Penile Implants
A penile implant should be considered is a last resort for men with erectile impairment. It may occur every time, or frequently enough that the uncertainty of a good performance becomes an anxiety provoking experience with down moderation of what needs to be done.
Sure, a penile implant is a mechanical device and while inflatables are the most commonly chosen by patients, still it is a mechanical device and as such, is not guaranteed to last forever. The two major manufacturers, AMS and Mentor, both have warrantees that cover the implant for life. They last on average 6 to 8 years, and just like a set of Michelin tires, could last 40,000 miles or you could have an unexpected problem a lot sooner.
That is why the implants alone today are so costly, about $8,000 plus dollars. For a 45 to 50 year old man, conceivably 4 replacements may be needed in a lifetime. The warrantees do not provide for surgical services, just the implant. However, most surgeons would charge a nominal fee for an early redo. Hospitals are usually not so inclined for self-pays. In that we own the Reed Centre facility outright, we are perhaps the most affordable.
The satisfaction rate of patients and their partners approaches 90% and in the event of a breakdown, most rush to be up and running again. Some of the closest and most social relationships I have had with patients has centered around their satisfaction with the implant. As one wife stated, if I knew sex was going to be so much fun, I wouldn’t have said “no” so often.
Harold M. Reed, M.D. 305-865-2000