Penile Implant Surgery in Turkey: A Guide for UK, Irish and US Patients

Implants are usually recommended when erectile dysfunction is advanced and other treatments have failed or caused side effects. Common reasons include diabetes, damage to blood vessels (including from long-term smoking, drinking or drug use), prostate cancer surgery, and Peyronie's disease.

Because the operation replaces the erectile tissue inside the penis, it is permanent: natural erections are no longer possible afterwards. That is why it is normally a later step, not a first one.

• Three-piece inflatable implant: two cylinders in the penis, a small pump in the scrotum and a fluid reservoir in the lower abdomen. Squeezing the pump produces a firm, natural-looking erection; releasing it returns the penis to a soft state. This is the most popular choice.
• Malleable (semi-rigid) implant: two bendable rods that keep the penis firm, which you position up for sex and down the rest of the time. Simpler, with fewer mechanical parts, and suitable for men who would find a pump difficult to use.

Sensation, orgasm and ejaculation are not affected by the implant. Your surgeon will help you choose the right type based on your anatomy, health and preference.

The operation usually takes around an hour under general or spinal anaesthesia, and most men stay one night in hospital. You will be checked again before you fly home.

Most patients plan to stay in Istanbul for about a week, but your surgeon will confirm the right length of stay for you. Your first consultation and test results can be reviewed remotely before you travel, so your time in Istanbul is spent on the treatment itself.

• Some swelling and discomfort are normal for the first one to two weeks.
• Most men return to desk work within about a week.
• Sex is usually possible after around four to six weeks, once you have been shown how to use the implant.
• Follow-up can be done by video call, and we stay in contact throughout your recovery.

In published studies, satisfaction rates for penile implants are among the highest of any erectile dysfunction treatment, for both patients and their partners. Modern devices are durable and most keep working for many years.

As with any surgery there are risks, mainly infection and mechanical problems with the device. Experience matters here, so ask any clinic how many implant procedures their surgeon performs.

Private penile implant surgery in the UK, Ireland, Western Europe and the US is expensive, and public waiting lists can be long. In Turkey the same internationally used implant brands are available at a significantly lower total cost, because hospital, staff and operating costs are lower, not because of cheaper devices.

When comparing clinics, look beyond the headline price. Ask exactly what is included: the implant brand and model, surgeon's fees, hospital stay, tests, medication, transfers and follow-up care.

• Who will perform my operation, and how many implants do they do each year?
• Which implant brand and model will be used?
• How long should I stay in Istanbul, and when can I fly?
• How will follow-up work after I get home?
• What happens if there is a complication?

Read more about penile prosthesis surgery at Vellorian Clinic, or contact us for a free initial consultation.