Yes, you can use a vacuum erection device (VED) with a penile implant, and the combination is generally considered safe. A small but notable study found that all 12 patients who used a vacuum pump alongside their prosthesis reported increased rigidity and satisfaction, with 11 of 12 noticing improved length and girth. That said, the answer comes with important nuances depending on your situation, your type of implant, and what you’re trying to achieve.
Why Someone Would Combine the Two
A penile implant creates rigidity through a mechanical system inside the shaft, but it doesn’t increase blood flow the way a natural erection does. One common complaint after implant surgery is that the head of the penis (the glans) stays soft and cool even when the device is inflated. The implant stiffens the shaft, but the glans sits beyond where the cylinders end. A vacuum pump draws blood into the entire penis, including the glans, which can improve fullness, warmth, and overall girth in ways the implant alone cannot.
Some men also feel that the erection produced by their implant is shorter or narrower than what they had before surgery. A vacuum device can temporarily add engorgement on top of the mechanical rigidity, making the result feel more like a natural erection. This combination has been used both with semirigid (malleable) and inflatable implants without reported safety issues.
What the Research Shows
The only published study specifically examining this combination, led by Soderdahl and colleagues, surveyed 12 men who had penile implants and also used a vacuum pump. Every patient reported better rigidity and greater satisfaction with the combined approach compared to the implant alone. Nearly all of them noticed improved length and girth. The study was small and based on patient-reported outcomes rather than lab measurements, but it found no adverse events in either semirigid or inflatable implant users.
This positions the vacuum pump as a practical option for two groups: men who aren’t fully satisfied with how their implant looks or feels during use, and men whose implant has malfunctioned and are waiting for a revision surgery. In both cases, the pump serves as a supplemental tool rather than a replacement.
The Manufacturer’s Perspective
Boston Scientific’s patient guide for the AMS 700, one of the most widely used inflatable implants, states that implanting a prosthesis will “make other treatment options (oral medications, vacuum devices or injections) impossible.” This language is worth understanding in context. It refers to using a vacuum pump as a standalone treatment for erectile dysfunction, which no longer applies once an implant is in place because the implant has already altered the tissue. It does not specifically warn against using a pump alongside the device for supplemental engorgement.
Still, this is a conversation to have with your urologist. Manufacturer language is conservative by design, and your surgeon knows the specifics of your implant placement, healing, and tissue condition.
Using a Vacuum Pump Before Surgery
Vacuum pumps also play a role before an implant goes in. A randomized controlled trial of 51 men scheduled for penile prosthesis surgery found that using a vacuum device for 10 to 15 minutes daily for at least 30 days before the procedure led to measurably greater stretched penile length on the day of surgery. It also made the surgical process easier because the tissue was more pliable and less fibrotic.
Penile length loss is one of the most common concerns men have about implant surgery, and pre-operative vacuum therapy directly addresses it by keeping the tissue stretched and healthy. If you’re still in the planning stages before your procedure, this is worth discussing with your surgeon. The protocol is simple and low-risk.
Addressing the “Cold Glans” Problem
The lack of glans engorgement after implant surgery is common enough that researchers have studied several approaches to it. Beyond vacuum pumps, some men use a small urethral suppository containing a blood-flow-promoting medication that warms and engorges the glans when used with the inflated prosthesis. Oral erectile dysfunction medications like sildenafil have also been studied for this purpose. In one trial of 32 men with implants, adding sildenafil to their routine produced a statistically significant improvement in satisfaction scores.
A vacuum pump offers a drug-free alternative for achieving a similar effect. By drawing blood into the glans and distal tissue before or during use of the inflated implant, you can restore some of the natural fullness and temperature that the mechanical device doesn’t provide on its own. A constriction ring at the base can help maintain that engorgement, though you should use the lowest effective tension and avoid leaving it on for more than 30 minutes to prevent tissue injury.
Practical Tips for Safe Use
If you decide to try a vacuum pump with your implant, keep a few things in mind. First, wait until your surgeon confirms you’re fully healed from implant surgery, which typically takes six to eight weeks. Using a vacuum device on tissue that’s still recovering could cause pain, swelling, or damage to the surgical site.
Use a medical-grade vacuum device rather than a novelty product. Medical devices have pressure-limiting mechanisms that prevent you from creating dangerously high suction, which matters more when there’s hardware inside the penis. Apply the vacuum gradually and stop if you feel pain or unusual pressure. The goal is gentle engorgement, not maximum suction.
If you have an inflatable implant, inflate it before applying the vacuum. The rigidity from the implant gives the tissue structural support, and the vacuum then adds blood flow and fullness on top of that foundation. With a semirigid implant, the device is always in a semi-firm state, so you can apply the pump whenever you’re ready.