Questions before I get my implant - I'm very scared

[Bearskin777]

Find a urologist who also specializes in Men's Sexual Health. Have them check you out, get an ultrasound to know whether or not you have venous leak or whatever. They can advise from there. If they say implant, find a high-volume surgeon with a good reputation.
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Hi, please read my post immediately above this one addressed to the other user and let me know what you think I should do. Thank you.

Are you asking whether I think you should go with the NYC doctor or Hakky? No disrespect, but it's not my place to make that decision. This is about your body and it's your journey. No one else's. I only know my experience and my situation. I am not an expert. I spent the last few months researching the bejesus out of this topic, talking to other patients, participating in these forums, and informing myself. I did not listen to a couple of other people. I did not rush to any conclusions or decisions. I did not approach this in panic mode.
I don't know the NYC doctor. I am a patient of Dr. Hakky and I like him as a urologist, a surgeon, and a human. I live in Atlanta where his practice is, so it was convenient and a good personality match, so I didn't look any further. He and I discussed the study you're asking about, but we decided it wasn't the right product for me. And it isn't FDA approved so my insurance wouldn't cover the cost. I went with the Coloplast Titan with a classic pump because that model worked best for my body and preferences and lifestyle.
So... getting back to your question... what I think you should do is keep researching and weigh what you find carefully before deciding for yourself. Talk to more of us here to figure out how we reached our decisions, and let that help inform your own decision. Don't ask us to make it for you. Go on YouTube and watch videos by the leading surgeons to become familiar with the terms and products and symptoms, whether you become their patient or not. You don't have to get an implant tomorrow.

[BelleBite]

Bearskin's response to your question is the best advice:

"Find a urologist who also specializes in Men's Sexual Health. Have them check you out, get an ultrasound to know whether or not you have venous leak or whatever. They can advise from there. If they say implant, find a high-volume surgeon with a good reputation."

[arazon]

But alternatively, I can be part of a trial for a Rigicon Infla10 with Dr Hakky. But keep in mind that the its a trial with a Rigicon model thats being tested, although there are men who've had it implanted so far with good results.

Just remember that you'd pay about 12K for this clinical trial.

Hi, appreciate the reply. But why 12k? This is supposed to be a clinical trial which is free. Am I wrong?

[Bearskin777]

But alternatively, I can be part of a trial for a Rigicon Infla10 with Dr Hakky. But keep in mind that the its a trial with a Rigicon model thats being tested, although there are men who've had it implanted so far with good results.

Just remember that you'd pay about 12K for this clinical trial.

Hi, appreciate the reply. But why 12k? This is supposed to be a clinical trial which is free. Am I wrong?

I was quoted $12K also. Clinical trials aren't free and I don't think that included the hospital fees.

[1984ptc]

The device is free. Everything else is not. Meaning anesthesia, surgeons fee, staff, facility fee, etc. Now you get paid close to 3k for participating i think. Spread out over months and years.

[arazon]

If you're in NYC I would also consider Dr. Martin Gross

Unfortunately, he's based in Connecticut and I have Medicaid in NY which can't be applied to that state.

Just remember that you'd pay about 12K for this clinical trial.

How did you find this out? Is this 12k flat fee for any doctor within the trial?

[whatevery]

Just remember that you'd pay about 12K for this clinical trial.

How did you find this out? Is this 12k flat fee for any doctor within the trial?

Not all clinical trials are free. This one is 12K. I think Valenzuela in NY does it too. You can call and ask him.

[lasthope2.0]

Pills aren't consistent and …….

Welcome to the bionic brotherhood.
I’ve wasted half my life with inconsistent pills. I don’t even want to think about it.

[Lost Sheep]

I'm very confused abut my situation. I dont know if I should get an implant. Pills aren't consistent and injections are too risky and painful. But I'm able to get morning wood but not always and they last a few minutes before going flaccid.

So I want to know if any of you have been able to get morning wood but still decided to get an implant? If so, do you have any regrets? Any issues?

Has anyone tried VED before getting an implant then decided that VED was good enough and didn't need an implant anymore?

The decision for me was a no-brainer. I could get erections with pills, but unreliably. I knew I did not want to do injections. I used VED, not for sex, but just to keep blood flow while I waited to find a good surgeon (which took a year).

Dr Eid (one of the best in the world, but on the opposite coast from me) advised, if I did not choose him, to "find a surgeon in love with his craft". Such a surgeon will put his patients' outcome as the first priority. So, fortune dropped a newly transferred surgeon (literally and figuratively) i my lap, I went for the implant with no regrets.

The decision to get the implant hinged on my answer to this question, "If the operation resulted in my losing what I have now, would I regret trying?" When the answer came back, "No, losing what I have now, is no real loss compared to the likelihood of vast improvement." My decision was made.

[Rider1400]

I used pills for over 10 years and gradually they stopped working. I started injections which were very inconsistent. Was like having ED every other time I used them so started my implant journey. I used injections for a total of 16 months. I started with 3-4 units and had to add ever few weeks to get an erection. By 16 months I was at 90-100 units of a strong Trimix and would have had to change to stronger if I hadn’t got the implant. I knew as soon as I started injections that it wouldn’t be something I was going to be happy with. As far as VED goes just get a cheep one off amazon and try it. Get a good hard on with the VED and put a band around the base and see how it works. Either way you definitely should be using a VED twice daily before getting an implant if your not achieving a good hard on regularly. It keeps things stretched out for an upcoming implant. It’s totally your decision but some people use injections for many many years and are perfectly happy with them but some like me it just don’t work. Only you can decide if it’s time for an implant. When your fed up with what you have and sick of dealing with ED you’ll know when it’s time. Once you decide don’t look back and have no regrets and go for it. Find the best high volume Dr you can get to and get it done. Good luck with your decision and keep a positive attitude!

Hi, thank you for that great response.

I'm actually thinking of seeing Dr Hillelsohn in NYC. He's not as high volume as the popular surgeons but there are 2 guys on this forum that have had implants by him and they have rated him as excellent.

But alternatively, I can be part of a trial for a Rigicon Infla10 with Dr Hakky. But keep in mind that the its a trial with a Rigicon model thats being tested, although there are men who've had it implanted so far with good results.

That being the case, please let me know what you think is the best course for me. Thank you.

If you’re near NYC you should definitely check into Eid. He’s a pioneer and in the top in the world hakky or Vlavell or Perito are also in the top. If it’s at all possible financially go with the top tier guys all the way. In the event they run into any problem your in good hands. Most importantly though placement of tubing, pump, and reservoir would be properly placed. Clavell even builds a separate pouch with the layers of tissue in the scrotum which keeps the pump properly aligned and in the perfect place down low and back to where it can’t be seen and unless a lady digs around they wouldn’t even find it yet in the perfect place to grab and pump. My tubing is completely invisible and the only place you can feel it is if you dig around a lot and you feel just a tiny bit where it comes out of the pump. Reservoir placement is als perfect. I had my original revision due to terrible placement of the tips of cylinders practically just under the skin on bottom of glans.and a basically herniating reservoir. The Dr I used that made this mess was supposedly a good high volume Dr but turns out he was not good at his craft at all. Can’t go wrong with a Dr that has perfected his trade over thousands of implants and learned all the tricks that make for the most perfect it can be.