Hi, I'm new! Testicular implant--what to expect?

[Cal]

Hi everyone, I am new here! I am not a testicular cancer survivor but had a testicular implant inserted almost three weeks ago due to one testicle being removed when I was a young child. I was always unhappy with the asymmetry that it caused and finally decided that I would do something about it. That decision I am yet to settle on as being a good or a bad one.

I had the implant inserted through the groin though I was originally informed it would be done through the scrotum. The surgeon, however, informed me of his preference of procedure last minute. The incision itself is nicely healed up already--it looks surprisingly nice compared to how I thought it would look--and it is not really painful at all anymore even though the first two weeks were a nightmare of not being able to laugh, cough or sneeze.

The issue is that the appearance of the implant is ... well, I am not really sure. I am aware that short of three weeks is still early on in the recovery process but I have doubts over whether or not I made a mistake in getting the implant. If my penis is flaccid and it is cold, things look somewhat natural sack-wise. However, at all other times, the implant is unnaturally high and very tight (I guess due to the side of the scrotum having been empty since childhood). By high I don't mean that I can push it down or move it somewhere else, it is literally lodged on tightly, pertruding out. Also some scar tissue (that is what the urologist say) on the side of the base of the penis is kind of sensitive and feels like a cord or a thick string. When I have erections, everything tightens up even more including the 'string' and the implant becomes completely lodged up against the underside of my penis which is uncomfortable and partly obstructing anything that I would do with an erection. I went to see my urologist who said that since the scrotum had been empty for so long, the skin needs time to stretch out and allow for the implant to become looser. He said to give it four months and then come back for a consultation (if it were to be like it is right now, I would most likely have the implant removed due to the discomfort and appearance). I am completely aware that it will never look completely natural but I just need it to not be semi-painfully bolted onto the base of my penis. It is completely fine it is a little higher than the other one (but as of now there may be 4cm of difference between where they are positioned) but where the real one is between my leg, the prosthetic one is saluting upwards when I lie on my back.

I have been browsing around the internet to see if there were anyone with more long-term experience relating to testicular implants (maybe even with similar backgrounds as mine). However, it seems that most people who post are people like myself who have issues with their implants now rather than people who have had them in for a longer time. My main concern is with people who, like me, has not had a testicle previously. I am assuming there needs to be a different kind of stretching/self-adjustment happening in the scrotum compared to if you had a testicle removed during adulthood and replaced with an implant. Do anyone have experience with such situation as mine. I would be really sad to have (admittedly by my own free will) gone through surgery and gotten yet another scar, if the final result is basically this.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Davepet]

Afraid I have no knowledge about implants other than what others have said, but 3 weeks seems to be a bit early to say it isn't "right". Guys here have reported it taking quite a while before the new "partner" settles in & feel OK, so I'd give it a few months at a minimum.

Dave

[Cal]

Hi Dave!

Thanks for the reply! I know that I am still early on in the process of, hopefully, normalizing itself. I just made the awkward mistake of googling similar stories and am worried because I do not really know what to expect from it all. I never had a conversation with the urologist beforehand of what to expect from the procedure neither aesthetically or physically. When I asked for and went in for the post-op consultation, the urologist just informed me I should give it time but did not really elaborate on the process and of what to expect.

I just hoped someone who had an implant put in without a testicle being there prior would have a glorious success story for me to calm myself with;-)

[Davepet]

Well, seems like most of the guys who got implants end up being happy with them, there have been a few who had a second op to fix the way it was anchored, but seems like most get used to it after a while.They have mentioned a period of time for things to "settle in" & some have been told to gently pull the new one down periodically to help things along. Hopefully some of the guys who have them will come along once the holiday is over.

Dave

[Kiwi]

Mate with my second TC I was upgraded to x2 Prosthesis.

The doc took the correct approach with the insert through the abdomen the same way the Testicle come out - the scrotum because of all the type of skin and shrinking and expanding can be hard to repair.

At first the guys were quite tight to the body afert a couple of months one seemed to relax and a month or so on the other relaxed to, they do have an anchor to prevent them mostly moving upwards but if teh scrotum really relaxes when its very ho the guy will only go part way down.

There are different types and sizes and they will generally match size wise with your original. The Silicon based models are generally considered better and more natural in feel and shape than the Saline ones, the silicon based ones are generally not available to the guys in the states.

Give it time and it will loosen up, most guys seems to be of, there was one guys a few years ago that did have a bad experience but he was an exception.

The urologist did say to "massage" them downwards from time to to as he did say that they would be "tight" to the body for some time.

[Cal]

First of all, I would like to pardon the intrusion. Having never had testicular cancer, I truly do recognize that you guys in this forum have gone and are going through struggles I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams. So my posts are not to undermine the seriousness of TC but rather this is the only place I have been able to find any guidance on testicular implants.

Re: Kiwi: when you say 'drop', do you mean the scrotum hanging lower or do you mean the inner pocket of the scrotum in which the implant is put becoming looser also? I feel like the inner pocket of my scrotum is really tight around the implant though the skin on the outside is getting a little bit looser. But that doesn't really ease the tension of the inner pocket being super tight or the pulling on the scar tissue string at the top of the scrotum by the base of my penis.

I know I am being a big baby about it, I just feel that I was never really told how the recovery process was gonna be and what to expect--even when I requested a post-op meeting with the urologist. Like I said, my main concern is that I'd never had anything on the right side before the implant was put in, so I worry about the inner pocket won't become considerably looser and thereby the implant continuing to be obstructive.

I was told not to massage it but to just leave it alone. I have, however, based on seemingly everyone else's advice gently tried to press down on it a little if I sit by myself which hurts if I'm not careful because it pulls on the string/scar tissue.

[Kiwi]

Cal - so I had 2 upgrades at the same time. The Prosthetics were fairly tight to the body as was the scrotum, the Scrotum did lossen a bit up but the Prosthetics were still fairly tight to the body so yes it was the inner part that was tight, one side loosened up after a few months and a couple of months latter that other side was fine. As i recall the side that lossened up first was the side where the Testicle was just removed form the side that was empty for 7 years took longer - hope that helps,

[Cal]

Re: Kiwi
I does help! Thanks for the response. Because the scrotum seems to be a tiny bit looser now but the inner pocket is still tight like heck. But it does reassure me a little bit to know that, from your experience, the inner pocket will also loosen up at some point. I guess patience is key and I'm just kind of keyless;-)

Did you--or anyone else who reads this--have the weird string/cord/scarring next to the penis/top of the scrotum that the implant seems to be attached to that goes into the pelvis (I assume)? I have it and that is mainly what causes my discomfort because whenever it is pulled it hurts and get sore for days after.

[Kiwi]

Not noticed something like you are describing - and also when the testicle "relaxed" it just seem to happen, but give it time and try the massage downwards thing

[Cal]

I'll try to do that. Thanks a lot for the reply. I am currently a little regretful about the whole thing but I guess there's still plenty of time for it to get better.

Have you ever experienced pains above the incision? I feel like I have a big bruise under the skin and the skin itself is prickly if I stretch out. But everything looks fine. Maybe it's just all the stuff that was cut that needs time to properly heal.

[Cal]

Hey, when massaging the implant down, is it normal from your experiences, that the skin/area gets sore?

Initially when I tried, I'd pull on some scar tissue going into groin which would be painful but that pain is subsiding slowly. Instead the skin on the scrotum and around the suturing gets sore - sometimes for a day - when I massage it.

[moose]

Hey Cal,

Curious how this worked out for you! Waiting for my brand new prosthesis to settle in and reading on people's experiences here. Did it ever settle down for you?