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Penile Implants

Penile Implant Surgeon in Houston, TX

Men’s Health Specialist – Dr. Jonathan Clavell

Dr. Jonathan Clavell is a board-certified urologist and men’s health specialist in Houston, Texas. Dr. Clavell is an expert in both inflatable (commonly referred to as the pump) and mechanical implants (Semi-rigid). Dr. Clavell has emerged as one of the leaders in penile prosthesis surgery and implant revision surgery in the state of Texas and the United States. Performing more than 350 penile implants per year, Dr. Clavell is in the top 1% of penile implant surgeons and is considered one of the best penile implant specialists in the world. Dr. Clavell is the Center of Excellence for both Boston Scientific’s AMS 700 series and Coloplast Titan. He will discover the best penile implant option for you and your lifestyle. Call (713) 424-4030 to learn more and call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Clavell.

Dr Clavell AMS 700 inflatable Penile Prosthesis Center of Excellence
Dr Clavell Titan Touch Penile Prosthesis Center of Excellence
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What Is a Penile Implant?

A penile implant or penile prosthesis is a medical device designed to help gain and maintain an erection. It is placed into a man’s body and is designed to help him get an erection. This is a saline (liquid with water and salt) fluid-filled device that is placed inside the penis and help expand the penis to gain an erection. The penile implant consists of three components: Two cylinders or tubes that are placed inside the penis, a pump placed inside the scrotum, and a reservoir (or bag) that contains the fluid, which is transferred by the pump into the cylinders, causing the penis to expand and become rigid.

How Is the Penile Implant Placed?

There are different approaches to placing the penile implant, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages.

Penoscrotal

Advantages

  • Provides better exposure of the corporal bodies in case there is fibrosis (scar tissue).
  • Low risk of dorsal nerve injury.
  • Incision is not visible.
  • Allows fixation of the prosthetic pump inside the scrotum.
  • Gives the surgeon the ability to perform adjunct procedures (ventral phalloplasty, vasectomy, etc) if needed.
  • Allows for the “No-Touch Technique”.

Disadvantages

  • Possible complications associated with pump and tubing since the wound can be over these parts.
  • Possible difficulty to placing the reservoir or might require a counter incision.
  • Larger incision than infrapubic.

Infrapubic

Advantages

  • Reservoir is placed under direct vision.
  • Shorter surgical time.
  • Possible quicker recovery and shorter delay for patients to start cycling the implant.

Disadvantages

  • Higher risk of injury to dorsal nerve bundle.
  • Possible suboptimal pump placement.
  • Limited Exposure for complex revisions.
  • May be technically challenging for obese patients.

What Are the Benefits of a Penile Implant?

  • Reliable: For men who have erectile dysfunction, the penile implant provides a reliable option to gain an erection. Sometimes oral medications or penile injections cause undesirable side effects, are inconvenient, or simply do not work. The penile implant has no side effects when used and gives you a reliable erection that will assure you to have sexual intercourse.
  • Durable: Studies show that most penile implants last more than 10-15 years.1,2
  • Natural: The penile implant feels natural for both the patient and his partner.
  • Prevents Penile Shrinkage: The penile implant occupies the entire space within the penis, therefore preventing shrinkage.  Erectile dysfunction causes penile atrophy or shrinkage. The penile implant will occupy the space within the penis, and will give the resting penis a fuller, ‘longer’ looking shaft.
  • Convenient: There is nothing to carry with you, nothing to take by mouth or by needle, nothing to forget at home, and most importantly, it is ready when you are.
  • Corrects Curvature: Patients who have Peyronie’s Disease or penile curvature, are likely to have less curvature with the presence of a penile implant.  The penile implant is strong enough to overcome many curvatures. If you have severe curvature, Dr. Clavell will discuss with you if you need any additional procedure to make your penis look normal again.
  • Maintains Erection After Orgasm: With the penile implant, once you reach orgasm, the penis remains erect until it is no longer desired. The penis will remain erect as long as you want it erect. Premature ejaculation is no longer an issue. You may even have a second orgasm during the same sexual encounter.
  • High Satisfaction Rate: When compared to other treatment options, the penile implant provides the highest satisfaction rate, approximating 94-97%, and far outpacing satisfaction levels for oral medications (51.6%) and injection therapy (41%).

