TOPIC: Infections, Complications, Risks of PMMA?

wow glad to come back and see all he feedback/advice from people. So there is a chance that in years to come I will have to have the PMMA touched up? I guess it\'s just weird because I\'m only 22 and lets say in 20 years I need it touched up.. Dr C may be retired or...I don\'t know. I\'m just kind of freaking out watching my bank account balance accrue interest while I make a final decision on whether or not to go through with the procedure (or 2)

@Comingfromwi
I know we\'ve chatted before and in my personal opinion, I\'d say to wait it out. You are young and are better off saving in times like this. The only reason I\'d recommend PMMA to someone your age is if your size was genuinely impacting your sex life in a way that was unhealthy. Pardon me, I have forgotten your current measurements, but if you aren\'t painfully small, you may find more benefits in waiting.The method is still new to the Online PE Scene, so it would be preferable at your age to wait out and assess longer term results (a year +)This method could improve with time and/or the discovery of alternative methods could show up on the scene. Keep in mind I was about to consider FFT before PMMA arrived.Chances are you are average (again, pardon me I don\'t recall your stats). I\'m not saying that is or isn\'t a reason to get the procedure, but what I AM saying is that partners at your age are far less experienced and far less understanding of their own sexuality to really appreciate added Girth (versus an average Girth), at least in my opinion.In the end, the decision is yours and I just hope that you assess all the pros & cons of getting it done now (versus way later or never). None of us here can deny the pleasure of obtaining added Girth, however, all of us here can certainly appreciate the consequences of hasty decision making. Regardless, if you decide to, we\'ll be supporting ya, and if not, we\'ll be here discussing all other viable options that show up on the scene.
As always, I tend to advocate Phalloplasty (regardless of method) to 2 groups of men: 1. the under-average and/or micro, and 2. Men in marriages/LTR\'s with the support of their significant other. This does not mean I am against or will not support those who choose to undergo this procedure who are not in the aforementioned groups, but I would certainly recommend they assess their situations before \"signing up.\" You only have one Dick.

And while I may have recommended that Comingfromwi should consider opting to wait, I have had some members ask if this may be tied to my own reservations on the matter.
As of today, I have not experienced any complication and am extremely happy I made this decision. I felt that I fell into the above \"2\" groups and was in a situation to assume the risks involved. If I had faced complications, I would have done so knowing that without medical intervention sex was nearly impossible anyways. These are the feelings from someone who had to hope \"Snugger Fits\" didn\'t slip. I\'m not attempting to garner sympathy, only some clarification as to why I felt justified in pursuing the risks involved with anything Phalloplasty. Granted, PMMA\'s record versus other methods were remarkable in the short term, and the price point made it a reality. If I were to go back 100 times I\'d make the exact same decision. Does this mean I feel that I\'m clear from future complications? No. But it does mean that I was willing to accept those possibilities given my situation pre-op. And that is what I ask of anyone to do, that is all

Evil Pnievel wrote:

supa wrote: Does anyone know the overall granuloma complication rate on Dr C.\'s total number of patients (wrt PMMA to the penis)? After all, he has started PE via PMMA some five years ago.

If I am not mistaken, we have had approx. 20 - 25?

Those are just registered members. At the old site we\'d usually have 7 times as many lurkers visiting per day as we did members. Most people just want to read rather than contribute or ask questions. I think someone posted that Dr C is now doing 2 of these per day and we can tell from the changes he\'s made to the procedure over the last 6 months, that prop to PhalloBoards, he wasn\'t doing too many PE procedures. So I\'d say thanks to PhalloBoards over 100 guys have had it done and with any procedure it\'s inevitable that once lots of people start having it, there will be complications. Complications themselves aren\'t so much the problem, but how they are fixed is. If Kenalog really is working then that is fantastic news. For those guys who aren\'t sure about PMMA and are worried about complications, seeing them resolved with a minor procedure like injecting Kenalog is a big deal. My fear has never been migration, but that if there is a problem, the PMMA would have to be cut out. In my opinion having the stuff cut out, will often lead to loss of shaft skin. Basically the more complications we see that are then resolved simply with an injection of Kenalog the better. Obviously I don\'t literally mean it\'s better that more guys have complicaitons, but just that those who do, get them resolved pretty easily.

Could anybody answer Mike Hok\'s question, phalloboards.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5424847&trail=15#1 ?

In particular, which problems exactly is Dr C. trying to avoid?

@ supa

To my understanding by only using 10%, Dr. C is attempting to avoid nodules and beeds and or the dreaded \"granuloma\". Which is also why he likes the procedure done in stages.

Right. This does sound as though we are both happy to be front runners in what is actually an experimental procedure, at least in terms of it being used on a large scale application with hundreds if not thousands of potential patients, as well as wanting it all to be tried and tested before hand. One must make up one\'s mind whether there is or not any form of urgency in resolving PE objectives using Phalloplasty, and especially if this warrants going with a novel procedure which is not widely proven as one hundred percent failsafe. That it has a low incidence of risk and that Dr C is on a steep learning curve improving as time goes by his approach and methodologies is for certain, and that any risks are being managed as well as they can in advance and after the fact. However we must remember that part of this decision is ours, and this is why it comes without the usual American guarantees with no judicial or medical community back up if something isn\'t what you expected. This is how much of the rest of the planet operates, and I even had eye surgery last week signing off any right to complain should I go blind. That\'s what is called \"taking your responsibilities\".
HC

let me remind everyone that Dr C. has been performing PMMA bioplasty to the penis for the past six years.

