Implants for Penis Enlargement

Penile Implant Revision Surgery by Dr Mark P. Solomon

This blog will discuss the implant that is being used for penis enlargement.  These devices are not the same as those used to treat erectile dysfunction.  Over the years, I’ve seen many methods that other surgeons have utilized to increase the size of the penis. One of these is placing a block of silicone under the skin of the penis.  The silicone is marketed under a brand name that I can’t mention. However, if you’re interested, there’s a link on my website to an article with additional details pertaining to the device.

This blog discusses the device and the problems that I’ve seen over more than 10 years since I first started treating men with problems resulting from the device.

The implant is marketed as a way to make your penis larger.  It does that.  But it’s more than one implant; It also includes a piece of plastic mesh. The main part of the device is a block of silicone, much like the implants that I use for calf augmentation, pectoral augmentation or chin augmentation.  The devices that I use are for those procedures are placed in a pocket that is created by the surgeon and the implant fits snugly in the pocket.

By comparison, this penis implant is attached to the mesh material with stitches and is then attached to the penis behind the head under the skin with more stitches. This mesh is a material known as marlex.  Marlex is the brand name for a material that is made of polypropylene.  This mesh is most commonly used for fixing hernias.  It becomes surrounded by scar tissue wherever it is placed in the body, including the penis, making it something like Velcro sticking to the inside of the penis.

While I have no idea how many men are happy with their implants , I see many unhappy ones.  The variety of problems I see covers a wide array.  I’ve seen the device erode through the skin, fracture into pieces, create a chronic reaction called a seroma, and create scar tissue that distorts the penis and causes loss of sensation in the head by trapping the nerve to the glans.  I don’t know how often these things occur, but I do know that the men I have seen are devastated and regret ever having had the surgery.  Infection following this procedure is also problematic.  While infection is a known risk of any surgery, the infection rate for this device is 3 to 4 times that of say, breast implants.

Treatment of men with this implant requires revision surgery.

Each procedure is individualized, but there are a few general principles involved.  When I remove these implants, I always remove the mesh.  Some surgeons don’t remove the mesh, either because it is technically difficult or too risky.  In my experience, it’s easier to take out the mesh at the time of implant removal.  I know this because I have many patients who needed mesh removed some time after the device was removed.  In these men, the mesh causes a hard, painful nodule.

Other issues that need to be addressed are scar tissue around the implant, release of the nerve to the head of the penis and sometimes, release of the ligaments of the penis to try to restore penile length.

It’s also important for men to realize that after an implant is placed, the shape of their penis will not be the same as it was before surgery, unless the implant is removed shortly after its placed.

Again, I’m not aware of how often men are pleased with these devices, but I regularly treat men who suffer complications of implant surgery.

If you’d like more information on penis surgery, please contact my office at 310-299-3553 or email at [email protected].