Penile Implant Options

How Do I Choose the Penile Implant that Is Right for Me?

Watch the videos below for an in-depth explanation from men’s sexual health expert, Dr. Jonathan Clavell regarding penile implants. In the first video, Dr. Clavell discusses the benefits of the AMS 700 and Coloplast Titan penile implants. In the second video, he explains the benefits and drawbacks of malleable penile implants.

What are the different Pumps that Coloplast Titan and AMS 700 provide?

The pump is what men interact with to both inflate and deflate the cylinders of the penile implant. The Coloplast Titan and the AMS 700 series both have 2 different pumps in the market. In the following videos, Dr. Clavell presents the pumps for each company and if this can make an impact in your overall satisfaction.

Why Choose Dr. Clavell?

No-Touch Technique

The most common complication after penile implant surgery is infection. In the hands of an experienced surgeon, that complication rate is less than 2-3%. The most common source of infection is bacteria in the skin. For this reason, Dr. Clavell prevents contact with the skin by using the “No-touch Technique (NIT)”. Dr. Clavell has been able to reduce the risk of infection to less than 1%. By avoiding contact between the penile prosthesis and the skin, we reduce the incidence of contamination of the penile implant with the bacteria in the skin.

In order to prevent complications, Dr. Clavell believes the management before the surgery is just as important as the care after the surgery. Dr. Clavell will provide you with specific instructions on what to do and what to expect before and after the surgery to prevent infection and other complications, such as reservoir herniation and hematoma (postoperative bleeding) formation.

Learn More about Dr. Clavell’s Optimized No Touch Technique

High-Volume Practice

Dr. Clavell is a Center of Excellence, consultant, and trainer for both Boston Scientific and Coloplast, and an expert in the implantation and revision of both devices. Dr. Clavell is also involved in training surgeons both nationally and internationally in regards to penile implant surgery. He will discuss with you which implant is best suited specifically for you. Men from all over the world seek Dr. Clavell for surgery, wanting to make sure they have the best outcome possible.  With more than 300 implants per year, our Houston urology clinic is the highest volume practice in prosthetic penile implants in the state of Texas and one of the highest volume practices in the United States and the world!

Jonathan Clavell, M.D., F.A.C.S

Board-Certified Urologist

Jonathan Clavell, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a board-certified urologist and fellowship-trained Sexual Medicine specialist providing advanced men’s health care to patients throughout Houston and the Southwest. He treats a full range of urologic conditions, including erectile dysfunction, BPH, Peyronie’s disease, vasectomy procedures, and complex men’s health concerns.

Dr. Clavell uses advanced minimally invasive and surgical techniques to deliver personalized, patient-centered care. He is also a national and international educator, training surgeons in penile implant surgery, Peyronie’s disease treatment, and Rezūm therapy for BPH, making his practice a trusted destination for specialized urologic care.

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What Can I Expect After My Procedure?

After the procedure, you will wake up with the device partially inflated to both tamponade (stop) bleeding inside the penis and prevent penile shrinkage. You will also notice a special dressing that will keep the scrotum under compression and will prevent swelling or a hematoma (accumulation of blood). When possible, we prefer to keep patients admitted for observation to administer an additional dose of IV antibiotics to prevent infection. All patients are discharged the day after the surgery. Almost nobody needs to stay in the hospital.

You will be discharged with the compression dressings. You will remove these dressings 48-72 hours after your surgery. Subsequently, you may start showering but should avoid bathing (submerging in water) or swimming. Pain in your penis and scrotum is minimal and lasts for at least 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. You may return to work approximately 1 week after surgery, as long as it does not involve heavy lifting.

You will follow up with Dr. Clavell 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, when he will teach you how to cycle the device. You may start having sexual intercourse after your first follow-up appointment.

