Penile implant surgery can be very effective, provided that precautions are taken to avoid infection. Prosthesis surgery is contraindicated if systemic cutaneous or urinary infection is present. Antibiotics should be provided pre-operatively, and the surgical site should be shaved immediately prior to surgery. We use both Mentor and AMS penile implants with specialized antibiotic coats. Patients are hospitalized overnight for closed suction drainage, and sent home on seven days of post-operative antibiotics. Using these and other precautions, our implant infection rate is comparable to national averages (2-4%, 1-2% for antibiotic coated implants). Vascular surgery is recommended only in healthy individuals with recently acquired erectile dysfunction due to a focal arterial narrowing (usually related to trauma) and in the absence of generalized vascular disease. Sign up for Email Updates Click here Support Urology
Even when the nerves are spared, research has shown that the healing process takes up to 2 years for most men. We don’t know all the reasons some men regain full erections and others do not. We do know that men are more likely to recover erections when nerves on both the left and right sides of the prostate are spared.

If medications do not work, we would discuss either penis injections or the vacuum pump. There is also something called MUSE, which is basically a small medication pellet that gets inserted inside the urethra (the tube that transports urine) and releases medication directly into the penis. Some men prefer it, as it may be a bit more effective than oral medications, but some will complain of pain and burning with insertion.
The presence of normal skin sensation adequate to produce an erection is measured with this device. Click to view larger image. Medically reviewed by Michael Wolff, MD; American Board of Urology