Penile implant surgery in Istanbul
One trip, one surgical team and one clear plan. This page explains who performs your operation, how it is done, where it takes place and what your days in Istanbul will look like.
Why Istanbul
Many men travel to Istanbul for penile implant surgery because it lets them see an experienced implant surgeon without a long waiting list, and because the whole stay can be arranged in a single package with one written quote.
Istanbul is a direct flight from most of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The city has a long tradition of private urology care, and our team is used to looking after patients who travel from abroad.
Most patients combine a short hospital stay with a few quiet days of recovery in the city.
Your surgeon
Prof. Kadıoğlu is a urologist whose work has focused on andrology: erectile dysfunction, Peyronie's disease and penile implant surgery. He graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, became a full professor in 2000 and has led the Andrology Division at Istanbul University. Part of his surgical training took place in the United States.
He meets you before surgery, performs the operation himself with his team, and sees you again before you fly home. The implant type and size are decided with you after he has examined you.
The implant
Most men choose a three-piece inflatable implant, which gives a natural look both flaccid and erect. A malleable implant is a simpler alternative. We use devices from established manufacturers and recommend one only after your examination.
Three-piece inflatable implant with a hydrophilic coating that absorbs an antibiotic solution chosen by the surgeon. Included in our Basic and Magic Touch packages.
Read more Boston ScientificThree-piece inflatable family (CX, LGX, CXR). Available with InhibiZone, an antibiotic impregnation of minocycline and rifampin.
Read more TypesHow the two families differ in feel, discretion, ease of use and surgery, so you can discuss them with your surgeon.
Read moreTypes of prosthesis
A penile prosthesis, also called a penile implant, is a medical device placed entirely inside the body. It does not rely on blood flow, nerves or medication, which is why it can help men in whom tablets, injections or vacuum devices no longer work or cannot be used. It is not visible from the outside.
Two cylinders sit in the erection chambers, a pump in the scrotum and a reservoir of sterile saline behind the abdominal wall. Squeezing the pump fills the cylinders; pressing a release valve returns the fluid. This gives the most natural look and feel, and it is the type most men choose. Examples include the Coloplast Titan, the AMS 700 and the Rigicon Infla10.
The pump and reservoir are combined in one unit in the scrotum, so nothing is placed in the abdomen. This can be useful after certain abdominal or pelvic operations. The ZSI 475 is one example.
Two bendable rods are placed in the penis. There is no pump: you bend the penis up for intercourse and down afterwards. The operation is shorter and there are fewer mechanical parts, but the penis always stays firm, so it is less discreet.
Surgical technique
The operation is usually done through one small incision in the upper scrotum or just above the base of the penis. The surgeon gently widens each erection chamber, measures its length, and places cylinders of the right size. The pump sits in the scrotum and, for a three-piece device, a small reservoir is placed behind the abdominal wall.
Before closing, the device is tested to check that it inflates evenly and gives a straight erection. It is then left partly inflated to help the tissues heal around it.
Throughout the operation the team follows the non-touch technique, which keeps the implant away from the skin at every step. It is combined with intravenous antibiotics, careful skin preparation and an antibiotic-coated or antibiotic-impregnated device.
Step by step
The operation usually takes around 45–60 minutes under general or spinal anaesthesia. Intravenous antibiotics are given beforehand and a urinary catheter is placed while you are asleep.
One small incision is made, most often in the upper scrotum (penoscrotal approach) or just above the base of the penis (infrapubic approach).
Each erection chamber is gently widened and measured so that cylinders of the correct length can be chosen.
The cylinders go into the penis, the pump into the scrotum and, for a three-piece implant, the reservoir behind the abdominal wall.
The device is inflated and deflated to check that it works and gives a straight erection. The wound is closed with dissolving stitches and a small drain may be left for a day or two.