Learn More about What to Expect After Your Surgery

Frequently Asked Penile Implant Questions

Am I a candidate for the penile implant?

If you have erectile dysfunction that is not responding to oral medications, YOU ARE A CANDIDATE for a penile prosthesis. Unlike popular belief, The penile implant is not “the last resort” for the treatment of ED. Why? We know it is THE BEST resort for the treatment of erectile dysfunction once medications fail. According to the American Urology Association Guidelines, once you fail pills, ALL options are available for you. What are those options? Vacuum erection device, intracavernosal injection therapy, low intensity shockwave therapy (which is only indicated for MILD to moderate ED) intraurethral therapy and the penile prosthesis (other options like PRP, stem cells or shockwave are still considered experimental and not currently recommended). You do not have to fail each and every other therapy prior to considering an implant. Once you have ED, and have failed oral medications, you ARE a candidate for the penile implant. There is no age limit for the penile implant, there is no illness that would prevent you from getting one either. Diabetes, history of open heart surgery, prostate cancer survivor, it does not matter… if you have erectile dysfunction, YOU ARE A CANDIDATE!

Currently there are 2 types of penile implants. The inflatable penile prosthesis: which gives a man the ability to keep his penis hard during sex and the penis soft when not having sex. In order for you to get your penis hard, you will need to SQUEEZE a pump that’s placed in your scrotum.

Then there’s the malleable or semi-rigid implants which are usually reserved for guys who are not able to squeeze the pump to inflate the implant.

Most patients benefit from the inflatable penile prosthesis. It will give you the most natural look and feel as the penis will be fully rigid when inflated and flaccid when the implant is deflated.

Now… As of 2025, there are two manufacturers or companies that make inflatable penile implants in the US (there’s a third one coming along the way…) . They both have their characteristic features that make them unique in the field. I would say about 90% of men would be happy with either one. Which one is specifically right for you is a conversation you should have with your doctor. I, personally, use both manufacturers.
After a full examination and assessment, I will be able to determine which type is best for you depending on your specific anatomy and personal preferences. My goal is to provide you with the most natural outcome possible so that both you and your partner are happy.

In General…. No. you should NOT lose length with the penile implant if being implanted by a high volume surgeon. The implant DOES NOT get your penis smaller, erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease do. Even though are some studies that mention that the penis is smaller after a penile implant, most high volume surgeons have certain tricks they can recommend prior to surgery and do during your surgery to maximize your size. Moreover… Have you heard the term.. if you don’t use it you lose it?…. Well… in a sense…. that is kind of true. If you’ve had ED for a long time…. That is…. If you have problems with getting blood flow into your penis, the penis will not stretch as it used to and this may cause your penis to decrease in size. If you wonder.. well, doc, when I was young I didn’t have sex every day and my penis didn’t get smaller. That might be true.. but… EVERY NIGHT you had multiple erections while you slept. This is why it is important to have those erections at night or in the morning.. If you have night-time erections: CELEBRATE THOSE! ED CAAN cause your penis to get smaller which may limit the size of the penile implant. Will the size be similar to what your penis was 10-15 years ago, we do not know…. But, One thing we as penile implant surgeons can assure is that…As surgeons, we try to put in the biggest implant your penis will tolerate.

Now, some might wonder… what can I do if I’ve lost some size already? One thing you could do is use a vacuum erection device. Use it regularly to stretch your penis and sometimes, you can recuperate some of your lost size.

