POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PENILE PROSTHESIS SURGERY

DIET:

You may return to your normal diet within twenty-four hours following your surgery. You may note some mild nausea and possibly vomiting the first six to eight hours following surgery. This is usually due to the side effects of anesthesia, and will disappear quite soon. I would suggest clear liquids and a very light meal the first evening following surgery.

ACTIVITY:

Your physical activity should be restricted the first forty-eight hours. During that time you should remain relatively inactive, moving about only when necessary. During the first 14 days following surgery you should avoid lifting any heavy objects (anything greater than fifteen pounds), and avoid strenuous exercise. If you work, ask us specifically about your restrictions, both for home and work. We will write a note to your employer if needed.

You should plan to wear a tight pair of jockey shorts or an athletic support for the first 7 days, even to sleep. This will keep the scrotum immobilized to some degree and keep the swelling down. The position of your penis will determine what is most comfortable, but I strongly urge you to keep the penis in the 'up' position (towards your head). You may discard the scrotal support with the 'hole' in it, if it is too uncomfortable, and use a pair of jockey shorts.

Ice packs should be placed over the scrotum on and off for the first 24 hours. Frozen peas or corn in a ZipLoc bag can be frozen, used and re-frozen. 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off is a reasonable schedule. The ice is a good pain reliever and keeps the swelling down.

Your prosthesis will tend to spontaneously become erect. This erection may cause you the most discomfort during the first couple of weeks. We will deflate the prosthesis at your first visit, which should give you a fair amount of relief. It will re-inflate and hopefully by the second visit we will be able to show you how to deflate the prosthesis yourself.

WOUND:

In most cases your incision will have a single suture that runs along the course of your incision. It will dissolve in 10-14 days. Expect some redness around the sutures. If there is generalized redness, especially with increasing pain or swelling, let us know. The scrotum will very likely get 'black and blue' as the blood in the tissues spread. Sometimes the whole scrotum will turn colors. The black and blue is followed by a yellow and brown color. In time, all this coloration will go away.

HYGIENE:

You may shower 48 hours after surgery. Tub bathing or swimming should be restricted until 7 days after surgery.