Comprehensive List of Questions for your Surgeon
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2025 11:22 am
Dear all,
I am still in the R&D and surgeon evaluation phase of journey.
I am likely three months away from my "conversion".
I have done a lot of research. A lot of it reflected circumstances that are specific to me and my desired outcomes.
Nonetheless, I have been able to create an extensive list of items to be discussed with the surgeon before making any decisions. If any of you feel that I missed anything, please add your recommendations.
The list:
Here’s a focused, surgeon‑friendly checklist you can take to your pre‑op visit. I’ve grouped the questions so you can tick them off quickly while you’re in the exam room.
⸻
A. Intra‑operative measurements & device choice
1. What was (or what do you expect) my measured corporal length—from pubic bone to distal tip—in centimetres?
2. Which AMS 700 LGX cylinder length would that translate to?
3. Can you implant the longest cylinder that fits (≤ my corporal length) and keep rear‑tip extenders (RTEs) to 0–1 cm per side?
4. If more than 1 cm RTE is needed, what factors would make that unavoidable, and how much will it drop the erection angle?
5. Do you ever perform “no‑RTE” builds, and are they realistic for my anatomy?
⸻
B. Expected erect length—day 1 and long‑term
6. Immediately post‑op, what loss (if any) in visible length should I expect compared with my natural 6.75 in (17.1 cm) erection?
7. With disciplined cycling, what length range do your patients typically reach at 6 months and 12 months?
8. Have you documented gains of 1 cm or more with the LGX in your own series, and what cycling protocol do you prescribe?
⸻
C. Cycling protocol & follow‑up
9. When will you clear me to begin cycling, and how many minutes/sets per day do you recommend?
10. Do you provide a written schedule or smartphone reminders to help patients stay consistent?
11. At what post‑op visits will you re‑measure erect length to verify progress?
⸻
D. Erection angle & rigidity
12. Given my anatomy, what erection angle (degrees from horizontal) do you expect once the implant is fully inflated?
13. If angle is sub‑optimal, what surgical or post‑op strategies do you use to improve it (e.g., ventral phalloplasty, RTE reduction in revision)?
⸻
E. Contingencies & revision planning
14. If I do not regain my pre‑op length after 12 months, what options exist (e.g., cylinder upsizing, sliding technique)?
15. What is your revision rate for malposition, angle issues, or patient dissatisfaction, and how soon can revisions safely be done?
⸻
F. Adjuncts & preparation
16. Would a pre‑op vacuum‑therapy or traction regimen improve intra‑op length or ease dilation?
17. Should I continue VED use right up to the night before surgery, or stop earlier?
⸻
G. Device specifics & documentation
18. Will you give me a printed operative report listing cylinder length, RTE length, and reservoir/ pump details?
19. Which model and lot number of the AMS 700 LGX will you implant, and are there any recent updates or recalls I should know about?
⸻
H. Lifestyle & long‑term care
20. How soon after surgery may I resume intercourse, sports, and cycling exercises?
21. What precautions (e.g., antibiotic prophylaxis before dental work) will I need for the life of the implant?
⸻
I am still in the R&D and surgeon evaluation phase of journey.
I am likely three months away from my "conversion".
I have done a lot of research. A lot of it reflected circumstances that are specific to me and my desired outcomes.
Nonetheless, I have been able to create an extensive list of items to be discussed with the surgeon before making any decisions. If any of you feel that I missed anything, please add your recommendations.
The list:
Here’s a focused, surgeon‑friendly checklist you can take to your pre‑op visit. I’ve grouped the questions so you can tick them off quickly while you’re in the exam room.
⸻
A. Intra‑operative measurements & device choice
1. What was (or what do you expect) my measured corporal length—from pubic bone to distal tip—in centimetres?
2. Which AMS 700 LGX cylinder length would that translate to?
3. Can you implant the longest cylinder that fits (≤ my corporal length) and keep rear‑tip extenders (RTEs) to 0–1 cm per side?
4. If more than 1 cm RTE is needed, what factors would make that unavoidable, and how much will it drop the erection angle?
5. Do you ever perform “no‑RTE” builds, and are they realistic for my anatomy?
⸻
B. Expected erect length—day 1 and long‑term
6. Immediately post‑op, what loss (if any) in visible length should I expect compared with my natural 6.75 in (17.1 cm) erection?
7. With disciplined cycling, what length range do your patients typically reach at 6 months and 12 months?
8. Have you documented gains of 1 cm or more with the LGX in your own series, and what cycling protocol do you prescribe?
⸻
C. Cycling protocol & follow‑up
9. When will you clear me to begin cycling, and how many minutes/sets per day do you recommend?
10. Do you provide a written schedule or smartphone reminders to help patients stay consistent?
11. At what post‑op visits will you re‑measure erect length to verify progress?
⸻
D. Erection angle & rigidity
12. Given my anatomy, what erection angle (degrees from horizontal) do you expect once the implant is fully inflated?
13. If angle is sub‑optimal, what surgical or post‑op strategies do you use to improve it (e.g., ventral phalloplasty, RTE reduction in revision)?
⸻
E. Contingencies & revision planning
14. If I do not regain my pre‑op length after 12 months, what options exist (e.g., cylinder upsizing, sliding technique)?
15. What is your revision rate for malposition, angle issues, or patient dissatisfaction, and how soon can revisions safely be done?
⸻
F. Adjuncts & preparation
16. Would a pre‑op vacuum‑therapy or traction regimen improve intra‑op length or ease dilation?
17. Should I continue VED use right up to the night before surgery, or stop earlier?
⸻
G. Device specifics & documentation
18. Will you give me a printed operative report listing cylinder length, RTE length, and reservoir/ pump details?
19. Which model and lot number of the AMS 700 LGX will you implant, and are there any recent updates or recalls I should know about?
⸻
H. Lifestyle & long‑term care
20. How soon after surgery may I resume intercourse, sports, and cycling exercises?
21. What precautions (e.g., antibiotic prophylaxis before dental work) will I need for the life of the implant?
⸻