In this article from our “You Ask, We Answer” series, we have gathered the questions people search for most about penile implants in Turkey, selected from real search data, and answered them from our experience accompanying patients, drawing on medical sources where needed. The list opens with the five most important questions, and most answers are followed by a link to our detailed article on the topic. To see the doctors we work with, visit our erectile dysfunction and male disorders page.
The Five Most Important Questions About Penile Implants in Turkey
1. How much does a penile implant cost in Turkey?
Penile implant prices in Turkey through International Clinics range from $3,500 to $11,000, depending on the type and model of the implant and the patient’s condition (Source: International Clinics — Turkey).
| Implant type | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Malleable (semi-rigid) implant | 3,500–6,500 |
| Inflatable implant: Coloplast Titan and AMS 700 CX/CXR | 6,000–10,000 |
| Inflatable implant: AMS 700 LGX | 7,500–10,500 |
| Penile implants in general | 3,500–11,000 |
Prices in the table (Source: International Clinics — Turkey). The price quote you receive after your case is assessed sets out in detail what the price includes.
For more details, see our article: Penile implant in Turkey.
2. What is a penile implant?
A penile implant, also called a penile prosthesis, is a medical device surgically placed inside the penis to give a man an erection firm enough for intercourse. It is used to treat erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease when medication and a vacuum device have not helped (Source: Cleveland Clinic). There are two main types: the inflatable (hydraulic) implant, with two or three pieces, and the semi-rigid implant, known as the malleable implant (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines).
For more details, see our article: Penile implants: types, success factors and drawbacks.
3. What is the success rate of penile implant surgery?
The success rate is high: patient satisfaction with the implant ranges from 92% to 100%, and partner satisfaction from 91% to 95% — among the highest satisfaction rates of any erectile dysfunction treatment when appropriate counselling comes first (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines). The implant is still working in 87.2% of patients after five years and in 76.8% after ten years (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines).
4. What factors determine the success of penile implant surgery?
Success depends on factors shared by the surgeon and the patient, the most important being:
- Choosing the right patient: a man for whom other treatments have not worked, or who prefers the implant after being fully informed of its benefits and risks (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines).
- The surgeon’s experience: a higher number of operations performed is linked to a lower risk of infection (Source: review in the Asian Journal of Andrology).
- Infection prevention: preventive antibiotics and coated implants, and no surgery while there is an infection in the body, skin or urinary tract (Source: American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines).
- Blood sugar control: HbA1c should preferably be below 8% to 9% before surgery (Source: review in the Asian Journal of Andrology).
- Realistic expectations: the patient is told before the operation what to expect afterwards (Source: American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines).
5. What are the disadvantages of a penile implant?
A penile implant is surgery with its own risks, the most important being infection, with a rate of about 2% to 3% for first-time implants in low-risk patients, which may fall to 1% or 2% with antibiotic-coated implants (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines).
| Disadvantage or risk | What you should know |
|---|---|
| Infection | The most important complication; it may require removal of the implant |
| Mechanical failure | The device may fail after some years and be replaced through revision surgery |
| Erosion | Part of the implant may push through the surrounding tissue in 1% to 6% of cases |
| Apparent shorter erection | The implant does not add length, and the erection may look slightly shorter |
| Harder to conceal | Applies to the malleable implant, as it keeps the penis semi-erect at all times |
The data in the table are based on the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines and Cleveland Clinic.
Types and How the Operation Is Done
6. What is the difference between a malleable and an inflatable penile implant?
The malleable implant consists of two silicone rods that the man bends up into the erect position by hand and then lowers again; it is simpler to implant and use, but harder to conceal. The inflatable implant fills with saline when a pump in the scrotum is pressed, giving an erection on demand and a flaccid state afterwards (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines).
| Comparison | Malleable implant | Three-piece inflatable implant |
|---|---|---|
| Components | Two silicone rods | Two cylinders, a pump and a reservoir |
| How it is used | Raising and lowering the penis by hand | Pressing the pump, then the release valve |
| Appearance outside intercourse | Permanently semi-erect | Natural, unnoticeable flaccid state |
| Price in Turkey | $3,500–6,500 | $6,000–10,500 depending on the model |
Prices in the table (Source: International Clinics — Turkey).