In General…. No. you should NOT lose length with the penile implant if being implanted by a high volume surgeon. The implant DOES NOT get your penis smaller, erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease do. Even though are some studies that mention that the penis is smaller after a penile implant, most high volume surgeons have certain tricks they can recommend prior to surgery and do during your surgery to maximize your size. Moreover… Have you heard the term.. if you don’t use it you lose it?…. Well… in a sense…. that is kind of true. If you’ve had ED for a long time…. That is…. If you have problems with getting blood flow into your penis, the penis will not stretch as it used to and this may cause your penis to decrease in size. If you wonder.. well, doc, when I was young I didn’t have sex every day and my penis didn’t get smaller. That might be true.. but… EVERY NIGHT you had multiple erections while you slept. This is why it is important to have those erections at night or in the morning.. If you have night-time erections: CELEBRATE THOSE! ED CAAN cause your penis to get smaller which may limit the size of the penile implant. Will the size be similar to what your penis was 10-15 years ago, we do not know…. But, One thing we as penile implant surgeons can assure is that…As surgeons, we try to put in the biggest implant your penis will tolerate.

Now, some might wonder… what can I do if I’ve lost some size already? One thing you could do is use a vacuum erection device. Use it regularly to stretch your penis and sometimes, you can recuperate some of your lost size.

Even though you might think the implant will “Explode”, it won’t. This is not a balloon that will continue to stretch. This is a well-designed medical device that when it reaches a certain pressure, it cannot expand beyond that. This will not pop. There is no such thing as “overinflating” the implant. So rest assured, inflate that implant to the max, because it will not break by you inflating it. Another thing to remember is that the implant will only be able to expand to what your penis allows it to. If you’ve always had a “thin” penis, don’t expect to have 6 inches of circumferential girth after the implant. This is like if you put a balloon to expand inside an American Football. Doesn’t matter how bing The balloon is.. it will only expand to what that football allows it to expand, it won’t expand beyond that.

Even though you might think the implant will “Explode”, it won’t. This is not a balloon that will continue to stretch. This is a well-designed medical device that when it reaches a certain pressure, it cannot expand beyond that. This will not pop. There is no such thing as “overinflating” the implant. So rest assured, inflate that implant to the max, because it will not break by you inflating it. Another thing to remember is that the implant will only be able to expand to what your penis allows it to. If you’ve always had a “thin” penis, don’t expect to have 6 inches of circumferential girth after the implant. This is like if you put a balloon to expand inside an American Football. Doesn’t matter how bing The balloon is.. it will only expand to what that football allows it to expand, it won’t expand beyond that.

The inflatable penile implant contains a reservoir that holds the fluid that will be inflating your penis to give you an erection. This reservoir is placed either in your pelvis or underneath your abdominal muscles. In most occasions, the reservoir is not palpable even if you have a flat stomach. You might feel it initially after it’s placed but you will likely stop feeling it a couple of weeks after surgery. The fluid inside that reservoir is SALINE, the same thing we give you through an IV for hydration. IF that fluid leaks out, your body will absorb it and you won’t even notice it. So.. there is no need to worry, I am certain that your surgeon will do everything possible to get that reservoir in a space that you will not be able to feel it.

The nerves that give the sensation to your penis lie on the top part of your penis. I tend to make my incision below your penis and will be NO-WHERE near those nerves. Even surgeons who place the implant from above, via an infrapubic approach, are able to spare those nerves without injury. The only thing that the implant will do is help your penis get hard. It should not affect sensation, it will not get blood flow to the head of your penis, it should not affect your orgasm.

This is a great question. To be honest, Firmness is determined by your grip strength. If you have a strong grip, you will be able to get it as strong as a rock. If that is too hard for your partner, you can always tailor it to 80 or 90%…. So basically… whatever feels comfortable for both you and your partner. Remember… with the implant… YOU have COMPLETE control of your erection. From Flaccid, to a fully rigid erection.

The penile implants are made out of silicone and Bioflex which is an chemically inert substance.. Which means.. that your body will not reject it. You will not become allergic to it, you will not need medications to prevent rejection. It will not cause cancer in the future. Inflatable implants have been present for over 50 years, and have been proven to be safe. This is an implant, not a transplant. So no need to worry, no need for anti-rejection medications…. your body will not REJECT the implant.

