I’m Dr. Sébastien Beley, urological surgeon and andrologist in Paris, and I’d like to share with you the most important lessons I’ve learned in my 20 years of penile implant surgery. For many men, this procedure, although often surrounded by questions and apprehensions, represents a genuine sexual renaissance and a significant improvement in their quality of life.
In this article, I will detail the most frequent and significant feedback from my patients, while answering the recurring questions that often emerge before and after penile implant surgery. My aim is to provide you with a comprehensive and reassuring insight into this therapeutic solution, which is sometimes little-known, but which can profoundly change the intimate lives of the men concerned.
Understanding the context: who are the men concerned by penile implants?
A fundamental point I’d like to stress from the outset is that men who opt for penile implant surgery are not looking to become “supermen” or multiply their conquests. These are men who have lost the ability to achieve an erection sufficient for a satisfying sex life, often due to chronic illness, heavy treatment or natural aging.
Their motivation is simple and profound: to regain normal, pleasurable erectile function, which is essential to their well-being and their relationship as a couple. The penile implant is not a solution to increase sexual performance beyond the normal range, but a means of restoring a dignified and fulfilling sex life.
Common concerns before implant surgery
Fear of change in the couple’s relationship
One of the most frequent feedbacks I hear often comes from patients’ wives or partners. They worry that implanting an implant will bring about a radical change in their husband’s sexuality, such as hypersexuality or a sudden desire to multiply partners.
This fear is understandable, but generally unfounded. In reality, implant surgery is designed solely to restore a lost function, not to transform a man’s personality or desires. Most patients simply want to return to normal, satisfying intimacy with their partner, without excess or overdoing it.
What happens if the implant is no longer used?
Another common doubt concerns the long-term use of the penile implant. What happens if the man no longer uses it, for example as he ages? Should the implant be removed?
The answer is clear: there‘s no need to remove the implant, even if it’s not used for a long time. The implant is designed to remain invisible and discreet inside the corpora cavernosa. Whether you activate it or not, it won’t bother you and won’t pose any medical problems. It remains an implanted device, but totally silent inside your body.
Should I talk to my partner before the operation?
Many men are reluctant to tell their wives or partners about their plans for a penile implant. However, I strongly recommend doing so, especially if the relationship is stable and long-lasting.
Why should you? Because your partner probably knows about your erectile dysfunction. After the operation, she’ll quickly notice the improvement, which may raise questions or surprises. What’s more, anticipating and sharing this project will help to reduce pre-operative stress and allow you to approach your convalescence with greater serenity.
In short, giving your partner or wife advance notice is a sign of mutual trust and peace of mind, essential to getting through this stage successfully.
Impact of penile implants on fertility and sexuality
Is it possible to have children after implant surgery?
Fertility is often a major concern, especially for younger men. The answer depends on your situation:
- If you have lost your erections and ejaculations, for example following treatment for prostate cancer, the penile implant will not restore your ability to ejaculate or your fertility.
- If you have maintained your ejaculations despite erectile dysfunction due to vascular problems, diabetes or other causes, the implant will enable you to have rigid erections sufficient for penetrative sex. In this case, fertility can be preserved, and pregnancy is possible.
It’s important to understand that the penile implant is a mechanical solution designed to restore erection, but it does not alter fertility or intrinsic ejaculatory function.
What difference does an implant make to your sex life?
The penile implant restores the ability to have a firm erection on demand, enabling full sexuality with penetration. However, it does not alter desire, pleasure or orgasm. These aspects depend on numerous psychological, hormonal and relational factors.
Implantation is therefore a valuable tool for restoring physical function, but overall sexual fulfillment often requires multidimensional support.
The most common regret: “If I had known, I would have done it sooner”.
One piece of feedback that particularly touches me is what many patients tell me during follow-up consultations, several months or years after the operation. They often say to me:
“Doctor, if I’d known, I would have done this operation earlier”
This regret is not a tribute to my technique, but rather a realization of the relative simplicity of the procedure compared to the difficult years experienced before the decision to undergo surgery.
Many men have gone through periods of suffering, frustration and even estrangement from their partner as a result of untreated erectile dysfunction. This loss of penile volume, this retraction, the distance that sets in for the couple, all leave marks that are difficult to make up for.
The regret expressed often reflects the pain of having lost precious time, years of intimate life that could have been lived to the full. That’s why, if you suffer from erectile dysfunction that is resistant to drug treatment or poorly tolerated, I urge you not to delay in considering a penile implant.
Advice for men considering a penile implant
- Don’t waste time: If conventional treatments don’t work for you, don’t wait or fear. Implantation can be a lasting and satisfying solution.
- Talk to your doctor: A good dialogue with an experienced urologist is essential to understand the benefits and limitations of the implant.
- Talk to other patients: Testimonials from men who have already undergone surgery are invaluable for reassurance and a better understanding of the procedure.
- Inform your partner: Sharing this project with your partner builds trust and makes stress management easier.
- Prepare yourself calmly: The surgery is relatively straightforward, and well-supervised post-operative care will enable you to return to a satisfying intimate life as quickly as possible.
Conclusion
Penile implant surgery has been transforming the lives of many men for over twenty years. It restores lost erectile function, improves the quality of sexual and relational life, and boosts self-confidence.
The feedback I’ve shared here shows just how important it is not to let erectile dysfunction take hold without taking action. If you find yourself in this situation, I urge you to consider this option seriously, surrounding yourself with good medical advice and the support of your partner.
Finally, keep in mind that a penile implant is not an isolated end in itself, but a tool for your overall well-being. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have, and make the choice that will enable you to rediscover a fulfilling intimate life.
For more information on male sexual health, don’t hesitate to consult specialized resources and get in touch with competent professionals in the field.
