If women with a breast implant more often report health complaints, what does this mean for men with a penile implant?

[Luther]

Women with a breast implant more often report health complaints such as chronic fatigue, and joint and muscle complaints. Breast implants have also been associated with cancer (anaplastic large cell lymphoma). In penis implants materials such as silicone and Bioflex (a blend of co-polyester and polylactic acid) are used.

In contrast to the subject of breast implants, I cannot find any studies on the health risks of penile implants, probably because these are implanted a lot less frequent.

What are your views on the risks, and what are your personal experiences?

[GOLD HORSE]

It is a very interesting subject. I hope members with ten plus years help us.

[WhiteCane]

Here’s my hypothesis… fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and cancer all seem like logical comorbidities for someone with breast implants… The joint/Muscle aches and fatigue more than likely I’ll come into the picture when you figure that each side is typically a couple hundred cc of fluid on top of the existing breast tissue… The stress of the implants pressing on the skin surrounding the already cancer susceptible breast tissue would be more of a risk of cancer… in comparison, the penile implant is rather noninvasive… You aren’t stretching anything beyond proportion nor are you adding any ridiculous weight… as with any surgery, I’m sure the penile implant has its repercussions. However, I’m sure it’s mostly due to mechanical failure or user error rather than anatomical or physiological mishaps… Just my guess…

[Lost Sheep]

Here are my thoughts (to be vetted before taking as gospel) Silicosis is more likely with a soft silicone implant (breast implants) than a less-pliable one (silicone cartilage replacement or penile implant). Also, the penile implant is encapsulated inside the tunica albuginea (though the reservoir and tubing is not), so migration of living tissue that has been compromised by contact with the silicone is less likely.

Most of the silicosis and other complications (immune system degradation, fatigue, etc) from breast implants has been due to the silicone inside the implant leaking out and affecting the woman's lymphatic system or migrating to other places in her body. This does not occur nearly as much with the saline breast implant (which is why you see so many more saline implants than silicone, even though the silicone feels more natural to the implantee as well as to anyone touching them).

There were some unscrupulous practitioners (none in first-word countries, to the best of my knowledge) doing breast "implants" with the same sort of silicone you use to caulk windows and bathtubs by simply injecting the material into a woman's breasts. Truly bad practice and resulted in untold misery for those women.

Any foreign material inserted or injected into a body carries the risk of immune response or worse. Fortunately, in most countries, governments and medical associations are pretty thorough in ensuring careful vetting of medical procedures. Sometimes the USA's FDA gets a lot of heat over the hurdles it puts in the way of new medical innovations (drugs, procedures, prosthetics, etc). Sometimes we should be thankful.

Anyhow, the incidence of health problems from penile implants similar to those from breast implants is vanishingly small.

[dg_moore]

My Titan has been in place since early 2008 and I have had no problems.

[Luther]

Thank you for your responses. Evidence is limited to observational studies and anecdotal evidence, which makes it hard to draw any conclusions at this moment. I expect more studies will be conducted in the future, as the prevalence of men with an implant increases. Anyway, for most men considering an implant the topic likely will not have a prominent place on their list of pros and cons of an implant.

[notaes]

My implant was January 9, 2020. It’s only been seven months but I have had nothing but great results. No pain during healing then cleared for sex six weeks later. I have been really using it since cleared and had great results. No complaints!

[Lost Sheep]

I did not make the point in my earlier post very strongly.

The health problems and complications associated with breast implant silicosis (immune disorders, migration, lymphatic problems, etc) are HUGELY slanted to breast implants filled with silicone. The saline-filled breast implants have a MUCH lower incidence of complications and problems. Problematic materials in silicone breast implants are not present in penile implants (the types of silicone are very different).

Not to say that penile implant materials cannot be problematic, but there is virtually zero complications of a type associated with breast implants.

[Gt1956]

I suspect that it's pretty hard to totally avoid silicone in all types of implants. Btw, it is my understanding that it is very common substance in nature. So you could argue that the human body should be able to handle it.

[Lost Sheep]

I suspect that it's pretty hard to totally avoid silicone in all types of implants. Btw, it is my understanding that it is very common substance in nature. So you could argue that the human body should be able to handle it.

Yes, but what type of silicone? Ubiquitous sand is mostly silicone, and glass, organically inert. Softer forms of silicone are not so benign.

A LOT depends on the difference between silica and silicone and other forms of the element. see

https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/si.htm

for a deeper discussion than I am capable of.