Questions about O-Rings as a retainer

[BackToNatural]

So I've been progressing nicely with manual restoration over the past 3 months (formerly used a DTR) and as I gradually gain more slack, I've been wondering about the best ways to retain. I'm currently using the "Manhood Restorer" and I originally purchased 3 of them. Problem is, I live in Canada and our dollar is absolute crap right now; 3 manhood's for $30 USD would be about $45 CAD. I already lost one of my 3 while cycling home one day, and I'm apprehensive to buy more because of the price. So I'm wondering about O-Rings; in particular, how much slack (CI-index) do you need to reliably keep them from slipping off? Thanks

[Swingshiftworker]

You can box a box full of o-rings of various sizes at Harbor Freight (in store or online) for just a few bucks. Metric or English, your choice.

See: http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...sult?q=o+rings

I bought a box to use for my ear piercing but there are also sizes in the box that I could use for foreskin retention. Have never thought to try o-rings for FR since I wear my Tugger almost 24/7 and I really have had no need for them, but now that we're discussing it, I think I may give them a try. My guess (w/o any prior experience, yet) is to use a size that is not too tight (so that there isn't a restriction on blood/urine flow) or too loose (that I'll fall off).

My guess is about how much "slack" you need to use one will vary greatly from person to person. Only way to find out if it will work for you is good old "trial and error." The wide variety of sizes in a Harbor Freight o-ring box would help in the process.

Update: Just tried putting an o-ring around my foreskin. Needed a 22mm x 3mm ring to fit around my very thick foreskin. It was difficult getting it on but, once on, it stayed on. The ring entirely compresses the foreskin so that I can't pee through it and, even though it fits, it'll pop off if I get an erection. Also, although I am a CI-6/7, there's still not enough skin to make wearing the o-ring look "natural;" ie., not enough skin for it to hang like a normal prepuce tip, which I'm sure I lost w/circumcision (and will never regain even with restoration).

[Huskyjerk]

I wanst able to use o-rings or anything to retain effectively untill I got past the hump stage. After ci-4 or so it was much easier. Retaining to early can be troublesome. When you gain sensitivity and you will, it will force you to retain or be very uncomfortable as your newely sensitive glans will rub on everything. I think it better to wait for some reliable coverage before trying to retain.

[parsecskin]

I wanst able to use o-rings or anything to retain effectively untill I got past the hump stage. After ci-4 or so it was much easier. Retaining to early can be troublesome. When you gain sensitivity and you will, it will force you to retain or be very uncomfortable as your newely sensitive glans will rub on everything. I think it better to wait for some reliable coverage before trying to retain.

You are right, Husky. Retaining too early is almost impossible and you definitely want to keep covered once dekeritinization has taken place, so it's best to make sure you have enough skin to retain easily. O-rings are a cheap and easy retainer and can be purchased at any hardware store for less than $1. You might also check out Hyper restore's retainer. It's a lot like a TLC retaining cone, but much thinner and very elastic and you can pee thru it.

[Huskyjerk]

It should also be said that you must be very carefull with o-rings. Use the smallest o-ring possible. You do not want your glans being able to go thru the o-ring. Never sleep with the o-rings on.

[BackToNatural]

Thanks for the replies guys. I went and spent $3 on some assorted O-Rings at the hardware store and although I was able to find an O-Ring that "fit" it was very hard to apply; I basically had to force the skin through (very minor pain from this) and the end result pushed my penis almost all the way into my body and a big bunching of skin on the opposite side of the O-Ring. Basically this told me that I don't quite have enough skin to use these; I'm at about ci-3.5, still trying to get over the hump stage. I'll try again when I'm a solid confirmed ci-4.

[Kayotick]

Thanks for the replies guys. I went and spent $3 on some assorted O-Rings at the hardware store and although I was able to find an O-Ring that "fit" it was very hard to apply; I basically had to force the skin through (very minor pain from this) and the end result pushed my penis almost all the way into my body and a big bunching of skin on the opposite side of the O-Ring. Basically this told me that I don't quite have enough skin to use these; I'm at about ci-3.5, still trying to get over the hump stage. I'll try again when I'm a solid confirmed ci-4.

I just started using o-rings yesterday, while a bit difficult to push the skin through my shaft, it is not visible.

I do have a question regarding the theory posted here: https://foreskinrestore.com/Oring_theory.html

How concerned should I be about the scar formation described from that theory if I don't use them at night? I do also have a TLC -X Tugger which I use for about 1-2 hours per day and one of there retaining cones which works but is not super effective for staying in place if I am doing any type of physical activity.

Should I be concerned about scar tissue forming if I don't use the o-rings at night? Below is a screen grab taken from the link referenced above:



Below is the current state of my skin while using an o-ring, sorry if this is not the best angled picture:





Any feedback regarding the use of o-rings for retaining would be very beneficial and greatly appreciated.

[greg_b]

I would not worry about scar tissue as hypothesized in that link. It does not sound plausible that it caused scar tissue, to me. There was no supporting evidence of injury that would lead to scar tissue forming.

You do not say how you plan to use O-rings. Are you using them for growing skin, or for simply retaining?

