Typically, men with Peyronie’s turn to implants when other treatments are not working.
Sevann Helo, MD, an assistant professor of urology with the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota, describes the ideal candidate as a man who:
- Cannot get or keep an erection firm enough for sex
- Has not had success with other treatments, including injection therapies, medications, vacuum and stretching devices
- Is healthy enough for a minor surgery
- Has realistic expectations about the results and how implants operate.
“The best candidate for a penile implant isn’t the man looking for perfection,” Dr. Helo says. “It’s the man who understands what the implant can realistically deliver and is ready to work with it.”
The goal of surgery is not only to reduce curvature but also to create a functionally straight erection without pain.
You may be a poor candidate for a penile implant, however, if you have Peyronie’s and a condition or factor that affects wound healing and increases your infection risk after surgery, says Denise Asafu-Adjei, MD, MPH, the director of men’s health and male reproductive medicine at the University of Chicago. These may include:
- Being immunocompromised
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Mental health issues
- Urinary problems
“Penile changes associated with inserting penile implants can be permanent, so patients should understand these implications,” Dr. Asafu-Adjei says.
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