What is a bionic penis, how does it work, how much does prosthetic penis surgery cost and is the procedure risky?
A BIONIC penis may sound like something out of a sci-fi film, but it's actually a well-known medical concept.
This is everything you need to know about the types of prosthetic penis surgery available, and who can benefit from the procedure.
What is a bionic penis?
A bionic penis - also known as a prosthetic penis or penis implant - is a device that helps men with erectile dysfunction.
It's placed inside the penis to allow a man to achieve an erection and regain sexual function.
In some cases, an entire penis is built around the device.
This is done in an operation called a phalloplasty.
Surgeons created a penis for Andrew Wardle - who was born without the organ - using skin from his arm and nerves from his legs.
They attached it during a 10-hour operation.
How does it work?
There are two types of prosthetic penis - non-inflatable and inflatable.
Non-inflatable
This is a semi-rigid device consisting of malleable plastic rods implanted into the "erection chambers" of the penis.
They can be manually bent into a straight position when required.
With this type of implant, the penis is always at least semi-rigid as the rods cannot be completely folded inwards.
For this reason, it can be difficult to conceal in tight clothing.
Inflatable
Instead of rods, plastic cylinders are placed in the erection chambers.
They're attached to an inflatable pump in the scrotum and a saline reservoir in the abdomen.
When a man inflates the pump, these cylinders fill with saline, creating an erection.
For example, Andrew Wardle presses a button in his groin to inflate - and subsequently deflate - his penis.
Is prosthetic penis surgery risky?
According to , it's normal to experience temporary swelling and bruising after the operation.
As with any surgical procedure, there's a risk of complications. These include:
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection
Specific complications of prosthetic penis surgery include:
- Malfunction of the implant
- Internal scarring or skin erosion
- Need to replace the implant
- Change in physical appearance
The procedure usually takes between 40 and 90 minutes and is carried out under general anaesthetic.
For more serious phalloplasty operations such as Andrew's, there's a longer recovery period.
He also spent 10 days with an agonising erection.
More health Q&As
How much does it cost?
On , penile implants range from £1,500 to £6,700.
That's before you add on the price of consultations.
Andrew's 10-hour surgery cost £50,000, although it was funded by the NHS.