Penile implants, urethral slings and artificial urinary sphincters
Dr. Farah, a urologist in North Charleston, Summerville and Nexton, SC, places inflatable penile implants for erectile dysfunction that pills and injections no longer fix, and male slings and artificial urinary sphincters for leakage after prostate surgery or radiation. For women who leak when they cough or exercise, he places a mid-urethral sling. He treats his own patients and men treated anywhere else.
Medically reviewed by Guillaume Farah, MD · Last reviewed October 2026
What is a penile implant, and who is it for?
An inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is a three-piece device placed entirely inside the body. A small pump lets you create a reliable erection whenever you want one, and return to soft afterward. It suits men whose erectile dysfunction no longer responds to tablets, injections or a vacuum device, including after prostate cancer surgery, radiation or diabetes.
Dr. Farah places the implant through one small incision just above the penis (the infrapubic approach), usually as a same-day procedure. Once healed, the implant itself can't be seen.
What to expect
- Consultation. A private visit to confirm an implant is right for you.
- Procedure day. One small incision; most men go home the same day.
- First week. Rest and light activity.
- About 4 weeks. You're shown how to use the implant and can start using it.
Male sling or artificial urinary sphincter?
Both treat leakage after prostate surgery or radiation. Dr. Farah measures how much you leak first, then recommends the one that fits.
| Male sling | Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Light to moderate leakage | Moderate to heavy leakage |
| How it works | A soft mesh support lifts and supports the bladder outlet | A soft cuff keeps the urethra closed; you open it with a small pump to urinate |
| Day to day | Nothing to operate | Press the pump each time you go |
| Hospital stay | Usually same day or overnight | Usually same day or overnight; switched on at a follow-up visit once healed |
Leaking when you cough, laugh or exercise? Slings for women
A small sling under the bladder outlet stops leakage with coughing and exercise. Pelvic floor physical therapy helps many women and comes first.
Most women go home the same day or next day and are back to normal activity within weeks. Dr. Farah explains the facts about mesh and recommends what fits you.
Leakage and prolapse in womenImplant and leakage questions
How soon can a penile implant be used?
About 4 weeks after the procedure. You're shown how to use it at a follow-up visit.
Will anyone be able to tell I have an implant?
The implant sits entirely inside the body. It's placed through one small incision just above the penis, and once healed the implant itself can't be seen.
I'm still leaking after prostate surgery. Is that normal?
Some leakage is common at first, and bladder control usually improves over the first months. If leakage persists, a male sling or artificial urinary sphincter gives lasting control. It's common, and it's fixable.
Can an implant and a sling or sphincter be done together?
Yes. They can be planned as separate operations or done at the same time, depending on what suits you.
How quickly can I be seen?
New patients are seen within 24 to 48 hours at offices in North Charleston, Summerville and Nexton. Everything stays private.
The evidence
Landmark studies and guidelines behind these recommendations, for readers who want the clinical detail.
- MASTER: male synthetic sling vs artificial urinary sphincter after prostate surgery 380 men, 28 UK hospitals. Improved continence at 12 months was similar (69% sling vs 68% AUS); the AUS gave greater quality-of-life benefit and satisfaction. Find it on PubMed (opens in new tab)
- Incontinence after prostate treatment: guideline amendment 38 recommendations, 9 updated, covering evaluation, timing, slings, adjustable balloons, AUS erosion risk and the AUS failure algorithm. Read the guideline (opens in new tab)
- Long-term follow-up after penile prosthesis implantation: survival and quality of life Median 17-year follow-up of three-piece IPPs: estimated device survival 53% at 20 years, with high functional and relational quality-of-life scores among men still using the device. Find it on PubMed (opens in new tab)
- Long-term mechanical survival of inflatable penile prostheses: 2,384 first-time implants Mechanical-failure-free survival of 79.4% at 10 years and 71.2% at 15 years, improving with reinforced and coated device generations. Find it on PubMed (opens in new tab)
A private consultation, within 24 to 48 hours.
Offices in North Charleston, Summerville and Nexton.
Start online, without insurance and without a referral
Youro is a membership-based online urology clinic. Care is convenient, private and covered by a simple membership instead of being billed to insurance. Get care for ED, enlarged prostate, UTIs, low testosterone, overactive bladder, and more.
Youro is a separate service owned by Dr. Farah and is not part of Palmetto Urology.