Prof. Dr. Emel Akoğlu
UrologyVerified
- 57+years exp.
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Andrology & Men's Health
Testicular prosthesis
What a testicular prosthesis is, why men have one after orchiectomy, torsion, injury or absent testis, how the implant is placed through a groin or scrotal cut, silicone and saline types, realistic cosmetic results, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery, risks and how to check a urology clinic.
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Prof. Dr. Zerrin Biçik Bahçebaşı
UrologyVerified
- 37+years exp.
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Testicular prosthesis in Turkey: what it is and how it works
A testicular prosthesis (also called a testicular implant) is a soft, smooth, solid or fluid-filled device placed inside the scrotum to restore its normal appearance and weight on the side where a testicle is missing. It does not produce sperm or hormones and does not change fertility or testosterone levels: it is purely cosmetic and psychological. Men choose it to look and feel symmetrical, to feel comfortable changing in a gym or with a partner, and to regain confidence after loss.
This guide explains who has a testicular implant, how it is placed, which types exist, what the results look and feel like, the approximate cost in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery, risks and how to check a clinic. For related procedures see our overview of urology treatments in Turkey.
Who needs a testicular prosthesis?
The usual reasons are removal of a testicle for cancer or severe infection (see orchiectomy), loss after testicular torsion, injury, atrophy after surgery, and congenital absence or an undescended testicle that was removed in childhood. Some transgender men and boys with a very small testicle also ask for one. Many patients wait months or years after the original operation; there is no deadline, although men who have just had an orchiectomy sometimes ask for an implant to be placed at the same operation. Whether this is possible depends on the cancer team, because the first priority is treating the disease.
How is a testicular prosthesis placed?
The operation is short and is done under general anaesthesia, spinal anaesthesia or sometimes local anaesthesia with sedation. The surgeon makes a small cut either in the groin along the old orchiectomy scar or in the upper scrotum, creates a pocket in the scrotal sac and places the implant. A small anchoring stitch usually keeps it from rising. The wound is closed in layers with dissolvable stitches and covered with a dressing. Total operating time is usually 30 to 60 minutes and most patients go home the same day or after one night.
Both approaches are used. The groin route hides the scar in the pubic hairline and is common after cancer surgery; the scrotal route is quicker but can leave a scar that is slightly more visible.
Silicone, saline or adjustable: which implant types exist?
Most devices today are solid silicone gel shells filled with cohesive gel that resembles the firmness of a natural testicle. Saline-filled implants are inflated with sterile saline through a valve, which lets the surgeon adjust the volume; they are used less often now. Sizes range from small paediatric implants to adult sizes, and a surgeon chooses one by measuring the opposite testicle so that the two match in volume and height. Make sure your clinic uses an implant with the appropriate regulatory approval (CE-marked or FDA-cleared) and gives you the product name and batch card.
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Silicone gel implant | Most adult men; firm, natural-feeling result | Fixed size; may be slightly firmer than a natural testicle |
| Saline-filled implant | Men who want volume fine-tuned at surgery | Can lose volume if the valve or shell leaks |
| No implant | Men happy with their appearance or not ready for surgery | Visible asymmetry; no cosmetic correction |
Whichever option you choose, the aim is a match with the other side rather than a bigger size. If you are also considering other men's health procedures, such as a penile prosthesis, discuss the order of operations with a urologist.
Testicular prosthesis cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for a unilateral implant including surgery and the device, not hospital quotes. They depend on the implant brand and size, the anaesthesia, whether you stay overnight and what the package includes. Each hospital confirms its own price in writing.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €1,200 – €3,500 |
| United Kingdom | €3,000 – €6,500 |
| United States | €4,500 – €12,000 |
| Germany | €3,000 – €7,000 |
What changes the price: one implant or two, the type of device, the surgeon's experience, hospital stay and whether an old scar needs to be revised. A good quote lists the consultation, scrotal ultrasound if needed, the implant, the operation and anaesthetist, one night if required, medication, follow-up and transfers. Ask whether the device is covered if it needs to be replaced.
Testicular prosthesis before and after: what are realistic results?
