Editorial
Written byMen's Health Istanbul Editorial Team
Medical reviewProf. Dr. Ateş Kadıoğlu
Last medical reviewAwaiting reviewer sign-off
Key takeaways
- The basic three-piece design (two cylinders, a pump and a fluid reservoir) dates back to the 1970s.
- Most of the progress since then has been in materials, durability, antibiotic coatings and surgical technique.
- Infection prevention is one of the most important advances, combining device coatings with strict theatre protocols.
- An implant restores rigidity for intercourse. It does not add length.
Where it began
In 1973, Brantley Scott and colleagues described an implantable inflatable prosthesis in the journal Urology. The idea was simple and has lasted: two cylinders placed inside the erection chambers of the penis, a small pump in the scrotum and a reservoir of fluid in the lower abdomen. Squeezing the pump moves fluid into the cylinders to create an erection; a release valve returns it.
Earlier implants had been rigid or semi-rigid rods. The inflatable design allowed the penis to be soft most of the time and firm when wanted, which is still its main advantage.
Better materials and durability
Over the following decades, manufacturers refined the cylinder materials, tubing, connectors and pumps. Changes such as more durable cylinder layers and kink-resistant tubing aimed to reduce mechanical failure, while pump designs became easier to use. Today, several manufacturers make three-piece inflatable devices, and two-piece designs without an abdominal reservoir also exist. Our implant brand comparison sets out the current devices side by side.
The fight against infection
Infection is one of the most serious complications of any implant, because it usually means the device has to be removed. Two developments changed the picture:
- Antibiotic-carrying devices. Some implants are impregnated with antibiotics; others have a hydrophilic coating that absorbs an antibiotic solution chosen by the surgeon.
- "No-touch" technique. Surgical protocols that minimise contact between the device and the skin. A 2012 study in Urology reported an infection rate of 0.46% when coated implants were combined with a no-touch technique.
Results from one centre do not automatically apply to every surgeon or patient; diabetes, previous surgery and other factors all affect risk. You can read how infection risk is managed in practice on our infection prevention page.
What has not changed
An implant restores rigidity. It does not create length, and it does not change sensation or the ability to ejaculate and orgasm in men who could before. Careful counselling before surgery, including realistic expectations about size, matters as much today as it did in 1973.
What might come next
Research continues into new materials, coatings and ways of making devices easier to use. Much of it is at an early stage. We will cover developments in the Man Cave as the evidence is published, and we will say clearly when something is still experimental.
References
- Scott FB, Bradley WE, Timm GW. Management of erectile impotence: use of implantable inflatable prosthesis. Urology. 1973;2(1):80–82.
- Eid JF, Wilson SK, Cleves M, Salem EA. Coated implants and "no touch" surgical technique decreases risk of infection in inflatable penile prosthesis implantation to 0.46%. Urology. 2012;79(6):1310–1315.
This article is general health information. It does not replace an individual medical consultation, examination or diagnosis. Read our editorial policy and medical review policy.
