223: Penile Implants Explained: Your Questions Answered with Urologist Shane

Watch the Webinar  This episode was recorded live at one of Melissa’s free monthly webinars, held exclusively for our subscriber community. To watch the full video, including the implant demonstrations, head to: https://vimeo.com/1192108833?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci   If you’d like to be notified about upcoming webinars and other events from Restorative Health Clinic and Melissa, subscribe here: https://rshealth.com.au/#subscribe     In this special webinar episode of The Penis Project Podcast, Melissa is joined by Shane, a highly experienced urological surgeon and founding partner of Perth Urology Clinic. Shane trained at the University of Western Australia, achieved his FRACS in urology in 1999 and completed an advanced surgical oncology fellowship at the Vancouver General Hospital/UBC Prostate Centre in Canada. His clinical expertise covers some of the most complex areas of urology, including bladder cancer management, Peyronie’s disease and penile implant surgery.  The webinar begins with Shane discussing the basics: how a normal erection works, and how a three-piece inflatable implant simply replicates that process with two cylinders, a reservoir of saline and a pump tucked away in the scrotum. As he puts it, it is a bit like putting a new inner tube inside a flat tyre. Using actual demonstration models, Melissa and Shane show the difference between malleable (bendable rod) implants and inflatable hydraulic implants and explain who suits each type. (Don’t forget to watch the episode online at link above to see the demo).  They then work through the practical questions that were sent prior to the webinar from Melissa’s subscriber community: Covering everything you ever wanted to know about penile implants but were too polite (or too nervous) to ask. Such as when to move on from tablets, injections and pumps; what surgery and recovery involve; what the implant feels like for the man and his partner; and what it all costs in Australia, both self-funded and with private health insurance.     The conversation does not shy away from the trickier topics either, including sensation and orgasm after an implant, why the head of the penis may stay softer than the shaft, considerations for gay men, combining an implant with an artificial urinary sphincter after prostate cancer treatment, and the furure app-controlled implant (yes, really, and yes, the jokes write themselves).  The overall message is a hopeful one: there is always a workaround for erectile dysfunction, satisfaction rates after implant surgery are very high in the research.      Golden Tip: Shane says the thing he hears most often from his patients is that they wish they had not waited so long to take this step.  Resources & Links  Perth Urology Clinic: https://perthurologyclinic.com.au/   Book a telehealth appointment with our sexual health nurse practitioners at Restorative Health Clinic  For more information check out our websites www.rshealth.com.au , www.makehardeasy.com.au and www.melissahadleybarrett.com.au   Click here to watch Melissa’s YouTube video: Most Men Use the SOMA VED Wrong | Here’s the Correct Way    Book a telehealth consultation with our sexual health nurse practitioners:  Restorative Health Clinic    For more information visit our websites:  www.rshealth.com.au  www.makehardeasy.com.au  www.melissahadleybarrett.com    Need Support?  At Restorative Health Clinic, we support men and their partners with:  Penile rehabilitation after prostate cancer treatment  Erectile dysfunction  Vacuum pump and constriction ring education and prescription  Penile injection therapy  Intimacy and sexual recovery  Partner-inclusive support where appropriate  Practical, evidence-based strategies for rebuilding confidence and function    We offer telehealth consultations Australia-wide and internationally, making it easier for men to access experienced, compassionate support no matter where they live. If Steve’s story sounds familiar, we would love to hear from you.    Restorative Health Clinic also has a psychologist-sexologist joining the team. If you are struggling with the emotional or psychological side of erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer recovery, or intimacy, we can support you there too – as an individual or as a couple.    Listen & Subscribe  If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate, and review The Penis Project Podcast. Your feedback helps more men and their partners find these conversations. Search for The Penis Project Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app.    We also have a free email list for updates, episodes, and resources. You can sign up via our website.     Connect With Us  We love hearing from real people navigating their health. If you would like to share your story or ask a question, get in touch.    Email: [email protected]    Websites:  rshealth.com.au   makehardeasy.com.au  melissahadleybarrett.com    Instagram:  @melissahadleybarrett  @restorativehealth.clinic    YouTube:  Melissa Hadley Barrett    TikTok:  @melissahadleybarrett    Facebook:  Melissa Hadley Barrett  Restorative Health Clinic    LinkedIn:  Melissa Hadley Barrett    TEDx Talk:  Watch on YouTube