Photographs normally show a scrotum that hangs symmetrically, with two shapes of similar size and a faint scar in the groin or scrotal skin. The implant feels like a firm, smooth, oval object that moves a little within the sac. It will not feel identical to a natural testicle, and it does not respond to temperature in the same way: a natural testicle rises and falls with warmth, while the implant sits where it was placed. Swelling can make the first weeks look uneven. Final position and softness are judged after three to six months. Surgeons advise managing expectations: the aim is a natural-looking result, not a perfect copy.
Who is a good candidate, and who should wait?
Good candidates are adults or teenagers who have lost or never had a testicle, are in good general health and have healed from the original surgery. It is wise to wait if you have a skin or urinary infection, if cancer treatment is still ongoing and your oncologist has not cleared you, or if you are on blood thinners that cannot be paused. Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes raise the risk of infection and slow healing. Some men also have a very tight scrotum after previous surgery or radiotherapy, in which case the surgeon may need to stretch the pocket gradually or choose a smaller implant.
Your trip to Turkey and recovery step by step
Most patients stay three to five nights: arrival and tests, surgery, an overnight stay if needed and a check before the flight. Expect swelling, bruising and tenderness for one to two weeks. You wear snug supportive underwear day and night for about two weeks, avoid heavy lifting and exercise for four to six weeks, and avoid sex for about four weeks or until the surgeon allows it. Desk work is usually possible after three to seven days. Walking is encouraged from the first day, and short flights are generally allowed once the surgeon has checked you. Contact the clinic if swelling suddenly increases or the scrotum becomes hot, red or very painful.
Risks and complications of a testicular prosthesis
As with any implant, risks include bleeding or a blood collection, infection, pain, scar sensitivity and fluid build-up. Longer-term problems include the implant moving upward, a feeling that it is too firm or too high, capsule tightening, and rarely implant leakage or erosion through the skin, which may need removal or replacement. General urological bodies such as the European Association of Urology and the American Urological Association describe it as a well-established cosmetic operation with a low rate of serious complications when done by an experienced surgeon, but no one can promise that you will not need a revision. Smokers and people with poorly controlled diabetes have a higher chance of infection.
How to choose a surgeon and clinic, and questions to ask
Choose a urologist or plastic surgeon who performs genital implant surgery regularly, in a licensed hospital with an anaesthetist. Check that the implant is a regulated medical device, that you receive a written plan and price before a deposit, and that you know who will treat you if a problem arises at home. Red flags include no named surgeon, no device details, pressure to book quickly, and promises that the result will match a natural testicle exactly. Read how our process works and request a plan through our free quote page. For wider men's health care see andrology and men's health.
- Which implant brand, material and size will be used, and why?
- Will the incision be in the groin or the scrotum?
- Is the implant covered if it needs replacement or revision?
- How many nights in Turkey will I need, and when can I fly home?
- Who handles follow-up and complications after I leave?
Hospitals with Urology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is a smooth, soft implant placed in the scrotum to replace the look and weight of a missing testicle. It is cosmetic only and does not affect sperm production or testosterone levels.
Men who have lost a testicle to cancer, torsion, infection or injury, and those born without one or with an undescended testicle removed in childhood, once they are healed and in good health.
Approximate ranges are €1,200 to €3,500 in Turkey against about €3,000 to €6,500 in the UK. The price depends on the implant, the anaesthesia and the hospital stay, and is confirmed in a written quote.
It looks symmetrical and feels like a firm, smooth oval inside the sac, but it will not feel identical to a natural testicle and does not rise and fall with temperature in the same way.
The operation is done under anaesthesia. Afterwards expect soreness, swelling and bruising for one to two weeks, usually controlled with simple painkillers and supportive underwear.
Desk work is usually possible after three to seven days. Heavy exercise is avoided for four to six weeks and sex for about four weeks, depending on the surgeon's advice.
Sometimes, if the cancer team agrees. Many men wait until healing and any further cancer treatment are complete before choosing an implant.
No. The implant is inert and has no hormonal function. Fertility and testosterone depend on the remaining testicle.
It can move upward or feel too firm, and rarely leaks or becomes infected, which may require revision or removal. Ask the clinic about its policy on replacement.
Most patients stay three to five nights so that the surgeon can check the wound and swelling before the flight home.
Patient stories