For more details, see our article: The 3-piece penile implant.
7. What is the difference between the Coloplast Titan and AMS 700 implants?
Both are three-piece inflatable implants, and the price varies by model: Coloplast Titan and AMS 700 CX/CXR cost between $6,000 and $10,000, and AMS 700 LGX between $7,500 and $10,500 (Source: International Clinics — Turkey). There are no studies that directly compare the manufacturers’ models (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines), so the surgeon chooses the model according to the patient’s measurements and condition.
For more details, see our article: Hydraulic penile implant in Turkey.
8. What is the best type of penile implant?
No single type is best for every man. Many prefer the three-piece inflatable implant because it gives the most natural-feeling erection, while the two-piece inflatable implant suits patients at risk of reservoir complications, such as those who have had previous abdominal surgery (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines). The malleable implant suits men who find it hard to operate the pump with their hands. The surgeon and patient agree on the type after the examination.
9. How does an inflatable penile implant work?
When the man presses the pump implanted in the scrotum, saline moves from the reservoir into the two cylinders and the penis becomes erect; when he presses the release valve, the saline returns to the reservoir and the penis becomes flaccid (Source: Cleveland Clinic). The patient learns how to do this at the follow-up visit and does not need any medication before sex.
For more details, see our article: How penile implants work.
10. How is penile implant surgery performed?
The operation is usually performed under general anaesthetic, so the patient feels no pain during it (Source: Cleveland Clinic). The surgeon makes a small incision either where the penis meets the scrotum or above the pubic bone, with no clear difference between the two approaches (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines), then places the two cylinders inside the corpora cavernosa and, for a three-piece implant, puts the pump in the scrotum and the reservoir beneath the lower abdominal muscles (Source: Cleveland Clinic).
11. How long does the operation take, and how long will I stay in hospital?
The operation takes one to two hours, and most patients go home a few hours afterwards, with someone to help them on the first day or two (Source: Cleveland Clinic). The surgeon may keep some patients in hospital overnight depending on their condition, and also decides how long they should stay in Turkey before travelling.
12. Who is a candidate for a penile implant?
The European guidelines recommend an implant when other treatments have failed, or when the patient prefers it after being informed of its benefits and risks (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines), and the American guidelines recommend telling every man with erectile dysfunction that an implant is one of his treatment options (Source: American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines). Surgery is not performed while there is an infection in the body, skin or urinary tract (Source: American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines).
For more details, see our article: Erectile dysfunction: causes and diagnosis.
13. What are the alternatives to a penile implant?
Before an implant, the usual options are erection pills from the PDE5 inhibitor group, such as sildenafil and tadalafil, and a vacuum device, together with lifestyle changes such as losing weight and stopping smoking (Source: UK National Health Service (NHS)). Other alternatives include intracavernosal injections, intraurethral alprostadil and, in some mild cases, low-intensity shockwave therapy (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines).
For more details, see our article: Erectile dysfunction treatment: from medication to surgery.
14. Is a penile implant suitable for men with diabetes?
Yes, it can be fitted in a man with diabetes after the doctor has assessed his condition, but diabetes is a risk factor for infection after an implant (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines). That is why blood sugar control is required before surgery, with HbA1c preferably below 8% to 9% (Source: review in the Asian Journal of Andrology).
15. Can a penile implant be fitted after prostate removal?
Yes. An implant is one of the treatment options for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy when pills are not enough, and it comes as a second- or third-line treatment (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines).
16. Does a penile implant treat penile curvature?
An implant is used for men with Peyronie’s disease (penile curvature) who have erectile dysfunction and have not been helped by conservative treatments (Source: Cleveland Clinic); curvature without erectile dysfunction has its own corrective operations, decided by the doctor.
Choosing the Doctor and Hospital
17. Who is the best doctor for a penile implant in Turkey?
No single doctor is the best for every patient; the right one for you is the surgeon who has mastered cases similar to yours. When comparing, look at:
- Specialty: a urologist specialising in andrology (male reproductive and sexual health).
- Certification and licence: holding a specialist certificate and practising with a valid licence.
