Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Implant practice building: tenets to growing a successful and rewarding practice

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 35, pages 419–427 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Achieving a thriving sexual medicine practice with a high volume of penile implants is both challenging and rewarding for the prosthetic surgeon. It is not an easy feat to accomplish. Techniques of practice building from physician referrals and marketing to the patient have changed remarkably in the era of social media. Peer-to-peer continues to be a critical source of physician referrals, but methods of “getting the word out” to patients have drastically altered. Internal marketing to one’s own patients and external passing of information to prospective clients requires a robust presence on the internet. This workshop will focus on the achievement of high-volume implant practices in the age of the World Wide Web. Despite accomplishing this triumph through use of digital media, it is important to continue personal attainments to maintain your ethical image amongst your physician peers and the general public.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Dr Wilson’s books.
Fig. 2: Example of a medical illlustration complied by Dr. Wilson's team. Featured here is a detailed illustration of the over and back crossover technique.
Fig. 3: Wilson’s marketing to physicians.
Fig. 4: Wilson’s marketing prior to the internet.
Fig. 5: Dr. Brian Christine’s internet marketing.
Fig. 6: Dr. Kohler’s internet presence.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Oberlin DT, Matulewicz RS, Bachrach L, Hofer MD, Brannigan RE, Flury SC. National practice patterns of treatment of erectile dysfunction with penile prosthesis implantation. J Urol. 2015;193:2040–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Levine LA, Becher E, Bella A, Brant W, Kohler T, Martinez-Salamanca JI, et al. Penile prosthesis surgery: current recommendations from the international consultation on sexual medicine. J Sex Med. 2016;13:489–518.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Wilson SK, Cleves MA, Delk JR. II: long-term results with hydroflex and dynaflex penile prostheses: device survival comparison to multi-component inflatables. J Urol. 1996;155:1621.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Wilson SK, Delk JR, Surarez GM, Personal A. Approach to the management of the complications of penile implant surgery. Ann Acad Med Singap. 1995;24:770.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wilson SK, Delk JR II. A new treatment for Peyronie’s disease—modeling the penis over an inflatable penile prosthesis. J Urol. 1994;152:1121.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Wilson SK, Cleves MA, Delk JR II. Ultrex cylinders: problems with uncontrolled lengthening (the S-shaped deformity)". J Urol. 1996;155:135.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Wilson SK, Cleves MA, Delk JR. Comparison of mechanical reliability of original and enhanced mentor alpha I penile prosthesis. J Urol. 1999;162:715–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Wilson SK, Wahman GE, Lange JL. Eleven years’ experience with inflatable penile prostheses. J Urol. 1988;139:951.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Wilson SK, Delk JR II. Inflatable penile implant infection: predisposing factors and treatment suggestions. J Urol. 1995;153:65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wilson SK, Carson CC, Cleves MA, Delk JR. Quantifying risk of penile prosthesis infection with preoperative elevated glycosylated hemoglobin levels. J Urol. 1997;157:362.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wilson SK, Henry GD, Delk JR, Cleves MA. Mentor alpha 1 penile prosthesis with reservoir lock-out valve: effective prevention of auto-inflation with improved capability for ectopic reservoir placement. J Urol. 2002;168:1475.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Wilson SK, Henry GD, Siegel A, Delk JR. New surgical technique for implantation of AMS 800 urinary control system utilizing transverse scrotal incision. J Urol. 2003;169:261.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Lexiaochuan Wen & Tobias Köhler

  2. Department of Prosthetic Urology and Men’s Sexual Health, Urology Centers of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Brian Christine

  3. Department of Urology, Institutes for Urologic Excellence, La Quinta, CA, USA

    Steven K. Wilson

Authors
  1. Lexiaochuan Wen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brian Christine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tobias Köhler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Steven K. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lexiaochuan Wen.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

BC—Consultant: Boston Scientific. TK—Consultant: Boston Scientific, Coloplast. SKW—Consultant: AMT, Coloplast, International Medical Devices, Uramix; Lecturer Boston Scientific; and Stockholder NeoTract. LW declares no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wen, L., Christine, B., Köhler, T. et al. Implant practice building: tenets to growing a successful and rewarding practice. Int J Impot Res 35, 419–427 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-00384-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-00384-6

Search

Advanced search

Quick links