FrankTalk.org

Just like me 99% of you guys thinking about an implant we all naturally want to be restored to about what feels normal. So in your mind you begin building a box of expectations that hide you from the naked truth. This is largely based on emotion and nostalgia not on what actually is. But as you learn more about the process your box begins to change. Most notably painful negotiations caused cherished pieces to be replaced by minimum allowed expectations.
The problem for most of us is that we built the box using out dated materials that no longer function. I was probably the worst offender. I suggest that you seriously consider scrapping your old box then read through the many posts in Frank Talk before rebuilding. Your out come will be much more satisfying.
I don't know which is worse: naively trusting that your Doctor has correctly read your mind only to awaken and find very disappointing results or fighting tooth and nail to build your ideal (fantasy) box and then waking up to disappointing results.
A word of advice: basic Rule of Thumb: If you've had nice natural erections within the last few years, don't mind losing less than an inch or having a slightly crooked penis head then save your money and stay local. But if ED has plagued you for decades, do yourself a huge favor and find the best of the best. Your local guys will not have the skills that you need.
Good Luck and happy implanting

DougAnd wrote:Just like me 99% of you guys thinking about an implant we all naturally want to be restored to about what feels normal. So in your mind you begin building a box of expectations that hide you from the naked truth. This is largely based on emotion and nostalgia not on what actually is. But as you learn more about the process your box begins to change. Most notably painful negotiations caused cherished pieces to be replaced by minimum allowed expectations.
The problem for most of us is that we built the box using out dated materials that no longer function. I was probably the worst offender. I suggest that you seriously consider scrapping your old box then read through the many posts in Frank Talk before rebuilding. Your out come will be much more satisfying.
I don't know which is worse: naively trusting that your Doctor has correctly read your mind only to awaken and find very disappointing results or fighting tooth and nail to build your ideal (fantasy) box and then waking up to disappointing results.
A word of advice: basic Rule of Thumb: If you've had nice natural erections within the last few years, don't mind losing less than an inch or having a slightly crooked penis head then save your money and stay local. But if ED has plagued you for decades, do yourself a huge favor and find the best of the best. Your local guys will not have the skills that you need.
Good Luck and happy implanting

what does the time frame have to do with it? you say a year vs decades?

DougAnd wrote: basic Rule of Thumb: If you've had nice natural erections within the last few years, don't mind losing less than an inch or having a slightly crooked penis head then save your money and stay local. But if ED has plagued you for decades, do yourself a huge favor and find the best of the best. Your local guys will not have the skills that you need.

I'm going to politely beg to differ, Doug. There's no way to say that a phenomenal uro-surgeon isn't within an hour or two of anyplace one may reside... one who has experience with doing an absolutely respectable caseload of successful implants. (Or, as in my case, 20 minutes from my home.) In all honesty, I'd say that my uro-surgeon simply didn't need to put out all the PR that all the "big names" tossed around this site needed to put out along their career paths. He's done just fine with word of mouth and referrals from primary physicians and other specialists. He doesn't need to post YouTube videos of his work in order to validate himself.

I'm not going to say anything that may have some guys traipsing off around the world needlessly before looking into what excellent uro-surgeons might be as close as the nearest teaching hospital.

Of course your words of wisdom may apply 100% to SOME with regard to their location. But I believe there are WAY more competent urologists out there than many on this site would have us believe.

“If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with.”

― L Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

DougAnd wrote:Just like me 99% of you guys thinking about an implant we all naturally want to be restored to about what feels normal. So in your mind you begin building a box of expectations that hide you from the naked truth. This is largely based on emotion and nostalgia not on what actually is. But as you learn more about the process your box begins to change. Most notably painful negotiations caused cherished pieces to be replaced by minimum allowed expectations.
The problem for most of us is that we built the box using out dated materials that no longer function. I was probably the worst offender. I suggest that you seriously consider scrapping your old box then read through the many posts in Frank Talk before rebuilding. Your out come will be much more satisfying.
I don't know which is worse: naively trusting that your Doctor has correctly read your mind only to awaken and find very disappointing results or fighting tooth and nail to build your ideal (fantasy) box and then waking up to disappointing results.
A word of advice: basic Rule of Thumb: If you've had nice natural erections within the last few years, don't mind losing less than an inch or having a slightly crooked penis head then save your money and stay local. But if ED has plagued you for decades, do yourself a huge favor and find the best of the best. Your local guys will not have the skills that you need.
Good Luck and happy implanting

DougAnd, I feel that your phrasing, "naively trusting that your Doctor has correctly read your mind..." is a bit over-the-top. I know that your experience is even more over-the-top, but your experience is atypical. You are justified in your feelings, but the vast majority of men will have a much better experience than you had.

