A disastrous implant revision

[TenDan]

Dear friends,

I underwent an implant revision 15 days ago. Instead of going to a major center, I decided to use a doctor close to my home. It turned out to be the worst experience.

Without informing me (and without any apparent need), he did not use the Space of Retzius. Instead, he placed the reservoir ectopically in my abdomen. Since I am thin, the result looks terrible.

On top of that, he failed to position the pump correctly, leaving it where my left testicle should be.

As if that were not enough, I suspect he may have left part of the previous implant in my scrotum, because I can now feel four separate masses there, one of them exactly in the spot where the previous pump used to be.

Now it looks like I will have to start all over again...

I am attaching a photo showing the reservoir bulging just below my waistline. As you can see, it is very noticeable. Has anyone here ever seen anything like this or experienced something similar?

An awful implant revision.

[splitpeach]

That all sounds pretty bad. Get an MRI with a major surgeon.

For some reassurance I felt I could see my resevoir bulge for the first few days... I'm two months post and I can still feel it

[lenders]

Where are you from? Who was the surgeon?

[splitpeach]

Where are you from? Who was the surgeon?

Im in UK. My surgeon was Prof. Ralph.

[duke_cicero]

Dear friends,

I underwent an implant revision 15 days ago. Instead of going to a major center, I decided to use a doctor close to my home. It turned out to be the worst experience.

Without informing me (and without any apparent need), he did not use the Space of Retzius. Instead, he placed the reservoir ectopically in my abdomen. Since I am thin, the result looks terrible.

On top of that, he failed to position the pump correctly, leaving it where my left testicle should be.

As if that were not enough, I suspect he may have left part of the previous implant in my scrotum, because I can now feel four separate masses there, one of them exactly in the spot where the previous pump used to be.

Now it looks like I will have to start all over again...

I am attaching a photo showing the reservoir bulging just below my waistline. As you can see, it is very noticeable. Has anyone here ever seen anything like this or experienced something similar?

An awful implant revision.

This absolutely does not seem right at all and I'm so sorry this is happening. Take lots of clear pictures for yourself and, if helpful, use ChatGPT or Claude to help you navigate the appeal/revision process (write documentation, emails, etc.). It's incredibly useful for reviewing legal documents, medical records, making claims, etc., and removes so much of the awful cognitive load that comes with dealing with the medical-industrial complex.

[TenDan]

Where are you from? Who was the surgeon?

I live in another country. We have excellent penile implant surgeons in some areas, but not in smaller inland cities.

[TenDan]

That all sounds pretty bad. Get an MRI with a major surgeon.

For some reassurance I felt I could see my resevoir bulge for the first few days... I'm two months post and I can still feel it

Thank you for the support. Yes, I was expecting some swelling too, but the size of this thing is ridiculous. I don’t see any signs of infection. I honestly believe it was simply done incorrectly. Of course, I’m already arranging for an MRI to make sure.

[TenDan]

Dear friends,

I underwent an implant revision 15 days ago. Instead of going to a major center, I decided to use a doctor close to my home. It turned out to be the worst experience.

Without informing me (and without any apparent need), he did not use the Space of Retzius. Instead, he placed the reservoir ectopically in my abdomen. Since I am thin, the result looks terrible.

On top of that, he failed to position the pump correctly, leaving it where my left testicle should be.

As if that were not enough, I suspect he may have left part of the previous implant in my scrotum, because I can now feel four separate masses there, one of them exactly in the spot where the previous pump used to be.

Now it looks like I will have to start all over again...

I am attaching a photo showing the reservoir bulging just below my waistline. As you can see, it is very noticeable. Has anyone here ever seen anything like this or experienced something similar?

An awful implant revision.

Thank you for your support.

[TenDan]

I saw my doctor today. He told me this bulge is normal and that it will go down over time. I've been dealing with penile implants for many years, and I honestly don't believe that's the case.

I'll send a photo of the reservoir bulge. I'll also send a photo showing where my pump is located. It is sitting where my left testicle should be, pushing the testicle backward. I'm quite sure this is not the correct position either.

There is another issue that concerns me. I asked him about what feels like parts of the old implant still inside my scrotum. He told me that what I am feeling is not the old pump itself, but rather the capsule (scar tissue) that formed around the previous pump. He also said that the extra tubes I can feel in the scrotum are the tubing that used to connect to the reservoir from the previous implant, which was left behind in the Space of Retzius.

This explanation left me very confused. My understanding was that, if an old reservoir is left in the Space of Retzius, it should be left there by itself, without long pieces of tubing remaining palpable in the scrotum.

Does anyone have experience with this situation? Is it common to leave old tubing behind when a reservoir is retained, or should the tubing normally be removed and only the reservoir left in place? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[lasthope2.0]

I saw my doctor today. He told me this bulge is normal and that it will go down over time. I've been dealing with penile implants for many years, and I honestly don't believe that's the case.

I'll send a photo of the reservoir bulge. I'll also send a photo showing where my pump is located. It is sitting where my left testicle should be, pushing the testicle backward. I'm quite sure this is not the correct position either.

There is another issue that concerns me. I asked him about what feels like parts of the old implant still inside my scrotum. He told me that what I am feeling is not the old pump itself, but rather the capsule (scar tissue) that formed around the previous pump. He also said that the extra tubes I can feel in the scrotum are the tubing that used to connect to the reservoir from the previous implant, which was left behind in the Space of Retzius.

This explanation left me very confused. My understanding was that, if an old reservoir is left in the Space of Retzius, it should be left there by itself, without long pieces of tubing remaining palpable in the scrotum.

Does anyone have experience with this situation? Is it common to leave old tubing behind when a reservoir is retained, or should the tubing normally be removed and only the reservoir left in place? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

https://youtu.be/M0bds4tIBwY?si=DXK2jcFGOi19D-0g

Around 1:35, the surgeon in the above revision video also executes a 'drain and retain' strategy for the old reservoir. He seems to use an electrocautery to cut the tubing connected to the old reservoir as deeply/safely as possible. Of course, every surgery and anatomy is different, but this is just one example.

I hope your reservoir and tubing get less palpable as new capsules form around them.