Current daily routine (Question from Ashton)

"I tried restoring a year ago but gave it up b/c I didn't like tugging. I'm just getting back into it and have purchased a tlc-x and some packers and extra cones. I'm concerned with moving to fast and being too aggressive with it. I really want to have a sweet tight coverage when I'm done restoring. So I'm thinking I should just go slow and be patient with it. I'm dedicated to it now though. You've inspired me not to stop this time. :)

Would you mind replying back with your typical day and activities and how you progress through a day and night? Basically, your restoring routine. I really like the results you say that you've had and I think that we both had the same amount of foreskin in tact before we started. I really want this to work out but want it to look good. Just don't want to mess it up. "

Hey ashton,
TLC-X was a good choice, I use it during the day and do my "o-tape " otherwise especially while sleeping. I have given up completely on tugging at night since it always comes off and or becomes uncomfortable, just wear a retainer that is secured but not too tightly to prevent a comfortable boner.

I found that if you wear the tlc-x every day all the time, the skin gets exhausted and the tlc-x comes off more easily. If you take breaks like this at night, you wont have any problems with the skin and it gives it time to heal.

Also, when you apply the tlc-x, you shouldnt have a whole lot of movement in the plunger part of it. maybe only 1/4 to 1/2 inch. if its more than an inch for example, you are applying it wrong and not putting enough even tension on that inside area. If you want to expand a greater area of skin, use a larger insert piece. (like the 16mm one you mentioned getting, I use a 24mm one )

thanks, and let me know if you have any more questions :)

O-Rings - Third[?] time is the charm

I have tried o-rings before without much success.
A few days ago I tried them again, again without much success.

But I was successful enough to at least get some benefit from them. As far as I can tell you can only wear them for short periods of time because they totally restrict your circulation and if you leave them on it'll result in.... you guessed it... another circumcision or possibly worse. You have to be careful and I honestly dont think this is a good way to restore.

But that said I think this is sort of a "sprint " in the restoring world. If you could wear o-rings for like an hour or two per day and then wear just a retainer that holds the skin very gently at the position you want I think you could get sick results.

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Moving on, my swim practices are canceled all week this week since we have exams. But my mom wants me to practice anyway so she has been bringing me on my own. This means two things......

1) My friends arent there
2) I have to use the men's changing room since the team's room isnt available

So since I am using the regular men's locker room, I wore the o-rings under both my speedo and in the shower. With the brief on it didnt really matter because my starting overhang when I am in cold water and all tiny its fairly prominent so it looks the same if not just thicker, which I dont really think looks that good but whatever nobody was really looking and at least you couldnt see this penis head outline instead gross.

In teh shower there were like 5 older guys and they all looked down at me like 5 times over and over. I am glad they were curious but I obviously felt safe since there were so many other people in the shower area steam room and the sauna plus the lockers so I wasnt worried about getting abducted or harassed. I was ready to answer questions but I think they were too nervous since I am so young. I dont blame them for looking because its pretty obvious and looks totally anteatered (a good thing ) but I am now like a walking billboard when I am in those areas. I just hope nobody thinks I am perverted or something.

This summer when I dont have as many practices I will probably wear them sometimes just for kicks but I honestly like sporting just my naturally obtained "fauxskin " just as much.

Its a tossup and I can go either way, but anything to promote the intact look to most cut guys. I think people understand the o-rings right away as long as they got a clear view to see that its many small rings like that african neck thing not just a bandage or something. It definitely doesnt look bandaged.

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One more thing. I really think that the TLC-Tugger's inner part makes the best insert for using o-rings especially if it fits nicely and or has the frenulum groove cut if you still have yours and it didnt get lopped off by that nasty circumciser doctor!! eww. You can make your own insert using a baby bottle or pacifer nipple filled with clay or glue or some other thing but since the TLC gives it that anteater look and has that metal piece at the top thats so thin allowing the least amount of elasticity on the o-rings and pressure on the skin without sacrificing any effectiveness or whatever the heck I am talking about

As for o-ring sizing, buy a lot of o-rings. you would be surprised that you will need a very large size. Even me being young I still need a pretty big o-ring since my skin is pretty thick. But you want a THIN o-ring not a thick one so that you can actually stretch it around and get a solid ring of skin in there.

You need to put like 4 fingers inside the ring to stretch it then keep applying o-rings 1 below the other until you are unable to push the ones at the top off easily and there is an even and balanced ring of bunched skin at the top holding them all on.

