Penile Length After Surgery

erisian said:

Not after surgery
There may be no shrinkage after surgery, but there definitely IS shrinkage and worse from hormone therapy.

marc1957 said:

I spoke with my doc about
I spoke with my doc about this subject this week. He indicated two reasons for the "perception".

1) Many times weight gain is experienced and it hangs over the penis.

2) The penis is not pulled back into the body, its fixed inside, the part that changes is the bladder is lowered to make the connection, this may ( short term ) make it appear smaller.

just my info from the doc, I just report it, your mileage may vary.

-marc

Shorter said:

Penile length after surgery

I had robotic prostate surgery in March of 2018. Had incontinence for maybe 4 months, but after that very little except when sitting on the toilet. From what I have read from other forums by "survivors" is that about 80% see very little or no shortening after the first year. 20% see reduction of 1" or more, some with over 2.5 inch reduction. When I was given the possible side effects by my urologist, he said I might be slightly shorter, using his fingers to indicate maybe 1/4" or so. I thought it only meant erect length, so I was not too worried. The reality has been something else again. I am probably in the worst of the 20%. Within a week after catheter removal, I had "buried penis" A vaccuum pump would not pull it out. Any body position besides standing or laying flat caused a pulling sensation like it was being pulled inward even though it had no where to go. Sitting bordered on pain. Again, using the bathroom without creating a mess was a problem. My urologists suggestion was a pump or penis expander. Well, the pump did nothing so I bought the best stretching device I could find. I used it for about 10 months at about 2-4 hours daily 5 days a week. This is almost a barberic device and caused pain during and after use. It was hard and painfull to even pull it out far enough to use the device. During this time I got the urologist to prescribe Viagra. It did nothing for the first few months. I started having nocturnal errections of about an inch, even though the Viagra did nothing for awhile. I finally spent big money for a good electric pump and was able to get slightly longer than the stretching device could do. It still causes pain inside my gut for 2 or 3 days if I let stretch it out too much. My job required a certain amount of sitting at my desk, so I retired early. I am about 13 months out and about 1.5 inches shorter erect, even more flaccid. Erection is not really good enough for intercourse, without pumping and clamping and then barely long enough for intercourse. It is still uncomfortable sitting and worst when bending over. I am not sure why bending over or sitting causes this. The pulling sensation is much reduced now unless I bend over more than 90 degrees. The good news is I don't have cancer anymore. The bad news is my quality of life is in the toilet. I had accepted the possibility of no sex before surgery, but the flaccid length is what is driving me nuts. This is not for treatment recommendation or lack of. I realize I am on the fringe of what can happen, but everyone looking at this surgery should KNOW THE POSSIBILITIES! I have read that the old surgery is less likely to have this result, but my urologist said that is not true. I don't know if that is true or not. Believe me, I have done LOTS of research. I just turned 64 and am married, so I don't have to impress anybody. It doesn't appear that urethra lengthening is much of a possibility. I am not sure if there is any way to fix this.

Shorter,

You are not alone. I had robotic RP 11.2.2016 and I ended shorter of 2+ inches which I never recovered a bit of that lost length despite doing aggressive penile rehabilitation. Also, ended up with 100% of ED. I totaly agree with you on quality of life issues after RP.

I was stoned on this forum multiple times before for bringing up the thrue issues that are secondary to RP.

At time of diagnosis and surgery, I was 51. Was healthy, not on any meds, never had problems with achieving and maintaining erections as long as needed and never tried Viagra or Cialis before RP. Everything worked perfectly. 

As for weight gain, it might be truth in really excessive weight gain but that was not my case. My weight is very stable since year 2000 and constantly between 210 and 215 lbs. I am also tall guy 6’2” (186 cm).

So nothing else changed, nothing else happened, just RP which I regretted 100 ways. It ruined my life, my marriage is gray area, my social life is destroyed, my image damaged and I can go on and and on to write everything down. 

Life after RP sucks. Nothing is the same. Quality of orgasam is 1/1000 what orgasm feeled before and most of times I am not sure I reached one.

MK

hewhositsoncushions said:

MK

MK

We all feel sorry for you but it had been made clear many times that but RP and RT have side effects that manifest over (different periods of) time. The worst RT side effects are just as bad as the worst RP ones just different. You had a raw deal and we all sympathise and it is entirely understandable that you rail against your lot. I rail against all my raw deal issues just as much (mine are as much mental) and I’m very clear that the only healthy solution for both of us is acceptance. Neither of us are there yet but we will get there.

Peace H

I did not post for someone to feel sorry about me. I don’t need that.

About acceptance, already accepted it. Had implant last September. I could not accept that my sex life is over at 51.

i posted to let those who are so adamant about thinags that are almost cerrain to happen, more or less to every surgical patient. For good percentage, SE are permanent, for some they improve over time, and some don’t care much about And most importantly, don’t feel comfortable to talk about it.

I can talk only ab surgical SE because I experienced them on my own skin. No experience with radiation.

MK

Hi there,

Side effects are very particular to each man although there are some very common ones.
I have not lost much in the way of flaccid penis length and I had a few partial erections which were close to normal in the aftermath of the operation depite having both sets of nerves cut. I was always quite small when unaroused but quite sizeable when rampant.
I am currently on Firmagon so my penis is sensitive and will grow when washed but not to anything like a fully engorged state and I do not have anything in the way of physical response to sexual stimulation. Funnily enough I continue to have a mental libido.
Quite what will happen when I stop the ADT is moot, after 18 months I may remain castrate, or I might partially or completely recover.

Best wishes,

Georges

MK1965 said:

Way shorter after RP

Shorter,

You are not alone. I had robotic RP 11.2.2016 and I ended shorter of 2+ inches which I never recovered a bit of that lost length despite doing aggressive penile rehabilitation. Also, ended up with 100% of ED. I totaly agree with you on quality of life issues after RP.

I was stoned on this forum multiple times before for bringing up the thrue issues that are secondary to RP.

At time of diagnosis and surgery, I was 51. Was healthy, not on any meds, never had problems with achieving and maintaining erections as long as needed and never tried Viagra or Cialis before RP. Everything worked perfectly. 

As for weight gain, it might be truth in really excessive weight gain but that was not my case. My weight is very stable since year 2000 and constantly between 210 and 215 lbs. I am also tall guy 6’2” (186 cm).

So nothing else changed, nothing else happened, just RP which I regretted 100 ways. It ruined my life, my marriage is gray area, my social life is destroyed, my image damaged and I can go on and and on to write everything down. 

Life after RP sucks. Nothing is the same. Quality of orgasam is 1/1000 what orgasm feeled before and most of times I am not sure I reached one.

MK

I am glad that you post.  I read them all.  I am still around 75% recovered on the ED side effect without the use of add-ons.  I am 68; no issues sexually prior to the RP.  I am 5'11 weigh around 170 lbs.  I am 1 year, 1 month post op.  As far as the length goes.  I asked my wife.  She said looks the same to her.  I view it as you roll the dice on RP or RT.  I went with what my Surgeon recommended.  The radiology onocologist agreed.  And that is where I am at.  I made my choice.  When they remove parts there is no going back.  My case is not perfect, but I feel I am making improvements on the ED side.  It will never be like it was because they took some crucial parts out, but I enjoy trying.