Prosthesis Postop Care Instructions

Follow these guidelines for your care after your surgery to help with your recovery after your penile
implant.

Activity

• Limit your activity for the first 5 days after surgery to light activity.
• Limit lifting, pushing or pulling to less than 20 pounds for the next 2
  weeks.
• Also limit running and long walks

Swelling

• Scrotal swelling from the surgery may take weeks to get better. You should call your doctor if the
  swelling is severe and the scrotum is larger than an orange.
• Use ice packs to the scrotum and penis for 15 minutes every hour for the first 48 hours when you
  are awake to limit swelling. Use a plastic bag with ice or a bag of frozen peas for the ice pack.
  Wrap a cloth or towel around the ice pack so the ice does not directly touch your skin.
• Wear a jock strap or tight underwear for the next week to support your scrotum and reduce
  swelling.

Incision Care

• Stitches will dissolve and do not need to be removed. Expect a small amount of blood may stain
  the dressings for up to 72 hours after surgery.
• Keep the penis pointing upright, toward belly button.
• For the first few days, apply two or three gauze pads to the site each day and as needed to keep
  the dressing dry. This will protect the incision and help keep your clothes clean.
• When you are no longer having any drainage, stop using the gauze pads over the site.

Bathing or Showering

• You may shower 48 to 72 hours after surgery. Allow the water to wash over the incision but do
  not scrub the incision. Dry the site gently by patting it with a clean towel.
• Tub baths should be avoided for 7 days after surgery.
• Swimming or hot tubs should be avoided for 14 days after surgery.

Pain Control

You might be sent home with a prescription for a few days of pain medicine. Use this only as
needed. After 48 hours, most patients can take extra strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil
(ibuprofen) for pain, following the label directions. Pain most often is eased after 5 to 7 days.

Sexual Activity

The penile implant or prosthesis is usually inflated the first time at an office visit when swelling
is decreased. This will be about 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery. You will be able to have sexual
intercourse after that

Follow Up

Schedule your follow-up appointment per your surgeon.

When to Call Your Doctor

Call your surgeon’s office at (703)724-1195 right away if you have:

• Severe swelling, larger than the size of an orange
• A large amount of fluid drainage that soaks several pads per day
• Pain that is not controlled with pain medicine and use of ice packs or worsens after 48
  hours
• Increased redness or tenderness around the incision site
• Pus type drainage from the incision
• A fever greater than 101 degrees F

You may also have a JP Drain in place

Discharge Instructions: Caring for Your Jackson-Pratt Drainage Tube

Your doctor discharges you with a Jackson-Pratt drainage tube. Doctors commonly leave this
drain after surgery. It helps drain and collect blood and body fluid after surgery. This can
prevent swelling and reduces the risk for infection. The tube is held in place by a few stitches. It
is covered with a bandage. Your doctor will remove the drain when he or she determines you no
longer need it.

Home care for drain

• Don’t sleep on the same side as the tube.
• Secure the tube and bag inside your clothing with a safety pin. This helps keep the tube
  from being pulled out.
• Empty your drain at least twice a day. Empty it more often if the drain is full. Wash and
  dry your hands before emptying the drain.
• Change the dressing around the tube every day.

When to seek medical care

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following:

• New or increased pain around the tube
• Redness, swelling, or warmth around the incision or tube
• Drainage that is foul-smelling
• Vomiting
• Fever of 101
• Fluid leaking around the tube
• Incision seems not to be healing
• Stitches become loose
• Tube falls out or breaks
• Drainage that changes from light pink to dark red
• Blood clots in the drainage bulb
• A sudden increase or decrease in the amount of drainage (over 30 mL)