Regards

[Kayotick]

I would not worry about scar tissue as hypothesized in that link. It does not sound plausible that it caused scar tissue, to me. There was no supporting evidence of injury that would lead to scar tissue forming.

You do not say how you plan to use O-rings. Are you using them for growing skin, or for simply retaining?

Regards

Thanks for the reply. I am just using them for retaining while using the TLC-X for restoration.

[Science Monk]

The size O-ring that worked for me as a single-ring retainer was 1 3/16 inch (3 cm) outer diameter X 15/16inch (2.4 cm) inner diameter X 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick (Danco brand #18, black natural rubber). Others at NORM meetings confirmed that this size worked for them also. The size of the O-ring needed depends more on the thickness of the foreskin that on the size of the penis.

Interestingly, guys who go shopping for O-rings cold - without any idea of what size to get - frequently come home with a set of O-rings all too small! Don’t underestimate the size of your male member…..and your foreskin remnant!

Personally, I never found O-rings to be that useful. They tend to fall off when they rub against clothing. I frequently needed to use pieces to tape to help them stay put. So, for me, it was best to just use a tape ring (3M Absolute Waterproof tape).

Because tape rings and cross-tapes tend to stay put better than O-rings, the tape retainers are better for strenuous activities. I know of one restorer who used them for retaining during rock climbing.

Tape rings and cross-tapes are also safer for retaining while sleeping than O-rings. If you are an extreme grower, like I am, it is possible for the O-ring to wriggle its way down the shaft of your penis as you sleep. You might then wake up with the O-ring strangulating your penis in a subsequent nocturnal erection. In such an emergency, a tape retainer can be removed much more readily.

Some guys who like to swim find O-rings (or a Your-Skin Cone) invaluable however. A snug swim jock can be used to help keep the O-ring (or a Your-Skin Cone) properly positioned.

I used a black natural rubber O-ring and never got around to switching to the red silicone ones, which are supposed to stay on better. Also, theoretically, you can also develop an allergy to the proteins in natural rubber, but you can't develop an allergy to silicone. Silicone is inert. You're immune system can't recognize it. However, the man on who championed the Multiple O-Ring method on the old (now defunct) restore-list, said he never heard of a man who claimed getting an allergy to the black natural rubber O-rings even though they are made of natural rubber. They have a tough shiny glaze on the outside that may help prevent exposure to the natural rubber inside. He recommended replacing an O-ring if the outer surface somehow got roughed up.

A man at the San Diego Chapter of NORM invented “sticky O-rings.” He rolled a length of Micropore paper tape, sticky side out, into a long slim cylinder about 3 mm in diameter. He then twisted the ends together like a snake biting its tail to make a “sticky O-ring.” If he rolled the Micropore paper tape at an angle, the ends of the slim cylinder would naturally taper, which facilitated twisting the ends together.

In the US, the big box stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s no longer sell O-rings by the piece. Packs of 10 only. The ACE Hardware store and True Value hardware stores near me still sell O-rings by the piece however.

The TLC Tugger business supports this forum. It sells the Your-Skin Cone, which can be used alone as a retainer, and serves as an introduction to the TLC Tugger line of products for some restoring men.
Link may be NSFW (explicit photos Your-Skin Cone in use):
https://tlctugger.com/your-skin-cone/

Ref:
Link may be NSFW (explicit photos of tape rings and cross-tapes in use):
https://web.archive.org/web/20080724...ore/techs.html

David
World As Monkey Island

[Kayotick]

The size O-ring that worked for me as a single-ring retainer was 1 3/16 inch (3 cm) outer diameter X 15/16inch (2.4 cm) inner diameter X 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick (Danco brand #18, black natural rubber). Others at NORM meetings confirmed that this size worked for them also. The size of the O-ring needed depends more on the thickness of the foreskin that on the size of the penis.

Interestingly, guys who go shopping for O-rings cold - without any idea of what size to get - frequently come home with a set of O-rings all too small! Don’t underestimate the size of your male member…..and your foreskin remnant!

Personally, I never found O-rings to be that useful. They tend to fall off when they rub against clothing. I frequently needed to use pieces to tape to help them stay put. So, for me, it was best to just use a tape ring (3M Absolute Waterproof tape).

Because tape rings and cross-tapes tend to stay put better than O-rings, the tape retainers are better for strenuous activities. I know of one restorer who used them for retaining during rock climbing.

Tape rings and cross-tapes are also safer for retaining while sleeping than O-rings. If you are an extreme grower, like I am, it is possible for the O-ring to wriggle its way down the shaft of your penis as you sleep. You might then wake up with the O-ring strangulating your penis in a subsequent nocturnal erection. In such an emergency, a tape retainer can be removed much more readily.

Thank you for the information and reply. Yeah did exactly that and bought sizes too small and caused a sore. Found that size #15 o-ring stays in place pretty good although it's definitely not perfect. For someone like me who as a desk job it will suffice. I have not tested it with other activities such as working out but the tape rings / cross-tapes are intriguing and something I will be looking into if I run into issues. Thanks again for this information.