Penile Implant Surgery in Abu Dhabi
A penile implant is a device placed surgically inside the penis to restore the ability to have an erection. It is considered when other treatments for erectile dysfunction have not worked or are not suitable, and it is the option with the highest reported satisfaction rates — but it is also irreversible, because implanting it removes the natural erectile tissue.
- Confidential consultation
- Consultant Urologist & Andrologist
- NMC Royal Hospital, Abu Dhabi
Dr. Juan Uría González-Tova · Consultant Urologist & Andrologist · NMC Royal Hospital Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi
Medically reviewed by Dr. Juan Uría · August 19, 2026
Take the self-assessmentTwo minutes. Nothing is sent or saved.Two broad types exist. Malleable implants are bent into position by hand and are mechanically simpler. Inflatable implants use a pump to produce an erection closer to the natural state and are the more commonly chosen. The right choice depends on anatomy, manual dexterity, previous surgery and what the patient values most.
Implant surgery is usually reserved for specific situations: erectile dysfunction that has not responded to medication, severe Peyronie's disease with erectile failure, and post-surgical or diabetic erectile dysfunction where the tissue itself is compromised. The candidacy conversation is as important as the operation, because the decision cannot be undone afterwards.
Check your own symptoms
Penile implant candidacy check
A structured candidacy screen written for this page, following the criteria used in andrology practice. There is no validated patient questionnaire for implant selection — the decision is made in consultation, and this only tells you whether that conversation is worth having yet.
An implant is considered when other treatments have genuinely been tried and have genuinely failed. These questions establish where you are on that path.
Question 1 of 7
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What the assessment involves
Before an implant is discussed as a plan, the assessment confirms that less invasive options have genuinely been exhausted and that the patient understands what the procedure permanently changes.
Documented history of previous erectile dysfunction treatments and their outcomes
Vascular assessment and examination of penile anatomy and any fibrosis
Glycaemic control and infection risk review, both of which affect implant outcomes
Discussion of implant type, and of partner expectations where relevant
Explicit consent conversation covering irreversibility, revision surgery and device lifespan
Treatment
An implant is offered when erectile dysfunction has not responded to tablets, injections or a vacuum device, or when those are not tolerated, and it is also the right first choice in some situations — severe Peyronie's disease with erectile dysfunction, and established post-surgical or diabetic disease where the tissue will not respond to anything less. It is a definitive treatment: the natural erection is not preserved by it, so the decision is made once, deliberately, and after the alternatives have genuinely been tried.
There are two devices. A three-piece inflatable prosthesis gives the most natural result — rigid when inflated, flaccid when not — and is what most men choose. A malleable device is simpler, has fewer mechanical parts to fail, and is easier to operate, which makes it the better choice for men with limited manual dexterity or where simplicity matters more than concealment. Both are placed through a small incision, usually as a day case or with one night in hospital.
Two things should be said before consent. Satisfaction rates are the highest of any treatment for erectile dysfunction, for the patient and the partner alike; and the implant restores rigidity, not length — men who expected to gain length are the ones who report disappointment, and that expectation is corrected beforehand, not afterwards. Infection is the serious complication, uncommon with modern coated devices and strict theatre discipline, and it usually means removing the device. Devices are mechanical and a proportion will need revision over a lifetime.
Common questions
01Is a penile implant reversible?
No. Placing the implant requires the natural erectile tissue to be dilated and occupied, so spontaneous erections do not return if the device is later removed. This is the single most important thing to understand before consenting, and it is why every other option is considered first.
02Will it be visible or obvious to others?
The device is placed entirely inside the body and is not externally visible. Inflatable implants leave the penis in its normal flaccid state when not in use. Appearance in clothing is not altered.
03Does an implant affect sensation, orgasm or ejaculation?
The implant restores rigidity, which is a mechanical function. Sensation, orgasm and ejaculation depend on nerves and structures the device does not replace and are generally unchanged by the implant itself, although they may already be affected by the underlying condition.
Book a consultation
Consultations take place at NMC Royal Hospital, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, in English, Spanish or Catalan.
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This page is general medical information and does not replace individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have symptoms, seek assessment from a licensed physician.