What it does, and what it does not
The implant restores rigidity. That is its single job, and it does it reliably for as long as the device lasts.
It does not change desire, sensation or the ability to reach orgasm, because those depend on nerves and blood flow outside the implant. It does not improve fertility, and if ejaculation was already affected by prostate surgery, an implant does not reverse that.
Because the cylinders occupy the space that used to fill with blood, natural erections will not return after implantation. The decision is permanent, which is exactly why it deserves an unhurried consultation.
Who it is for
Men with medically confirmed erectile dysfunction that tablets do not fix, or who cannot take them safely. Common causes are diabetes, vascular disease, nerve injury after prostate or pelvic surgery, Peyronie's disease with loss of rigidity, and priapism. Men who are tired of injections or a vacuum device and want a predictable, on-demand solution are also good candidates.
Surgery is delayed if you have an active urinary or other infection, or poorly controlled diabetes, because both raise infection risk. The doctor will help you get ready rather than turn you away.
Implant types
Three-piece inflatable
Most often chosenTwo cylinders in the penis, a pump the size of a small grape in the scrotum, and a fluid reservoir behind the abdominal wall. Squeezing the pump a few times moves fluid into the cylinders for a full erection. Pressing the release button returns the penis to a soft, natural flaccid state. Some cylinders expand mainly in girth, others in both length and girth.
Most natural erection and the softest flaccid state. Fullest girth.
Mechanical parts that can need revision after many years. Needs some hand dexterity.
Malleable (semi-rigid)
SimplestTwo bendable rods inside the penis. It is always firm, and you bend it down for daily life and up for intercourse. There is no pump and nothing to learn.
No mechanical parts, lowest malfunction risk, easiest to use, lowest cost.
The penis stays semi-rigid at all times, which can be more noticeable under clothing and less natural at rest.
Two-piece inflatable
Rarely usedCylinders and a scrotal pump without a separate reservoir. Simpler to implant than a three-piece device, but it becomes neither as firm nor as soft.
Useful when a reservoir cannot be placed safely, for example after extensive abdominal surgery.
Compromise on both rigidity and softness.
Implants we use
Dr. Başağa implants the leading devices from Boston Scientific (AMS 700), Coloplast (Titan) and Rigicon (Infla10 and Rigi10). The brand and model are named in your written quote, and every device carries the manufacturer's warranty.
Before surgery
- A detailed medical and sexual history, including every ED treatment you have tried.
- Review of diabetes control, heart health, smoking and any blood thinners.
- Physical examination for anatomy, scarring and curvature.
- Blood tests, urine test and an anaesthesia review the day before surgery.
- Penile Doppler ultrasound where the cause of ED is unclear.
- An honest conversation about how the implant feels, how you use it, what the penis will look like inflated and deflated, and how long recovery takes.
The operation
The operation is performed in a fully equipped private hospital under general or spinal anaesthesia and takes about one hour. Dr. Başağa uses a minimally invasive technique through a single small incision, most often the infrapubic approach just above the base of the penis or the penoscrotal approach where the penis meets the scrotum.
The erection chambers are prepared and measured, the cylinders are inserted and sized to your anatomy, and for an inflatable device the pump and reservoir are positioned. The whole system is tested before the incision is closed. A no-touch technique and antibiotic-coated implants keep the infection rate around 1 to 2 percent.
Recovery, week by week
- Day 1
- Overnight in hospital. Catheter removed the next morning. Walking the same day.
- Days 2 to 5
- Rest at your hotel. Bruising and swelling of the penis and scrotum are normal. Pain relief and antibiotics as prescribed. Second check with the doctor, then you are cleared to fly.
- Weeks 1 to 2
- Desk work from about one week. Discomfort improves steadily. No heavy lifting or strenuous exercise.
- Weeks 4 to 6
- The implant is activated and you learn to use it, by video call from home. Intercourse from six weeks once the doctor confirms healing.
- One year
- Video follow-ups at three, six and twelve months, included in the price.
Risks, stated plainly
- Infection is the most serious complication and may require the implant to be removed and later replaced. With antibiotic-coated devices and careful technique the rate is around 1 to 2 percent, higher in men with poorly controlled diabetes or spinal cord injury.
- Bleeding or a haematoma, persistent pain, numbness or a change in sensation are uncommon and usually temporary.
- Mechanical failure in an inflatable device, or erosion of a cylinder, can occur years later and needs revision surgery. Implants are durable, but no device lasts forever.
- Some men notice shortening compared with erections from years ago, especially after long-standing ED or Peyronie's disease. Sizing aims for the best safe fit.
- The implant creates firmness. It does not treat relationship problems, anxiety or low desire, and the doctor will say so if those need attention first.
Why patients travel to Dr. Başağa
Dr. Yaşar Başağa, MD, PhD, FEBU
- He performs more than 200 penile prosthesis operations a year, one of the highest volumes in Türkiye, and trains other surgeons in minimally invasive implant techniques.
- He was the first Turkish urologist to receive a Center of Excellence certificate for prosthetic urology, and holds the Fellow of the European Board of Urology diploma.
- Assessment, surgery and every follow-up are done by the same surgeon, not handed to a team you have never met.
- Arabic-speaking coordinators are with you at every step, and your quote is a fixed all-inclusive figure with no additions afterwards.
Common questions
What is a penile prosthesis?
A penile prosthesis is a medical implant placed inside the two erection chambers of the penis during a short operation. It lets you produce a firm erection whenever you want, for as long as you want, and then return to a natural flaccid state. Nothing is visible from the outside, and sensation, orgasm and ejaculation are unchanged.
Who is it for?
Men with erectile dysfunction that has not responded to tablets, injections or other treatments, or who no longer want to depend on them. Common causes include diabetes, prostate surgery, vascular disease, Peyronie’s disease and priapism. Age itself is not a barrier. The doctor confirms suitability at the consultation after reviewing your medical history and, where needed, a penile Doppler ultrasound.
What is the difference between a three-piece inflatable and a malleable implant?
A three-piece inflatable prosthesis has two cylinders in the penis, a small pump in the scrotum and a fluid reservoir in the lower abdomen. Squeezing the pump gives a full, natural erection, and a release button returns the penis to flaccid. It is the closest to a natural erection and the most commonly chosen.
A malleable (semi-rigid) prosthesis is a pair of bendable rods. The penis is always firm but can be bent down for daily life and up for intercourse. It has no mechanical parts, is simpler to use, and costs less. The doctor discusses which suits your anatomy, health and preference.
How successful is the operation?
Penile prosthesis has the highest satisfaction rate of any treatment for erectile dysfunction. In published series, more than 90 percent of patients and partners report being satisfied, and modern implants typically work for 15 to 20 years or more before any revision is needed.
What are the risks?
As with any surgery, there is a small risk of infection, bleeding or mechanical failure. With antibiotic-coated implants, a no-touch surgical technique and an experienced surgeon, the infection rate is around 1 to 2 percent. The doctor explains all risks in detail before you decide, and you can ask him anything at the consultation.
Will the implant change the size of my penis?
The implant is sized to fit your own anatomy, so erect length is usually similar to the erections you had before erectile dysfunction began. Men who have had long-standing ED or prostate surgery may notice some shortening, which the doctor will discuss honestly at the consultation. Girth with an inflatable implant is often fuller than before.
How long is recovery?
Most men walk the same day and leave hospital the next morning. Desk work is possible after about one week. The implant is activated at four to six weeks, and sexual activity can begin once the doctor confirms healing, usually at six weeks.