Penile Implant Post-Op Recovery Instructions

About Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Recovery

The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is the most reliable treatment for erectile dysfunction that has not responded to medications or injections, and it produces the highest patient and partner satisfaction rates of any ED treatment. Recovery focuses on tissue healing around the implanted cylinders and pump, followed by learning to operate the device.

What sets IPP recovery apart:

• The device is left partially inflated for the first 1-4 weeks, depending on the situation. This keeps the corporal cylinders in proper position and prevents capsule formation that would limit future inflation. You will feel a firm, semi-erect penis during this time. This is intentional.
• The scrotal pump needs daily attention. Gently pull the pump downward in the scrotum a few times a day during the first few weeks to keep it in a dependent, accessible position. A pump that migrates upward is much harder to use.
• Pump activation visit at ~4 weeks. Dr. Vanni's office teaches you how to inflate and deflate the device. This is a learned skill — most patients take a few sessions to develop confidence with the cycling technique.
• Sexual activity may resume at ~4 weeks — after the activation visit and once you are comfortable cycling the device. Earlier sexual activity risks bleeding, displacement, or infection.
• Daily cycling is encouraged long-term. Once activated, inflating and deflating the device daily for the first 6-12 months helps keep tissue planes open and the device functioning smoothly.
• Antibiotic prophylaxis for future procedures. Like other permanent implants, the IPP can become infected via bacteremia from dental work or other surgeries; antibiotic prophylaxis is generally recommended for those events.

Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Post-Operative Instructions

What you can expect

• Bruising and some mild bleeding from incision site(s).
• Bruising and swelling of scrotum and penis for the first 2 weeks.
• Possible pain and/or burning with urination.
• May experience operative site pain during the early time after surgery and when you first use your prosthesis.

Activity

• No heavy lifting (more than 10 lbs) for 4 weeks.
• No driving if taking narcotic pain medication.
• No long trips for 3 weeks.
• No vigorous activity for 6 weeks (shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, raking leaves etc).
• No sexual activity for 4 weeks.
• If you experience discomfort, reduce activity, and more gradually resume activities.
• Regular light activity is encouraged several times daily. We encourage walking. Do not be a couch potato.
• No activity that involves straddling for 6 weeks (riding a bike, motorcycle, ATV, horse back riding etc).
• Keep the penis pointing towards the abdomen for the first 4 weeks at all times.

Diet

• Drink plenty of fluids (6-8 glasses of water daily).
• Resume regular diet at home.
• If you have a special diet due to diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease etc, you may resume eating when tolerated.

Medications

• Pain control with 600 mg ibuprofen and 500 mg Tylenol every 6 hours unless your doctor states otherwise. These medications can be staggered so that you can take something every 3 hours.
• You may be prescribed oxycodone for pain. Please take this as prescribed.
• Please take your medications as prescribed.
• Resume all medications you normally took before surgery, unless instructed otherwise.
• Resume Aspirin and blood thinners as directed by your physician.
• If you have any questions regarding your medications please call our office at 781-744-8420or call the Lahey Clinic Urologist on-call.
• For non-emergent issues please send a message via myLahey Chart

Bowel habits

• Avoid constipation to prevent straining (do not strain when having a bowel movement).
• Increase fiber in your diet
  • Fruits, vegetables, salads
  • Metamucil
• Drink plenty of fluids (8 glasses of water a day)
  • Can add prune or apple juice
• Stool softeners
  • Colace
• Laxatives

  Bathing

• Shower daily beginning 48 hours after surgery.
• Gently wash the incision with soap and water, rinse, and pat dry.
• No baths or hot tubs for 4 weeks

Cycling your prosthesis

• An appointment with your surgeon will be made 2-4 weeks after surgery to learn how to operate your prosthesis.

  Reasons to call your doctor

• Incision becomes red, swollen, opens, or has pus-like drainage.
• Skin around your incision becomes warmer than elsewhere.
• Inability to urinate for 8 hours.
• Chills or fever greater than 101 degrees F.
• Nausea and vomiting or inability to keep down fluids.
• Severe pain not controlled by pain medication.
• Erosion of the device out of the incision, urethra, or penis.

Additional instructions

• Keep the penis pointing towards your head (penis is towards abdomen) when wearing underwear.
• Given on a case by case basis. Ask your surgeon if any other instructions are necessary.

For emergent situations call 911 or go to the Emergency Room.

Please feel free to contact us with any other questions or concerns at 781-744-8420.

IPP-Specific Warning Signs

In addition to the general warning signs above, these symptoms can indicate a device problem and require immediate contact with Dr. Vanni's office:

• Fever, chills, or severe scrotal/penile pain at any point — implant infection is the most serious complication and is a surgical urgency.
• Increasing redness, drainage, or skin breakdown over any incision or over the pump in the scrotum.
• Pump that has migrated upward into the groin and cannot be pulled back down into the scrotum.
• Loss of cylinder firmness during inflation after the device has been activated — can indicate fluid loss from a cylinder or tubing connection.
• Inability to deflate the device after inflation — usually a technique issue, but persistent failure to deflate warrants prompt evaluation.
• New penile angulation, shortening, or pain with inflation after a period of normal function.
• Visible or palpable cylinder through the penile skin — concerning for cylinder erosion.

Follow-Up Schedule & Device Surveillance

• Week 2-3: Wound check and assessment of healing. Activity remains restricted; device remains in its partially-inflated factory position.
• Week 4 (activation visit): Dr. Vanni's office activates the device and teaches device cycling. Sexual activity can resume once you are comfortable operating the pump.
• 3 months: Follow-up to troubleshoot pump technique, assess satisfaction, and address any device-related questions.
• 6-12 months: Continued daily cycling encouraged to maintain tissue planes. Symptom-based follow-up.
• Annually: Long-term follow-up. Modern IPPs typically function for 10-15+ years; revision surgery is occasionally needed for fluid loss, mechanical wear, or component failure.
• Carry an IPP patient ID card in your wallet so any treating physician knows about your implant before procedures or imaging.