Schnheitschirurgie

Testicular implants

Definition - What are Testicular Implants?

Testicular implants are plastic implants that are placed in the scrotum when the testicle is missing. They are available in different sizes depending on your needs and fill the scrotum again. From the outside it cannot be seen that the apparent testicle is a plastic body. According to studies, the demand for testicular implants is increasing. But what is behind it? What Makes Testicular Implants So Popular?

application areas

Testicular implants have no functional use. They are mostly used for aesthetic reasons.
Because many men - as well as women - associate a large testicle with attractiveness. In particular, men who are missing one or both testicles opt for a testicle implantation. The following are reasons for a testicle implant:

Traumatic event with injury or loss of the testicle
Testicular tumor with surgical removal of the testicle
Testicular stem rotation with testicular infarction (death of the testicle)
congenital absence of one or both testicles, e.g. Undescended testicles
Desire for larger testicles

Read more about the areas of application at: Diseases of the testicle

How expensive is the use of testicular implants?

The cost of using testicular implants is between 2000 and 4000 euros. Most of the time, they are not covered by health insurance, as there is no medical need for this operation.

Does the health insurance company cover the costs?

The use of a testicular implant is usually not necessary from a medical point of view, as the implant does not fulfill any real function. It is used almost exclusively for aesthetic reasons. Therefore, the costs of an operation are usually not covered by health insurance.
However, if the operation is performed for psychological reasons, e.g. Because the person concerned has extreme feelings of shame and inferiority due to the loss of his testicle, the health insurance companies may under certain circumstances share the costs.

What sizes of testicular implants are there?

The testicular implant is available in different sizes. Depending on whether you want it to be natural or particularly large, the surgeon can choose the right size for you.
The testicular implant can be more than 5 cm high and larger than 3 cm in diameter.

This is how the operation is done!

Preparation for the operation

Since a testicular implant is usually placed under general anesthesia, you should not eat or drink anything for at least six hours before the start of the operation.
The anesthetist will provide you with more detailed information in advance. This will also tell you when to stop smoking. If you are taking certain medications, you should definitely tell the anesthetist. Under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to omit the usual medication. This is especially true when using blood thinning medication.
You should also shave the scrotum and the area around the scrotum up to the groin.

Procedure of the operation

Most of the time, the testicle is opened directly through a cut on the scrotum. Another access route is the cut on the groin.
If your own testicle is still present, it is first removed. Then the testicular implant is inserted and sewn to the scrotum. Finally, the testicle is closed.
Overall, the procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

Aftercare

A special follow-up treatment for a testicle implantation is not necessary. The surgical wound is usually checked one day after the operation. The sutures can usually be removed after 5-10 days.
If you experience pain, you can take pain pills such as ibuprofen for the first few days.

What are the risks of the procedure?

The use of testicular implants is a low-risk procedure. Nevertheless - as with any procedure - there can be risks and complications.
These include the following:

Since the operation takes place under general anesthesia, there may be general risks of anesthesia.
Read more about this at: This can happen with general anesthesia!
General risks can be redness and bleeding in the area of the surgical wound. In very rare cases, an infection can occur which, extremely rarely, can lead to blood poisoning.

Specific risks are as follows:

Other risks include injuring neighboring organs such as the opposite testicle or penis.
It is important to know that hormonal disorders can occur after a testicle implantation. This is especially true when both testicles are removed and replaced with implants. The testicular implants cannot produce any sperm or testosterone compared to the body's own testicles.
This can lead to a testosterone deficiency with listlessness, a decrease in sexual desire, sexual disorders and other complaints.
For more information on this topic, see: Testosterone Deficiency - These are the Symptoms!
Another risk is that the implant is a foreign body. This means that your own body may not accept the implant and therefore it has to be removed.