There are many different testicular implants produced throughout the world but generally they come in two varieties: a solid ovoid block of silicone or a silicone shell filled with saline. In the United States, however, there is only one FDA approved prosthesis available, the Torosa prosthesis made by Coloplast. This is testicular prosthesis that we use during a metoidioplasty.
The Torosa testicular prosthesis comes in a variety sizes and is filled with saline. The amount of saline filled during surgery can change the feel of the prosthesis and give more or less density to the prosthesis.
Timing of Testicular Prosthesis and Metoidioplasty
Typically for transmen undergoing metoidioplasty, the testicular prosthesis will be placed at the same time rather than as a separate surgical procedure.
Sizing and Placement of Testicular Prothesis
While some patients want as large a prosthesis as possible, there is a balance between the size of the new phallus and the prosthesis. If the testicular prosthesis is too big, the phallus will appear buried and not protrude out through the body.
I typically make a slightly curved incision on each side above where the prosthesis will go – an alternative is to make an incision medially where the urethra is being reconstructed and place the prosthesis through this so there is fewer incisions. With the second way there is less scar but, in my opinion, a somewhat higher risk of erosion and infection of the prosthesis after the metoidioplasty.
Risks of Testicular Prosthesis with a Metoidioplasty
After surgery a capsule forms around the prosthesis to keep it in place. This process takes a few weeks to occur – during this time we ask metoidioplasty patients to confirm that the prosthesis is kept down in the scrotal sac periodically. Also, metoidioplasty patients are asked to walk in with their legs slightly spread apart because the thighs can push the prosthesis up and migrate higher and into the inguinal area. If the capsule forms around the testes when they are higher in the scrotum than it will become permanently more mobile and periodically migrate higher into the inguinal area. If this does happen then you might need a minor surgery to correct this and remove the excess capsule and bring the prosthesis down into the proper position.
Other potential complications include infection or erosion of the testicular prosthesis which mandates removal of the testicular prosthesis and potentially replacing during a later surgery. Sometimes, patients can have minor pain or bleeding around the site of prosthesis.
Overall, though, most transmen are very satisfied with appearance and feel of the testicular prosthesis after metoidioplasty.
To schedule a confidential appointment, contact Dr. Rajveer Purohit today. Dr. Purohit is a highly trained New York City reconstructive urologist specializing in transgender surgery.
* Telemedicine and in person consultations available
Filed Under: Testicular Prosthesis, Transmen
Introduction to Gender Affirmation Surgery from the Empire Lecture Series by Rajveer Purohit MD, MPH. Introductory lecture on what every urological surgeon should know about Gender Affirming Surgery in transgender patients including Penile Inversion Vaginoplasty, Metoidioplasty, and Phalloplasty.
See Dr. Purohit's full lecture video here: Introduction to Gender Affirmation Surgery – Rajveer Purohit MD, MPH
Filed Under: Gender Affirming Surgery
Placement of a penile prosthesis is often the final surgery after a long journey for many transmen – it is the culmination and hopefully last genital surgery. It is also a surgery with a high risk of complications and can potentially compromise the outcome of prior surgeries to create the neo-phallus.
Penile Prosthesis after Metoidioplasty
There are 2 type of masculinizing genital surgeries: the metoidioplasty and some form of a phalloplasty. There is no FDA approved penile implant for a metoidioplasty. There is, however, a new device made by ZSI, which is available in Europe and designed specifically for a metoidioplasty. Essentially the device is made up of 2 silicone rods, each about 4mm in width, with a silver cable in the middle for stiffness. The solid cable is cut intra-operatively based on the length of the neo-phallus. There is not very much data available on this prosthesis and only time will tell if it will work. However, it is currently not available in the United States.
Penile Prosthesis after Phalloplasty
There are 2 kinds of penile prosthesis for phalloplasties: malleable prosthesis and an inflatable prosthesis. The malleable prosthesis is a semi-rigid prosthesis that is always partially erect. Men can bend it down when not having sex and bend it upwards when they want to have sex. It is easy to place surgically and has less component parts so it is less likely to get infected. The problem is that it is never fully soft and never completely hard. Also, in my opinion, different from cis-men it has a higher risk of infection that inflatable prosthesis.
