Shrinking penis after surgery and radiation

This from Harvard:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/preserving-penis-length-after-radical-prostatectomy-20090408165
Some say nerve sparing & return of erections help size. Some recommend Viagra/Cialis to increase blood glow & limit atrophy.

Hello there,
I had the “RALP” done about a year ago. At my state of erection, I’ve lost almost 2 inches in Penis length and an undetermined but noticeable amount in my girth!
Like things weren’t challenging enough for men dealing with Prostate Cancer that they have to deal with their so called “Manhood” as well! It’s really like adding insult to injury. You have to endure all of the many associated issues that come with treating and recovering from Prostate Cancer plus loose some length and girth in your Penis. The so called “good news” is that on average, most men regain most if not all of their loss of length within a year following a Radical Prostatectomy. At least with with this man……that has not been the case.
However, you can start using a VED, Vacuum Erection Device to help with your overall Penile Rehabilitation program. You need to facilitate circulating fresh blood in and out of your penis to replenish the penile tissues. With the loss of “Nocturnal Erections!” You know, the ones you used to get at night or very early in the morning? Those aren’t happening any longer so you need to replace the benefits of those with a Penile Vacuum Device.
I started using one several plus months ago and it really does facilitate gaining erections and replenishing my penile tissue with fresh blood to assist in my overall penile recovery.
If required, you can also use the devise to obtain erections for penetrative sexual intercourse.
I highly recommend it. I can definitely feel some of the length and girth in addition to a more general “fullness” back in my penis.
Best wishes and good luck.
On a side note, if you want to have more predictable and effective erections for sexual intercourse, try the penile injections of TRIMIX. It’s an injectable medication that consists of 3 different Vasodilators. It’s really effective and for patients like myself where the pills like VIAGRA and CIALIS were totally ineffective, the TRIMIX has been the perfect answer. The needle is very similar to a diabetic’s needle used to inject insulin.
There’s a slight sting but frankly, the entire process is pretty painless and more than worth the very effective results.
Good luck,
GODSPEED

I had a prostatectomy in October 25. I too was surprised that my doctor didn’t tell me that my penis would shrink so much that I developed a foreskin on my small penis because of excess skin! Of course it will not get erect but it was a shock to see these changes occur and left me feeling very strange! I’m am now I moth 9 of recover and have seen no change in size. Any one have encouragement

@hrmpro11 - have you done any penile rehab? My care team instructed me to go on meds (low dose of Viagra nightly) and to use a penis pump daily. I started doing that about six weeks after my surgery (surgery was in January 2026) - I should have started at four weeks, but I’m the lazy sort. Apparently, the sooner you start, the better the results (once ok’d by your doctor to start).

I don’t know if I got lucky with an exceptional surgeon, or if religiously following a meds-and-pump routine, but I’ve had no loss of penis size at all. Of course, he’s a total Mr. Floppy right now, but the full size does help with other things (urination being one).

It may be worth asking your doc about starting penile rehab now.

@hrmpro11

Please start with penile rehab - using a pump and taking either Cialis or Viagra on daily bases.

Our surgeon prescribed both for my husband and he has zero change in size, if anything it seems bigger due to (I suppose) Cialis being in a system 24 hours. You should have this started soon after surgery BUT it is not too late ! I read studies done with patients who started much later and still had success.

@kujhawk1978

I will say Dr Jack Andrews at Mayo noted this side effect clearly when I met with him. Of all the things to worry about this was down a few pegs for me but he did mention it.

From what I have read there are several penis rehab techniques and practices. I will be investigating this when the time comes.

yep mine seems to have shrunk too...I havent had an orgasm in a year..he is there but doesnt say much ( except say how fucked up he is and everything else) ..kinda picture him in old wife beater with trouser up to his tits..no muscle tone, dis interested in everything..I keep him clean or else he would be a little old man dirty.. here is his music video..

I found this video helpful. https://youtu.be/aRp1NXjPGLE

My penis when I sit down pulls back inside except the tip and sits behind the scrotum. I think it did this because he cut as much as the bladder neck as possible because this is where they did not get margins and probably lead to my reoccurrence. I was not aware of the use of the vacuum and based on how small it is I figured it would not. Luckily my main concern was to get the cancer and ED and incontinence were not important to me, I did not want limitations on what was taken out to get the cancer. Unfortunately I failed on all of them but hopefully the radiation got the cancer. Best wishes to all