It is a common occurrence for the scrotum to swell after a penile implant procedure. However, by having consistent warm baths every day, the swelling slowly subsides within a 14-day interval1. Soon after, the patient experiences no pain as the healing process starts to take precedence leading up to the penile implant surgery recovery period.
Immediate Expectations after Surgery
Immediately after leaving the operating room, a clear dressing will be encased in your penile region. This dressing is often clear and sticks on the lower side. Doctors maintain that the dressing should remain on the penis for about three days, after which you should be able to peel it off from home2.
Scrotal support is provided that helps with placing the penis facing upwards. Usually, this can be accomplished by jockstraps or a pair of tight briefs. After peeling off the dressing, the patient is required to take baths daily to eliminate the risk of infection. Soap needs to be applied gently around the groin area using your hands. After rinsing, be sure to pat the suture line until it is dry instead of wiping vigorously using a towel.
It is strongly advised that you shouldn’t apply any antibiotic ointment on the suture line as these ointments could potentially dissolve the sutures with no clear benefits. Immersing the penis in water is only allowed after the incision area has completely healed. This means that you should avoid placing the wound inside hot tubs or pools.
Diet
After getting a penile implant surgery, the patient doesn’t have any diet restrictions unless they have a specific preexisting condition. A balanced diet is, however, recommended as it promotes faster healing of the tissues. Such foods should include green vegetables, dairy products, lean meats, and whole wheat bread. For patients with diabetes, it is recommended that they go back to the diet prescribed to them before the surgery3.
Post-Op Activities
The first 48 hours following the surgery are the most critical in aiding the recovery for the patient. During this time, it is highly recommended that the patient engages in very little activity with most of the time spent in their best resting. It is also advisable that the patient waits until they feel their body getting better before getting started with any activity. Taking walks for a few minutes in a day would be a great place to start.
Doctors advise that from the third day after the surgery, the patient can comfortably engage in light activity, gradually increasing in intensity as they see fit. Healing of the wound could take anything between a couple of weeks to a few months. Sutures are supposed to stay closed within the first few weeks for the incisions to start healing4.
Afterward, tissues are now infused with a gradual improvement in strength over the following months. Any radical abdominal movement could slow the healing process, and so, you should try to go slow on your body.
Penile Implant Surgery Recovery
The majority of the side effects of surgery often go away by themselves. The best penile implants are coated with antibiotic compounds to minimize infections.
Links to Sources Used:
- Prevention, identification, and management of post-operative penile implant complications of infection, hematoma, and device malfunction https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5715191/
- Current approach to the treatment of penile implant infections https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3126071/
- What to Expect at Your Implant Surgery https://healthcare.utah.edu/menshealth/treatments/penile-implants/about-procedure.php
- Penile Prosthesis https://med.virginia.edu/urology/for-patients-and-visitors/penile-urethral-reconstruction-at-uva/penile-prosthesis/