- Number of operations: how many implants they perform each year, as a higher number is linked to a lower risk of infection (Source: review in the Asian Journal of Andrology).
- Hospital: the operation should be performed in an accredited hospital equipped for urological surgery.
To compare the doctors we work with in this field, visit our erectile dysfunction and male disorders page.
18. What is the best hospital for penile implant surgery?
The right hospital is the one where your surgeon works: licensed and accredited, with a sterile operating room, a nursing team experienced in urological surgery, and a department that receives and accompanies international patients. In most cases, the hospital is decided after choosing the doctor.
After the Operation and Life With an Implant
19. Is penile implant surgery painful?
There is no pain during the operation, as it is performed under general anaesthetic. Afterwards, the patient has pain and swelling that usually ease after about a week, and some tenderness to the touch may remain for up to six weeks (Source: Cleveland Clinic); this is relieved with painkillers prescribed by the doctor.
20. How long is the recovery after a penile implant?
The patient returns to desk work after at least a week, and to strenuous physical work after two to four weeks (Source: Cleveland Clinic).
| Stage | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Day of surgery | Most patients go home after a few hours |
| About one week | Pain and swelling ease; return to desk work |
| Two to four weeks | Return to strenuous physical work |
| At least four weeks | Sexual intercourse, with the surgeon’s approval |
| Up to six weeks | Remaining tenderness to the touch goes away |
The stages in the table are based on data from Cleveland Clinic.
21. When can I have sex after a penile implant?
After at least four weeks, and only with the surgeon’s approval (Source: Cleveland Clinic). The patient practises operating the implant at the follow-up visit before using it, and the surgeon may ask him to inflate and deflate an inflatable implant regularly during the first few weeks.
22. Does a penile implant affect sensation and ejaculation?
No. The implant does not change the sensation of the penile skin, nor does it affect the ability to reach orgasm or ejaculate (Source: Cleveland Clinic).
23. Does a penile implant affect fertility?
The implant is placed inside the corpora cavernosa of the penis; it does not touch the testicles and does not affect ejaculation (Source: Cleveland Clinic), so in itself it does not prevent having children. If the man has another cause of delayed fertility, the doctor assesses it separately before the operation.
24. Is a penile implant visible, or can anyone notice it?
An inflatable implant is not noticeable: no one can tell it is there after recovery, and the partner feels no difference during intercourse. A malleable implant, however, keeps the penis permanently semi-erect, so it can sometimes be hard to conceal under clothing (Source: Cleveland Clinic).
25. Does a penile implant increase penis length?
No. The implant does not make the penis larger than it was before the operation, and the erection may look slightly shorter because the head of the penis does not fill with blood as it does in a natural erection (Source: Cleveland Clinic). Men seeking an increase in size have other operations for that, which they can discuss with the doctor.
For more details, see our article: Penis enlargement in Turkey.
26. How long does a penile implant last?
The average lifespan of an implant is about 20 years, and if it fails it can be replaced through revision surgery (Source: Cleveland Clinic). Mechanical failure of three-piece implants is below 5% in the first five years (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines).
27. When should I see the doctor urgently after the operation?
See your surgeon immediately if you develop a fever, severe pain that gets worse instead of better, or redness and swelling of the wound with discharge, as these may be signs of infection, the most important complication of a penile implant (Source: European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines). Other complications the doctor monitors include bleeding, displacement of the pump or reservoir, and mechanical failure (Source: Cleveland Clinic).
Other Questions and Patient Experiences
28. Do you have a video explaining penile implant surgery?
Yes. This video from the International Clinics YouTube channel explains penile implant surgery; it has Arabic subtitles.
29. Do you have a video of someone who had penile implant surgery?
Many men who have had this operation prefer to keep their privacy, and we respect that, so we do not publish videos of them. If you would like to hear about previous patients’ experiences, ask the International Clinics team, and we will privately share what those patients allow us to share.
Have a question you didn’t find answered here? Send your medical reports and the treatments you have tried to the International Clinics team, and we will present your case in complete confidence to a urologist from our contracted doctors, who will suggest the right type of implant and set the price.
Medical review and disclaimer:
This article was reviewed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zülfü Sertkaya. It is general health information, not a substitute for medical advice, and results vary between individuals.