Before surgery
Your surgeon takes a full medical and sexual history, examines you and reviews your previous treatments. Blood and urine tests check for infection, blood sugar control and fitness for anaesthesia. The length of the penis and any curvature are assessed, because they influence the choice and size of the device.
This is also the moment to talk openly about expectations. Many men find it helpful to bring their partner to the consultation.
Surgery may need to be postponed or reconsidered if you have an active infection, a urinary tract infection, poorly controlled diabetes or a skin condition in the genital area. Your surgeon also reviews your medicines, including blood thinners, before recommending an operation.
The hospital
Surgery takes place in an accredited private hospital in Istanbul with a dedicated operating theatre team and an overnight ward, confirmed in your written treatment plan. You usually stay up to two nights. A urinary catheter is normally removed the next morning and a small drain within two or three days.
Once the drain is out and you are walking comfortably, you move back to your hotel to rest. Our coordinator arranges every transfer between the airport, hotel, clinic and hospital.
Day by day
This is the usual plan. Your own schedule is confirmed after your online assessment and may change if your surgeon feels you need more time.
Send your medical history, current medicines and any reports by WhatsApp or during a video consultation. The surgeon reviews your case and tells you whether an implant is likely to be suitable.
You are met at the airport and taken to your hotel. At the clinic you have a urological examination, blood and urine tests and a detailed conversation about the implant type, size and risks.
You are admitted in the morning without eating. The operation takes around 45–60 minutes under general or spinal anaesthesia, then you rest on the ward with pain relief and antibiotics.
The catheter usually comes out the morning after surgery and the drain within two or three days. You are then discharged to your hotel to rest.
Your surgeon checks the wound and the implant, explains wound care and when you will learn to use the pump, and confirms you are fit to fly.
You stay in touch with the team by WhatsApp and video call. Pump training and the go-ahead for intercourse, usually at around 4–6 weeks, are arranged with you.
Is it right for me?
An implant is considered when erectile dysfunction has not responded well enough to tablets, injections or a vacuum device, or when these are unsuitable. Common backgrounds include:
Realistic expectations
Modern implants are designed to last many years, but they are mechanical devices and some will eventually need replacement. Results vary from person to person, and your surgeon will talk you through what is realistic in your situation.
Risks you should know about. Penile implant surgery carries the risks of any operation, including infection, bleeding or a collection of blood (haematoma), and reactions to anaesthesia. Specific to implants are mechanical failure over time, erosion of a component through the skin or urethra, movement of the pump or reservoir, and changes in how the penis looks or feels. An implant is a permanent change: if it has to be removed, tablets and injections are unlikely to work afterwards. The main risk is infection: it is uncommon, but an infected implant usually has to be removed. Diabetes, smoking, previous radiotherapy and revision surgery all increase your risk. If a problem arises, revision surgery may be needed.
Packages
You receive a personalised quote after your free consultation.
Personalised quote after your free consultation
Personalised quote after your free consultation
Questions
If your question is not here, message us or book a video consultation.
Usually around 45–60 minutes, under general or spinal anaesthesia. Revision operations or complex cases can take longer. Most patients stay in hospital for up to two nights.
No. Our team communicates with international patients in English, and interpreter support can be arranged for other languages. Ask us when you get in touch.
Most patients are fit to fly at around day six. Your surgeon confirms this at your check-up. On a long flight, walk around regularly and drink plenty of water.
Usually after 4–6 weeks, once your surgeon has confirmed that the wound has healed and you have learned to use the pump.
You can contact the team by WhatsApp or phone and send photos if needed. If you need to be seen, we help you arrange a local review or, where appropriate, a return visit to Istanbul.
The Basic package includes the Coloplast Titan Touch implant, the surgeon's fee, two nights in hospital, five nights in a hotel, city transfers, and the tests and medicines before and after surgery. Flights are not included.
Keep reading
Free, confidential, no obligation
Send us your question or medical reports. A member of our English-speaking team will reply, and where appropriate your case is reviewed by the surgeon before we suggest a plan.