I spent a lot of time researching (as you suggested is a good idea). I also spent a lot of effort finding a surgeon who would HEAR what is in my mind and in my heart. Expecting mind-reading is probably too much...expecting LISTENING to the patient, however, is my minimum requirement for a physician to gain my trust. I communicated with six (including Dr. Eid and Dr. Kramer) before choosing Dr. Shaw.

Dr. Eid gave me a telling piece of advice, "Choose a surgeon in love with his craft." He went on to say, that such a surgeon will put the patient's outcome above all other considerations. Before any Doctor can put a patient's welfare above all else, the Doctor must truly know what that welfare entails.

Having said that, your outcome was below what was reasonable for ANY man to expect as a minimal outcome. So, again, I say that your feelings are justified. I just felt compelled to point out that for most men if they do their preparation, the outcomes are far more likely to be as good as they (knowledgeably) expect.

CTR5000 wrote:I'm going to politely beg to differ, Doug. There's no way to say that a phenomenal uro-surgeon isn't within an hour or two of anyplace one may reside... one who has experience with doing an absolutely respectable caseload of successful implants. (Or, as in my case, 20 minutes from my home.) In all honesty, I'd say that my uro-surgeon simply didn't need to put out all the PR that all the "big names" tossed around this site needed to put out along their career paths. He's done just fine with word of mouth and referrals from primary physicians and other specialists. He doesn't need to post YouTube videos of his work in order to validate himself.

I'm not going to say anything that may have some guys traipsing off around the world needlessly before looking into what excellent uro-surgeons might be as close as the nearest teaching hospital.

Of course your words of wisdom may apply 100% to SOME with regard to their location. But I believe there are WAY more competent urologists out there than many on this site would have us believe.

“If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with.”

― L Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

My surgeon, upon hearing my feelings and plans (perhaps even flying from Alaska to Maryland) about finding the best qualified surgeon to do my implant, told me, "You will be over-flying a lot of good surgeons if you do." This is undeniable, but the question remained, "How do you know which ones are qualified and which ones are more risky than I would tolerate?"

Also, do you think your characterization of the "big names" and "all the PR" might be a bit cynical? Yes, I look askance at any professional who advertises heavily. It is a red flag, but not necessarily a disqualifying factor.

Lost Sheep wrote:My surgeon, upon hearing my feelings and plans (perhaps even flying from Alaska to Maryland) about finding the best qualified surgeon to do my implant, told me, "You will be over-flying a lot of good surgeons if you do." This is undeniable, but the question remained, "How do you know which ones are qualified and which ones are more risky than I would tolerate?"

Also, do you think your characterization of the "big names" and "all the PR" might be a bit cynical? Yes, I look askance at any professional who advertises heavily. It is a red flag, but not necessarily a disqualifying factor.

My first criteria in finding every specialist I've seen over the past decade has been who my Primary Physician suggests I see. I found my primary upon recommendation of a renown endocrinologist at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. This primary's name had come up numerous times among other specialists too. Since then my primary has never failed in his suggestions of my Infectious Disease specialist, Endocrinologist, Rheumatologist, Pain Management specialist, and as we're discussing, my urologist/surgeon. Upon hearing who was doing my implant, one of my specialists told me, "Say hi to him for me! He did mine!" So, yes, my initial search begins with the trust I have in my primary physician's experience and knowledge of specialists.

As far as the question, "Am I being a bit cynical?" No, not at all. On the contrary, I feel there are many among this group that speak as if their uro-surgeon is god's gift to the world, and THE only one that anyone with half a brain would dare consider. I feel it only fair to let others who might be in their "research period" know that it is not always necessary to head states away to see one of perhaps three names that constantly come up on this site. At least ask one's primary; consult your other specialists for their thoughts; look at local urologists' patient and peer ratings; see what hospitals they operate out of and check those hospitals' rating too (I especially check out infection rates in hospitals.) The expert you're looking for just may be nearby! In the end, sure, they may feel most comfortable with and trusting of one of the "Big 3"... but that doesn't always have to be the case.