One of the major advantages of the penile implant is partner satisfaction. Why? Your partner will feel a natural and firm erection. The penile implant is inserted INSIDE the penis and will take the shape of YOUR penis. Therefore, your partner will feel: well… your penis….. but firm!!. Most partners will not be able to tell the difference between a natural erection and an erection with a penile implant. The implant provides for something as “close” to a spontaneous erection as you will get. No need to wait 30 minutes or hours for the medication to kick in. You have complete control of your erection…. Think of it this way: EVERY SINGLE TIME you or your partner wishes to have sex, you will be able to.

ALL OF the components within the penile implant are concealed INSIDE your body. That said, when the implant is placed, the implant will keep your penis on the “stretched state”. IF you are a “grower, and not a shower”, you will become a “shower” after your surgery. This might be something you will need to adjust to… but …rest assured, most people will not be able to tell you have something there. You can be at the gym, showering completely naked and no-one will be able to tell you have an implant. Your penis, however, will be soft when you want it soft, and hard when you want it hard.

The most common risk of the procedure is infection. However, that risk is very low when the surgery is performed by a skilled high-volume surgeon. Even if you are at high risk for developing an infection, for example… you have diabetes, have a history of cancer, HIV, transplant patient, or any other medical condition that has compromised your immune system… you can still undergo the surgery with minimal risk. Other risks like erosion, necrosis, malposition… are EXTREMELY rare in the hands of an experienced surgeon.

The surgery, in most occasions, takes less than 1 hour from the time you go to sleep to the time the surgeon is finished. Therefore, under regular circumstances, the surgery is considered outpatient. When “I” do the surgery…You will go home THE SAME DAY OF THE SURGERY! You do not need a catheter to drain your urine. You do not need to come back to the office for follow-up until 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure. However, this is something you must discuss with your surgeon.

Believe it or not, I have never had to prescribe a narcotic for any of my patients. Most of the time, I am able to numb the area with a medication that will keep you almost free of pain for the first 3 to 5 days. Most patients do not complain of pain per se…. but do mention that the first few weeks the implant feels. uncomfortable. That said, we will be with you throughout your entire recovery helping you out. The medications we offer you will help control your pain at home without you having to worry. Once you recover, the implant should not hurt.. Most men say that after a few months, they live their normal lives without thinking they have an implant until they are planning on using it.

This one may be a little tricky because there are many factors that can influence your ability to go back to work. For example, what do you do for work? If your work is sedentary and does not require strenuous activity or heavy lifting, you can go to work as soon as a few days to a week, depending on your pain tolerance. If your work requires heavy lifting, I typically recommend for you to be on light duty for at least 4 to 6 weeks. You have a reservoir that will be placed through your groin and we do not want that reservoir to herniate down into your scrotum. If you need us to fill out any paperwork for you to present at your job, we will be happy to fill that out for you. In general, no heavy lifting for 6 weeks. After those 6 weeks, you can do ANYTHING without restrictions. And… if people ask you what kind of surgery you had, just tell them you had a hernia surgery. Unless you work in a Urology office or are married to a urologist, no-one will know you had a penile implant placed.

We need to remember the penile implant is a medical device, and as with any other medical device, it can fail at some point. That said, studies show that most implants last more than 15 years! Why does it fail? The fluid within the system can leak out. If there’s a break within the system…. The fluid leaks and the implant will not inflate. How will I know it stopped working? Simple.. one day you will be ready to inflate, and you will notice that the pump doesn’t work and stays flat. That is a sign of a leak. If it happens, call your surgeon and he or she will guide you and tell you what the next steps will be. Just remember one thing… , even if it fails, there are MANY surgeons who are experts in revision surgeries and can get one back in there without major hesitation. Call us! We can help you!

Schedule a Penile Implant Consultation in Houston, TX

Dr. Clavell is a board-certified urologist with fellowship training in sexual dysfunctions, penile implants, reconstructive surgery for Peyronie’s disease, and BPH management. He will take the time to discuss your symptoms and help determine if a penile implant is right for you. For more information, please contact our urology clinic at (713) 424-4030 and schedule a consultation today!

For more immediate answers, check out Dr. Clavell’s 10 most common questions regarding penile implants.