You've had penile implant surgery to help treat your erection problem. You may feel pain and be tired. You may also have swelling and bruising in the area. During surgery, a thin flexible tube (catheter) may have been put in your urethra and into the bladder to drain urine. This may stay in for a day.
After your surgery, you will likely stay overnight in the hospital. Some people go home on the same day.
This care sheet gives you a general idea of how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.
How can you care for yourself at home?
Activity
- Allow your body to heal. Don't move quickly or lift anything heavy until you are feeling better.
- Rest when you feel tired.
- You can do your normal activities when it feels okay to do so. But avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 2 to 4 weeks.
- You will probably need to take 2 to 4 weeks off from work. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.
- Wear snug underwear or compression shorts. Keep your penis pointed up toward your belly button, and take it easy for about 2 weeks.
- Ask your doctor when it is okay for you to have sex.
Diet
- You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
Medicines
Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
- If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
- If you are not taking prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
- You will take antibiotics for up to 2 weeks after surgery to prevent infection.
- Take your antibiotics as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You will also be given instructions about taking any new medicines.
Incision care
- You will have a dressing over the cut (incision). A dressing helps the incision heal and protects it. Your doctor will tell you how to take care of this.
- Wash the area daily with warm water, and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. They can slow healing.
Ice and elevation
- Put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when you are awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
- When you lie on your back, roll up a hand towel and place it between your legs under your scrotum to raise the area. This will help reduce swelling.
Hygiene
- You may shower 48 hours after surgery, or when your doctor okays it. Pat the incision dry. Do not take baths, soak in a hot tub, or swim in a pool for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
When should you call for help?
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
- You have pain, swelling that gets worse or more painful, or bruising that lasts more than 2 or 3 weeks.
- You have loose stitches, or your incision comes open.
- Bright red blood has soaked through the bandage over your incision.
- You have symptoms of infection, such as Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness. Red streaks lead from the area. Pus draining from the area. A fever.
- You can't pass urine.
- You have symptoms of a urinary tract infection. These may include: Pain or burning when you urinate, A frequent need to urinate without being able to pass much urine, Pain in the flank, which is just below the rib cage and above the waist on either side of the back, Blood in your urine, and A fever.
- You are sick to your stomach or can't keep down fluids.
- You have signs of a blood clot in your leg (called a deep vein thrombosis), such as Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin, and Redness or swelling in your leg.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if you have problems.
Now Do This! For More Sexual Power
Fruit mixture removes penile clog in 15 minutes
Research shows that nearly 60% of men between 40 and 70 experience “hardness” issues at some stage…
Yet according to new research fresh out of Harvard, it doesn’t have to be that way…
They recently found a specific combination of nutrients that, when blended together, will trigger thick, hardwood in as little as 2 minutes…
And even better, you can find these exact nutrients in your local grocery store…
Discover them here:
Harvard’s natural “stiffening tonic” quickly hardens up men of all ages
Skeptical?
I was too when this information landed on my desk this morning…
Yet when I saw the science behind this powerful “stiffening tonic” I had to admit it was worth giving it a try (plus it only costs pennies to make)...
It works by removing the root cause of a man’s failure to perform in bed…
Which is NOT blood circulation, low T, or anything else you might hear about…
Instead, it’s a sinister “blockage” in your smooth muscle which can be removed in minutes by simply drinking the powerful nutrients in this tonic…
And the good news is, you can try it yourself as soon as tonight: