What Are the Different Types of Penile Implants?

Getting a penile implant is a serious decision and one that should not be taken lightly. Often, they are only used after all other non-surgical options have been exhausted. Patients who have decided to go ahead with the surgery must now decide exactly what kind of implant they want.

Different Types of Available Penile Implants

There are three main types:

Semi-rigid
Three-piece inflatable
Two-piece inflatable

Each of these options provides their own pros and cons, and tend to be used in certain circumstances.

Semi-Rigid Implant

A semi-rigid implant is an implant made from a flexible metal rod and covered in silicone¹. These implants are rigid enough to enjoy sexual activity – all you need to do is bend them upwards. They are also malleable enough to be easily concealed under clothes, bent towards the body. There is no physical change in the penis when you are engaging in sexual activity and when you are not – it does not become more erect at any point. This means that you can use the penis for sexual activity for as long as you want, with no time limit.

This is a great option for men with limited hand movement or a spinal injury, due to the fact that you do not need to deal with small inflation pumps². Because of this, the implant is incredibly convenient and easy to utilize. This type of penile implant also tends to have fewer post-surgery complications, in relation to inflatable penile prostheses³. They are not perfect, and many men do find their semi-rigidness uncomfortable over time⁴.

Inflatable Penile Implant (Three-Piece)

This type of inflatable penile implant is comprised of three main parts. There are two hollow silicon or plastic tubes inserted into both sides of the penis, a reservoir (usually full of silicone or saline) in the lower abdomen, and a pump in the scrotum1. The pump can be accessed by hand and is used to inflate the penis whenever it is necessary. The pump shifts the silicone or saline from the reservoir into the tubes in the penis, filling them up to create an erection.

With this type of penile implant, erections last as long as you desire. When you are finished, the penis can be de-inflated, and the fluid is returned back to the reservoir⁵. This is a convenient and comfortable implant, that looks natural when erect and flaccid.

Inflatable Penile Implant (Two-Piece)

This is similar but slightly different from the three-piece inflatable implant. Patients will still receive two hollow tubes in their penis, which will be inflated and deflated via a pump and reservoir⁵. But with this type of implant, the reservoir that fills the tubes is located in the pump in the scrotum, not in the abdomen⁴.

There is less risk with this form of surgery as it only has two components and two surgery locations, but it is definitely less popular. It tends to be less rigid than the three-piece implant when inflated, leading to lower levels of satisfaction in patients⁴.

All Types of Penile Implant Perform the Same Function

Penile implants have a number of different purposes, but they are primarily used as a method of treatment for ongoing erectile dysfunction⁵. The main purpose of a penile implant, no matter what type, is patient and partner satisfaction³. You should expect to see a significant improvement in sexual activity and a reduction in ongoing erectile dysfunction. If you have other conditions that you are hoping to improve with a prosthesis, medical staff will take these into consideration as well.

Which Penile Implant Is Right for Me?

If you are a candidate for a penile implant, it may seem hard to decide which option will work best. Each different style has its’ own pros and cons and may be chosen for its own specific reasons. There are a number of different factors that are considered when determining what type of penile implant is right for a candidate. Your doctor will discuss them more in-depth, but the list of factors will generally include⁴:

Age of the patient (and sometimes their partner)
The health of the patient
Bodyweight/size
Size of the patient’s penis and scrotum, whether or not the penis is circumcised
Previous medical history

Some of these factors may take your decision out of your hands, as you may only be a suitable candidate for a single type of implant. Your medical team will be able to determine what is the best choice for you so that you receive the best results.