن طريق البريد الإلكتروني مع قسم المسالك البولية على bhquro@bdms.co.th. Samitivej Sriracha is in-person only.

Medical disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not address any individual case, and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified physician. Fever, spreading redness or exposed device after implant surgery needs same-day hospital assessment — in Thailand the emergency number is 1669. Medical advice, diagnosis and prescriptions are not provided through personal messaging channels or social media. Reading this page does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Please seek in-person medical evaluation for any personal health concern. Industry disclosure: Boston Scientific has provided travel and accommodation support for Dr. Soarawee’s prosthetic urology training workshops; no manufacturer has any role in the content of this page.