Yes, but not nearly to the extent to which he is now. It makes sense that he\'s refining his technique and coming to different conclusions regarding percentages now after doing so many in a short period of time.

Yes, Dr C has a lot of experience in smaller test groups over a number of years and is now increasing the number of procedures while further improving his know-how and methods. This means that those who were his patients trusted a dedicated doctor who has been working relentlessly to deliver the best possible results while managing responsibly the medical aspects of the procedure. So it is far from a newfangled thing, but for those who only want the impossible reassurance of everything being entirely predictable and certain, there is not going to be a single Phalloplasty surgery which will meet such a requirement, the safest and most tested possibly being FFT but one of its pioneers told me of a number of necroses in exceptional circumstances. PMMA is to me at least well worth it, but that is because I am of a more daring nature, I am also not young with less time to live with any consequences and I also place more trust in the people involved and their quality of character than in any technical aspects of a given method. Were I very young without having been subject to a great deal of suffering due to penile issues, then I think I might have waited a while both to make sure I really needed PE surgery and also open onto the opportunity of future developments. This is what came to mind when hearing of a very young 22 year old, I had tons of happy girlfriends at that age with my original smaller dimensions, so if it isn\'t causing serious trouble then maybe other things should prevail?
HC

@ HC

True words. Consider everything. In particular how would you cope if things go wrong.

Agreed. EP speaks from experience and NO procedure is complication free or without risk. There are NO long term studies on PMMA injected into the penis. Even short term, some have experienced complications. This procedure is less traumatic than many other options however and personally, I believe it is the best Girth enhancing option at present. We are the guinea pigs. If you do undergo this procedure and experience any post operative complications, please document your experience and the treatment here at PB\'s. Also, please see a doctor (Dr. Casavantes) or your Urologist as soon as possible. Early detection and treatment may prevent a more serious outcome. Much thanks to EP and others for sharing invaluable information. Props/kudos/snaps and alcohol-free beverages to you kind sir.

I thought I\'d chime in on the realities of complications with respect to penile bioplasty (using PMMA). I think some members may believe this procedure is \"complication-free\" because of the absence of major complications. We\'ve been conditioned so often to associate the word \"complication\" with the butchery of past methods, that we naturally dismiss minor complications as a resolvable nuisance at worst. This may not be the most appropriate way to look at it because this perception absolves penile bioplasty from real risks, which isn\'t the case. So I think it would be appropriate to put complications into perspective.
Major ComplicationsInfection (regardless of its cause)Rejection/Undesirable Immune ResponseTissue NecrosisSevere Length RetractionMigration leading to Embolism(s)*Note, some of the above complications can be corrected, however, they require more rigorous treatment and aren\'t always fixable. Also note that we have not seen one report of any major complication stemming from penile bioplasty (as of the date of this post). Minor ComplicationsEdema and/or Long-Term SwellingPersistent localized rednessNodules*Note, the above \"minor\" complications have been reported more than once by forum members, but as far as we know (to date), most have been resolved. How to Classify Granulomas? In order to stimulate some debate, I put this question out to forum members. At first I wanted to classify it as a major complication, however after reviewing the recent Artefill study, I couldn\'t help but think that it had a case for \"minor\" classification. The study indicated that out of 1000+ patients, only 6 experienced granulomas. It said that 5 out of the 6 had their problems fixed with treatment, and the 6th was responding positively to treatment and was ongoing. Even though I feel confident with the above classifications, I still teeter on the fence with respect to the risk of granulomas. So hopefully forum members will chime in and put this particular complication into perspective.

With that being said, E.P. is right when suggesting that complications have been reported. Being minor in nature doesn\'t mean that it isn\'t a real risk. Not only can minor complications graduate to major complications (which haven\'t been seen yet thank goodness), but it also means that patients will have to either return to Tijuana OR find a local doctor willing to perform treatment. Be sure you are prepared for these risks as they can cost you out-of-pocket.

@ EP and all

I said I would expand on my comment how would you cope if it went wrong.

for some reason my edit didn\'t work so apologies. I must have forgotten to save it !

Basically I agree with HC that for him the risk reward makes sense and he explained why.

Similar I deal with risk all the time (trader) and I always look at worst case scenarios before engaging in a trade.

So my comment related to the fact I think everyone this should consider their response if things go wrong.

I imagined my wort case scenario to be: Lumps, deformity (from FFT), granuloma, inflammation. Treatments could range from Kenalog to Removal surgery and the very end result maybe my old size back with scar tissue and maybe looking a lot worse than when I started this journey.

I imagined this to be costly time consuming and that I would be unhappy and disappointed.

But

I knew I would be able to pull through and that my wife would support me all the way and that when all was said and done it the effect on my life would be only temporarily negatively affected. Knowing me I would make up a story about how a shark tried to eat my Cock and tell this everytime I had a beer lol

So for me I felt I could justify it.

However had I been in my mid twenties I would have had a different attitude as a scared penis (worst case,Removal etc) would be the last thing I wanted and the negative effect would have been amplified and perhaps caused me long term problems.

So I urge anyone to look not only at the positives in getting this done but also at how would you cope if things didn\'t turn out right. Have you got a strong relations ship that would help you through it ? friend or family or have you got a bullet proof ego that would allow you to be happy regardless of a less than perfect result? Can you afford the cost!

Now this is if you have an average or good sized penis.

If you are well below average and already very unhappy then the situation changes again as you could justify the risk better. Basically what have you got to loose might be your attitude (would be mine in that scenario)

Hope that explained my comment a bit better!