Progress seems to have stalled (17 months)

[Man_in_Maryland]

Hello new forum. It's good to be back.

I've been doing foreskin restoration for about 15-17 months. I've used a device during all those months. For the majority of the time, it has been the TLC Tugger, but I've probably also used the DTR device for a cumulative 6-7 or so of those months. I've been very consistent in my usage, and spend and average of about 11 hours a day, 5 days a week, with weekends for rest.

The issue is that any progress I've made has been at an absolute snail pace after the first six months. I started out at about a CI-1, and have gone to a CI-3. However, any progress I've made after that point is smaller that the daily fluctuations in my flaccid size due to temperature, bodily conditions, and so on. If I've just stepped out of a cold shower, I can trick myself into thinking that I've made a bit of recent progress, but in the typical flaccid state, I have to strain myself to believe that I'm in any better a condition than I was 12 months ago.

I don't know what to do. I've read some thoughts on the old forum about how adequate tension is what causes growth most effectively, rather than long periods of tension. As such, I'm considering trying daily manual tugging periods in the evening with or without the devices. If anyone has advice, I'd love to hear it.

[LetsGrow]

I'm not a expert by any means but I'd take the advice Chuck (the creator of the DTR) gave me. Don't be aftaid to mix things up. Mess around with tension, but do it slowly as to not cause any pain. I believe you are close to the "hump" stage which is the longest part of reatoration from what iv heard, or rather the most slow feeling. I believe I'm starting off in this area and it will probably feel slow at first.

Don't push yourself to hard but don't be afraid to try something new if the results you're getting don't feel right. Just be safe.

[Going Hooded]

Part of my restoration was my scrotum becoming the correct size. Meaning it had been forced onto the shaft of my penis. Are your testicles hanging any lower? It may be your entire genital "realigning" causing you not to see a difference.

[parsecskin]

Yep, "Enter The Hump" stage for sure. This IS the longest and slowest stage of the entire process. I'm there too at about a ci3.5 or so. 2 things that are signs of progress which are subtle but noticeable are increasing wrinkles when flaccid and as you gain skin the device will become easier to apply. The other thing that happens as you gain skin is that your normal average "hang" will increase too. This is because your penis is free to hang un-restrained by tighter skin. This takes up skin slack. It will stop and your wrinkles will be noticeable even during a larger hang state. Keep on tugging and don't give up.

[Man_in_Maryland]

I think the most useful input at this stage would be hearing from people who've tried manual tugging and devices separately, each long enough to compare the results, as well as people with lots of experience in FR in general.

Part of my restoration was my scrotum becoming the correct size. Meaning it had been forced onto the shaft of my penis. Are your testicles hanging any lower? It may be your entire genital "realigning" causing you not to see a difference.

That's actually a good point. Yes, my scrotum has certainly been getting noticeably larger over the time I've been restoring. This might actually be the biggest drawback I've found for FR so far: Now that my balls hang lower, finding comfortable pants and sitting positions has become much trickier.

[Swingshiftworker]

CI-3 to CI-4 is a typical plateau. Hard to get the restored foreskin to remain over the rim of the glans. The only solution is to keep on tugging. You're still growing new skin whether you realize it or not. It will just take awhile to grow enough new skin overcome the elasticity of the skin to prevent it from pulling back automatically. That least that was my experience.

FWIW, I'm now at CI-6/7 and this too is another frustrating plateau and, even at this level, my skin sometimes fully retracts beyond the rim of the glans. The hard part for me now is to grow enough skin so that the glans is covered 24/7, which I have not yet been able to achieve but I can "see" the progress.

It just takes time and perseverance. Good luck!

[parsecskin]

Swingshift is right. CI3-4 is frustrating as hell. That's where I am now. Guys with larger glans, like myself, have a more difficult time with this because the larger glans presents a larger obstacle for the skin to over come. But by the same token, once you have grown enough skin to stay covered reliably, that same larger glans presents an obstacle that keeps the skin from rolling back on its own. The other trick is to make sure that you grow enough inner skin so that it is in contact with as much of your glans as possible because once you do have reliable coverage and your inner mucosa has moistened back up, it will become slightly sticky (which feels real good) and will additionally help to keep your skin in place. A final level of CI 8 or so is recommended.

[Going Hooded]

CI-3 to CI-4 is a typical plateau. Hard to get the restored foreskin to remain over the rim of the glans. The only solution is to keep on tugging. You're still growing new skin whether you realize it or not. It will just take awhile to grow enough new skin overcome the elasticity of the skin to prevent it from pulling back automatically. That least that was my experience.

FWIW, I'm now at CI-6/7 and this too is another frustrating plateau and, even at this level, my skin sometimes fully retracts beyond the rim of the glans. The hard part for me now is to grow enough skin so that the glans is covered 24/7, which I have not yet been able to achieve but I can "see" the progress.

It just takes time and perseverance. Good luck!

I tend to think your body is returning to the way it was suppose to always be. The testicles aren't meant to be inside or close to the body. Maybe your sperm count will go up.

[Man_in_Maryland]

Admin, could you please move this to the "General Restoration Discussion" forum?