AND BE CAREFULL!!!! YOU CANT WEAR THEM FOR TOO LONG it is dangerous. Overnight is WAY too risky and even during the day at school or work I wouldnt recommend. Maybe when working out or at sports or coming home from school or work wear them for an hour or two MAXIMUM. Or get a looser o-ring if you can get it to stay on and find a big enough insert that is still comfortable and not weird or obvious.

What I am doing now....

My current method of choice is...
Daytime (school / class / weekends or at home): TLC-X with the 24mm spacer
Nighttime: Trombone mouthpiece (how to wear it )
Sports or swimming: Just tape as a retainer, sometimes
Changing rooms: nothing, ever. My fauxskin does its job and keeps me covered.

This seems to be the best choice since wearing the tlc-x to bed can be annoying if you arent awake to adjust it if necessary. So you would subconsciously take it off in the middle of the night and ruin your progress from what was 24/7 tension.

The only downside is that you have to take off the TLC-X to pee but that just means you need to use the stall and be quick. But it is no big deal, just make sure you put it on properly afterward with diligence so that it doesnt slip off suddenly during your day. It hasnt happened to me but it could and you just have to be careful to check whether you think it has made a good fit on your junk. If it feels sketchy then chances are it will not stay on!!

I do have one TLC-X complaint.

With the TLCS24 insert it sometimes pokes your glans in weird ways and starts to hurt. there is no pain anywhere else. I have tried to solve the problem by wrapping the insert with the 3M skin colored foam tape that I usually use for all sorts of stuff and it seems to be a lot more comfortable. Another restorer suggested using "memory foam " but I am seeking more information before spending my hard earned money on materials!!

But the TLC-X is still a really good product and I think this will be resolved with only minor efforts if it hasnt been already with a coating of tape. I am wearing it now and it feels a bit better.

Message from Carl... TLC-X vs. Cat ii q ?

Adam,

How does the TLCX differ from the CAT? I still haven't purchased the CAT and am thinking now if the TLC isn't the same.

Thanks,
Carl

It's a softer material and comes in a variety of configurations. I think its better because it doesnt slip off as easily as the Catiiq but because of this is a little more of a pain to put onto yourself. (the catiiq literally just slips on and adjusts, where as the tlc-x can require more effort to get just-right)

its all a wash and but I really think that the tlc-x is the better product since you can upgrade as you go and ron low has such a great history with the restoring community.

Another added benefit to the tlc-x is that it has a narrower cone, which definitely encourages a tighter cling to the glans. I can speak that this is absolutely true, and that alone is a huge advantage to the TLC-X over the catiiq.
-adam

TLC-x > cat iiq

I'm just posting this article before school so I dont forget later with my busy afternoon. hockey AND swim practice on the same night


http://tlctugger.com/prodTLC.htm
Over christmas I got a gift from my intact cousin who supports my restoring efforts greatly... the TLC-X. Its the mother of all devices I think!

The thing that really seals the deal for me is the way that I'm cut. Mogen clamp. This puts the scar and separation from inner to outer foreskin right smack in the middle vertically of my shaft (across )... its 50/50. until now I havent found a device that accurately expands just this area, mostly ignoring the inner few centimeters of perfection and frenulum. this is important though and I really needed something to help me finish my restoring efforts well enough

BUT with the TLC-X and the optional 24mm attachment , this 50% of inner skin is offset by the inner piece mostly and I can work on expanding just that outer part, while making it an inner part using this device. It works so damn well!! and the results are great. I know it fits perfect because I can feel the end of my frenulum from the outside in the stretched part between the two inner TLC-cones. Diagram is below but it kind of sucks since I drew it with Paint.



I'm making good progress for life! The only thing you need to watch out for is what kind of cut you have based on how much skin you have where. if your scar is right below your shaft, or if you are just starting out restoring, you should just use the regular non 24mm attachcment (i think the regular one is like 1-2mm to start). you can use the 24mm one later to tug harder (which you dont need anyway) but for me its critical that I use it now because of the way I was cut having so much inner skin! (when is why I made the diagram in the first place )

Trombone mouthpiece

12-27-2007: The best way to use the trombone mouthpiece is updated: /2007/12/update-on-best-way-to-use-trombone.html

I was at the mall with my mom today and remembered people using trombone mouthpieces during the day to restore. I went to the music store and bought one, then put it on in a stall in the mall bathroom.



