If you have RTE installed with your implant, what are the do’s and dont’s ?

[oldbeek]

newbie443, You have some good theories there but I disagree. I had my 700lgx installed at keck usc and they are a high volume implanter. MY cruses is about 4 inch deep. Without the rte's the inflation tubes would have to run deep into my perineum area. I have 5cm of RTEs and my inflation tubes are just below my pubic bone. Right where they need to be. My useable is 6 inch and I can hang a towel on it. I can and do bend it straight up and down without the fear of hurting anything.

What part of my reply do you disagree with? Please explain. My surgical notes show I was measured 11cm up and 11 cm down (4 5/16"). So I do have the inflatable cylinder deep into my body. As do many other men on the site. If there is a reason for the tubing to exit from the incision (usually scaring or something that prevents dilation enough) RTE's are added. This information is from the AMS surgical procedures to doctors. Again unless there are reasons to require additional RTE's the purpose of RTE"s is to make up the difference in the gaps in the length of the available cylinder sizes. The Rigicon cylinders have a gap between 18cm and 22cm. So no cylinder options between those 2 sizes. And the doctor measured the over all length for the OP as 20cm. So he used the 18cm cylinders and 2cm RTE to achieve this. https://www.bostonscientific.com/conten ... M_en_s.pdf Page 15 covers AMS instructions for measurement.

I am just saying rtes are not used only for size adjustment when proper size is not available. I assume my surgeon doesn't like to put the fluid pressure tubes inside the corpa because it is possible to kink or compress the tubes which restricts fluid flow. Look at the installation manual page 15. Mine is installed using procedure B, where by using RTEs the fluid tubes exit directly from the corpa and I presume yours is installed using procedure A where the tubes enter the corpa and run adjacent inside the corpa to the inflatable portion.

[proctor]

good discussion.Thanks

[proctor]

AMS implants come in 3cm increments. Coloplast in 2cm increments. So when the surgeon measures you in surgery he/she will determine your total length. For example my surgeon measured me 11cm up and 11cm down. So total 22cm. AMS length's for the LGX stop at 21cm so a 1cm RTE was used to get the overall length to match. Could have been 21.5 and a .5 then would be needed. As my doctor decided the LGX was the best device for me that is the device the AMS rep had in all the available sizes in the OR for my surgery. Had my doctor decided the Coloplast Titan was best for me he would have used the 22cm. Had I been 21.5 he would have used a 20cm Titan with a 1.5cm RTE. So you will not know if you need RTE's until your surgeon measures you in the OR. One surgeon is known to have trimmed the hard ends of the implants to avoid RTE's. But I have not read of any others doing so. This is done for a perfect fit also and the reason most all doctors will only say they will get the cylinder tips with in .05cm of each other.

There are no do's or don'ts with either. It is just part of properly sizing the implant to the man.

Thanks, I had an impression that if you have RTE, your implant durability is significantly compromised.

[newbie443]

AMS implants come in 3cm increments. Coloplast in 2cm increments. So when the surgeon measures you in surgery he/she will determine your total length. For example my surgeon measured me 11cm up and 11cm down. So total 22cm. AMS length's for the LGX stop at 21cm so a 1cm RTE was used to get the overall length to match. Could have been 21.5 and a .5 then would be needed. As my doctor decided the LGX was the best device for me that is the device the AMS rep had in all the available sizes in the OR for my surgery. Had my doctor decided the Coloplast Titan was best for me he would have used the 22cm. Had I been 21.5 he would have used a 20cm Titan with a 1.5cm RTE. So you will not know if you need RTE's until your surgeon measures you in the OR. One surgeon is known to have trimmed the hard ends of the implants to avoid RTE's. But I have not read of any others doing so. This is done for a perfect fit also and the reason most all doctors will only say they will get the cylinder tips with in .05cm of each other.

There are no do's or don'ts with either. It is just part of properly sizing the implant to the man.

Thanks, I had an impression that if you have RTE, your implant durability is significantly compromised.

There was discussion on this many years ago. One opinion was that RTE's are smaller than the cylinder when inflated. So that the support was a bit less with a bunch of RTE's and could wobble a bit eventually. Also that with little or no RTE's that the erection angle and column rigidity was increased. And of course if you have a LGX then you have more expandable length. Not sure if there are any threads still retrievable on it. Anyway like a lot of things some folks have one opinion or the other. But I do not recall any studies or medical advice about not being able to do something with one or the other. Nor do I remember any difference in durability with or without. Kind of like penoscrotal or infrapubic. Some say one is best and some say the other is. Depends on the doctor. I know my doctor does not like to use them other than to bridge the gap in cylinder sizes and a famous doctor from NY as well. But there are other doctors out there that do and have good results. Anyway ALL doctors use RTE's when needed for the primary purpose which is to fill the gaps in cylinder sizes. Some doctors use them for other reasons as was posted. So unless you just happen to measure exactly the same as an available cylinder size you will need RTE to properly size you. AMS is available in 3cm spacing and Coloplast in 2cm spacing. And RTE's are made in .5cm lengths. If you use your numbers with both of the ways (a&b) in the earlier posted link to surgical instructions for the AMS 700 you will find you get the same results as you have using either of them. The only thing that might have made a difference is if you had been implanted with a Coloplast Titan as they have a 20cm cylinder. But as the Titan has larger diameter cylinders you may still have received RTE's.

So that was a long way around the bush to say you have no need to worry or be concerned. No reason to avoid anything with RTE's over without. Just normal care with partner on top as you would with or without implant. As that can cause a penile fracture without implant and damage with implant with or without RTE's.

Take care and best of luck going forward with your Rigicon.

[FreddyFree]

No don't, only does.

[proctor]

No don't, only does.

[daridima]

Sorry I don't have an answer for your question, but I wanted to ask you: you are one of very few men on here who have the Rigicon inflatable implant. What do you think of it so far?

So far so good! Touchwood

I think Rigicon Infla AX its functionality is similar to AMS LGX model as it expands both length and girth wise. Havent hit the 6 month milestone, but very pleased with the overall result.

Shouls you need any specific info feel free to PM me

are you still satisfied with your rigicon? did it really enlarge the size of your penis in the end?

[Rider1400]

To the point of your question. I’ve been on this forum for years and never heard of any issues with RTEs. Never heard of them coming loose or any other problems. I have one and can’t tell where it is as it’s way down inside me. No limitations, no issues.

[tomas1]

oldbeek said:

I am just saying rtes are not used only for size adjustment when proper size is not available. I assume my surgeon doesn't like to put the fluid pressure tubes inside the corpa because it is possible to kink or compress the tubes which restricts fluid flow. Look at the installation manual page 15. Mine is installed using procedure B, where by using RTEs the fluid tubes exit directly from the corpa and I presume yours is installed using procedure A where the tubes enter the corpa and run adjacent inside the corpa to the inflatable portion.[/quote]

I'm sure that's why my doctor used them.
That may be why my pump hangs low which seems convenient.

[sswinsfba]

My implanted a pair of 20 cm Titan One-touch cylinders w/1 cm RTEs on me.

He said that there are only ridigity problems w/RTEs if they are over 2 cm. So, I'm not concerned and don't expect to do anything "differently" because they're there.