This applies to any specialty field. I once had to choose from among neurosurgeons across the country. I had a pituitary tumor brewing for 16 years... diagnostics and the required surgery were still in the research stage. I could have chosen either of two neurosurgeons who studied under the neurosurgeon who had pioneered the Transphenoidal Pituitary Adenomechtemy technique to remove pituitary tumors. But I decided to go with that pioneer himself at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, three well-worth-it hours from my home. Had he been anywhere else in the country, who knows where I would have traveled in order to be under his care?

Again, with all the politeness I can possibly express, I'd say that what may be mistakenly perceived as "cynicism" on my part just may be my own personal experience and confidence coming through... confidence in what works for ME. Never in any way, shape or form would I remotely suggest that my way is the way for every man here. Thank you for allowing me to (hopefully) clarify my words, Lost.

CTR5000 wrote:Again, with all the politeness I can possibly express, I'd say that what may be mistakenly perceived as "cynicism" on my part just may be my own personal experience and confidence coming through... confidence in what works for ME. Never in any way, shape or form would I remotely suggest that my way is the way for every man here. Thank you for allowing me to (hopefully) clarify my words, Lost.

We're cool, CTR5000. Perhaps my use of the word "cynicism" was poorly chosen. I seized on the "naively", "PR" and "big names" phrasing and jumped to a conclusion about your attitude.

I apologize for the misunderstanding on my part.

Lost Sheep wrote:We're cool, CTR5000.

I never really doubted that you and I were on the same track, Lost. I once read that something like only 15% of one's intended message comes through in the written word alone. Without inflection, body language and expression, no amount of emoticons could ever make up for what's missing! It's kinda amazing we all communicate as well as we do around here! But then, having some shared common goals in this site certainly helps!

All the best ~
Colin

DougAnd wrote:If you've had nice natural erections within the last few years, don't mind losing less than an inch or having a slightly crooked penis head then save your money and stay local.

I am always sorry when guys write about losing size is part of getting an implant. It is not. If the urologist knows what s/he is doing, no size will be lost. I know that personally -- and my doctor is not one of the big-name urologists; he's just a well-respected urologist who does plenty of implants, and who I've had as my urologist for over 20 years.

David_R wrote:

DougAnd wrote:If you've had nice natural erections within the last few years, don't mind losing less than an inch or having a slightly crooked penis head then save your money and stay local.

I am always sorry when guys write about losing size is part of getting an implant. It is not. If the urologist knows what s/he is doing, no size will be lost. I know that personally -- and my doctor is not one of the big-name urologists; he's just a well-respected urologist who does plenty of implants, and who I've had as my urologist for over 20 years.

I totally agree.

Thanks guys all great input for those who are still searching for Dr Right. I knew that many of you lived next door to the best guy of all but chose my words to emphasize that you need to find Doctor Right! Maybe.
Guys who have not had ED for decades probably do not have the scarring that those of us with a history of ever failing erections have. All I'm saying is, that is a huge red flag. Get a Doppler find out and move on.
I thought I had beat the scarring and plaque was told by one of my Docs before surgery that I had indeed overcome it. But VED caused perhaps an even bigger problem with paper thin tissue. My surgeons did not know enough to realize that the standard 1/2 cm fudge would not work in that situation. More experienced implanters like Dr Carrion, Kramer, Eid, Perito etc would have. Many of them custom fit implants rather than to fudge 1/2 cm.
In my opinion you guys who have lost erections at an early age or due to surgery or injury have a huge advantage over the rest of us in that your corporas and tunicas are probably very healthy. That makes it easier to find the right Doctor. Guys who have what I would call peyronies disease need to brace themselves and find a surgeon who can tell them up front what is what. Just my opinion that no one wants to wake up to an unknown slice and dice. Experienced surgeons have a greater chance of telling you up front.
I believe Dr Carrion when he says that he sees my problem all of the time and my problem is shared by a large number of men who have scarring and plague and who choose surgeons that are not qualified to handle that. Just saying to be careful.