How Long Do Penile Implants Last? Risk & Life Expectancy

Almost every man avoids and dislikes any minor problem with their sex life. The sense of shame coupled with embarrassment and low self-esteem are commonly seen issues among those who suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED).
For those with ED, a penile implant could be a long-term treatment that can provide them with an erection anytime.

Penile implants are a highly effective approach to guarantee you can have an erection when you want it, especially for those who are driven to restore sexual function.

Invasive penile implant surgery has several hazards, however, including discomfort and infection after the procedure.

Nonetheless, most patients (and their spouses) often find the implant useful and satisfactory.
Furthermore, managing it doesn't need you to pop a pill whenever you want to feel better. Thus, many urologists believe it to be the sole effective treatment for ED.

 How Long Does a Penile Implant Last?

Penile implants often last 15 to 20 years. It's important to remember that a penile implant is a mechanical device, and it can break, however.
They are prone to wear and mechanical failure over time, just like any other medical device.

A penile implant's lifespan is determined by many variables. Before having the surgery, patients should ask their surgeon how long the implant should last.

A surgeon could advise having surgery to replace the implant with a more recent model if they placed it three to seven years before the mechanical failure. Nevertheless, after ten years, the mechanical survival percentage of an inflated penile implant is 78.2-85%.

The long-term survival of many types of these implants has not been thoroughly studied. Nonetheless, nine months following surgery, some types have an 80% survival rate.

However, this is uncommon, and it can be corrected through another short surgical procedure. According to available numbers, 75% of original implants would last for at least 15 years without needing to be revised or removed.

Do Penile Implants Work?

Both size and appearance of your erection following a penile implant procedure often resemble the normal condition of your penis before surgery.

The satisfaction rate with implants is above 80% among patients and their partners, according to many sources.
Your surgeon will always take an internal measurement of your penis and insert the right implant that is safe for your body.
The implant is fitted specifically for you based on your requirements. If you could experience an orgasm before receiving a penile implant, you ought to be able to do so with one as well.

The need for “biological” erections or other ED treatment alternatives is unnecessary with a penile implant. A penile implant may come with concerns such as mechanical failure, which might necessitate revision surgery.

Also, some patients may witness penile shortening or curvature of the penis following implant removal or replacement.

Related Article: Penile Glans Enlargement

Penile Implant Hardness

During the procedure, your surgeon will insert two cylinders, a reservoir, and a pump to create an inflated penile implant.

The cylinders are connected via tubes to a different reservoir located beneath the muscles of your stomach. There is fluid in the reservoir, and the whole system is also connected to a pump. It is located between your testicles, behind the loose skin of your scrotum.

You push the pump in your scrotum to inflate the implant (prosthesis). Your testicles are not under any pressure when you squeeze the pump. Your penis' cylinders are inflated to the desired amount of “hardness” by the pump, which moves fluid from the reservoir to them.

Even after an orgasm, you are free to keep your erection going for as long as you choose. By deflating your penis, you can end your erection and allow the return of the fluid to the reservoir by pressing a valve on the pump.

Although the inflatable prosthesis could only be inflated to a certain degree of hardness, there is a strong correlation between buckling force and hardness. According to Pubmed, prostheses can even be pumped a few more times after reaching the hardness limit.