Type of Prosthesis available after Phalloplasty
The inflatable prosthesis allows deflation of the prosthesis and inflation when patients want a rigid phallus. As such, it is more "natural" and patients can have a flaccid phallus when they are not stimulated. The prosthesis come in two varieties – one made up of two components (2 piece inflatable prosthesis) and one made up of three components (3 piece inflatable prosthesis). In the United States, there are two companies that make an FDA approved prosthesis: Coloplast and AMS. There are some differences in the types of prosthesis that both of these companies make including impregnation of the prosthesis with antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection, the ease of use of the pump and varying levels of girth expansion.
Differences in Penile Placement between Transmen and Cismen
Placement of a penile prosthesis in transmen is different then placement in cis-men for a few reasons. First, cis-men's penis's contain 2 internal cylinders called the corpora cavernosa. These are the bodies that would normally create erections as they fill up with blood. These cylinders are made up of a tough tissue called the tunica which contains the implants. The corpora prevent migration or erosion of the cylinders into the skin and fix the cylinders in placed so that during sex they don't move around. When placing a prosthesis in transmen we try to recreate this function by suturing the prosthesis down to the pubic bone to keep it in place and prevent migration. But it is not perfect.
The 3-piece inflatable Prosthesis after Phalloplasty
The 3-piece inflatable prosthesis is the most common type of prosthesis used. It is made up of two inflatable cylinders placed in the penis, a pump placed in the scrotum and a reservoir that contains fluid. When the pump is pressed fluid is transferred from the reservoir to the cylinders. When deactivated, the fluid is transferred back to the reservoir causing the prosthesis to deflate and the erection to go away.
A Penile Implant Specifically for Transmen
There has been an implant designed specifically for phalloplasty: the ZSI 100 FTM implant. It is a malleable prosthesis that is always semi-rigid. It is unique in its design because it has a tip that mimics the glans of the penis and has a base that is a plate made of stainless steel and silicone to be fixed to the pubic bone. It is composed of a single cylinder and not attached to a pump. A recently published paper of 25 patients found that 11 (44%) had to have the prosthesis explanted because of complications in 8 and in 3 because of difficulty living with the prosthesis. This occurred with a short follow-up of only 6.3 months. on the positive side, 13/14 patients who had the prosthesis in place were able to have penetrative intercourse. (Pigot, et al. The Journal of Sexual Medicine January 2020). I would expect an even higher complication rate with longer followup.
Impact of Phalloplasty on Penile Prosthesis
The type of phalloplasty can determine outcomes of prosthesis placement. Radial Forearm Flap phalloplasty tend to have thinner phalluses and it can be difficult to fit in both cylinders safely in these patients. In these patients we may choose to place only 1 of the 2 cylinders of the 3 piece penile prosthesis. The Latissimus dorsi flap phalloplasties tend to have more bulk and can more easily accommodate both cylinders of the penile prothesis as can ALT phalloplasties. Generally, I like to wait until maximal sensation returns and patients have fully healed after their phalloplasty before considering placement of a penile prosthesis.
Complications of Prosthesis Placement after Phalloplasty
The complication rates of prosthesis after phalloplasties tend to be high and range from anywhere between 30 to almost 70% in the literature. The most common complications include infection or erosion of the device that necessitates removal of the prosthesis.
(from Kang A, et al. Translational Urology 2019; 8(3))
The penile prosthesis is often the final bottom surgery after many surgeries for transmen. Although the surgery has high complication rates, if the surgery goes well, it can provide the satisfaction of penetrative sexual intercourse and help realize the full function of the phallus.
For More information and to schedule a private consultation, call reconstructive surgeon Dr. Rajveer Purohit to book a in person or telemedicine consultation or appointment.
Visit our website for more information: https://rajveerpurohitmd.com/
Filed Under: Penile Prosthesis, Transmen