Since I already had tape wrapped just smaller than the glans to keep the skin forward I just pulled the skin back, unwrapped the mouthpiece and placed it on the tip, then with a little effort pushed the skin back forward over it. The tape had to stretch a little but once it was past the lip on the mouthpiece it held even the weight of the entire thing when I was completely soft. it is awesome.

My favorite feature about wearing this during the day is that I think when I have to go to gym or swimming at school I can just pull the mouthpiece out and I'm already taped then. (the tape stretches past the lip but not enough to let it fall out on its own )

You can even wear it with the TLC Tugger's your skin cone instead of tape. Its like the two were meant to be together! However I'm not sure if the outer cone's pressure would restrict inner-pull. I will ask around (or reply back to me! )

The last and most important thing is that you can pee through the air duct normally without taking it off. Just pull it out, do your business, and put it away after. you can even use a urinal as long as there are dividers so people cant see the shiny thing there!

I will give more reports later if I find any problems, but for now I really think this is good. Again, to put it on from the beginning without having anything there: place it on the tip, roll the skin over the mouthpiece's lip as far as you can without pulling any hair skin over, then tape it there so that the tape's ring is smaller than the lip of the mouthpiece. It works really well but try it out for yourself before you go out walking around in the mall like I did! but it seriously works that good and it weighs a lot to help you grow more skin whenever!

Clothes, Manual tugging, Dekernelization, and some TLC tugger tips!

I'm still making really good progress here on restoring. Since I last posted I made some more discoveries.

1. Clothes rubbing really bother me now more than ever if I dont keep the tip covered with skin. Its bad, but has part to do with the dekernelization of the glans which I'm going to talk more about later. However, I really like the sensitivity boost and its covered most of the time by my new skin now.

2. Manual tugging is very very important. more than I thought it was before. If you tug manually for a few minutes (lots of tension but not painful, just stretching ), then put the TLC tugger on after, Ive seen changes overnight in length from the efficientcy of this strategy. See my TLC tugger tip below.

How to manual tug: I usually use both hands to pull the areas of shaft skin I want to expand away from each other in sort of a stretching motion. Once I feel tension I hold it there for 30 seconds and then repeat a few more times before putting the tlc tugger on. (see instructions below )

3. Dekernelization: When the tip ( glans) is exposed all of the time on a circumcised penis it dries out and wrinkles and roughens like chapped lips. Now that I have new skin to cover it like the other intact kids at school or swim /hockey practice, I obviously dont want it to stay chapped and wrinkled because thats embarrassing and it feels like rubber! It should be smooth and plain like theirs!

Good news: I've found out accidentally that urine is the best way to regain health and sensitivity of this part. I think this is because intact kids and guys usually just pee with the skin forward sometimes, especially when they are kids. Urine is sterile and acidic according to wikipedia and that must help accelerate the shedding of the dried out layers.

4. TLC tugger wearing tip: This helps a lot. Once you start manually tugging you will see a huge increase in skin much faster than you had before. You have to do it all of the time though. Once this is happening, you can put less skin into the tugger ( think about only halfway up the inner cone instead of to the top) and it will stay on very well. I love the way it feels and I even increased the tension to way more than I was using before without any pain (from grabbing a hair, for example ) or discomfort. it actually feels like its doing its job twice as well. Just make sure you pull on the tugger before applying the strap to make sure its really secure, and instead of trying to adjust the skin if its not... take the entire device off and then put it back on each time until it fits right. If you adjust it manually instead of taking it off you can get folds of skin inside against the inner cone.

bye for now.

Progress update

Right now my progress is pretty slow since I'm working on the skin on the under-side trying to catch it up. Not too much though since I dont want that to be too long, right now its almost perfect.

Manual stretching is helping a lot, not just for this, but in general. I really like using my hands to stretch it out hard before then gently putting on the tlc tugger before bed. Then tape during the day.

I've ditched the catiiq for now since I dont think it really fits me very well. The TLC tugger does a great job when you tug manually and it has a "Mini" tugger available for younger guys like me working on a tight, natural finish.

TLC Tugger at night and CAT IIQ in day is the best way

I started wearing the TLC tugger (mini cone with the frenulum slice I cut with scissors) at night and the CAT IIQ to school instead of wearing the CAT all of the time. This is the perfect setup

The two work together really well because they tug in different directions, and the TLC then applies pressure to smooth out the overhang. It looks SO GOOD.