Issue with not enough skin

[Newtugger]

hello all! New tugger here! So after a couple months of jelqing I noticed that I could roll my skin over the glans when flaccid, so decided to look into restoration and was shocked to find this! Needless to say I jumped on it and bought the TLCX.

Put it it on yesterday and it was difficult to say the least. My skin only goes up the cone about a quarter of the way. After several attempts I get it on but a few minutes later it feels like a weird numbness on the skin. Is that supposed to happen? I reduced the tension but the numbness is still there. I'm wondering if I didn't have enough skin and just wasted 150$

I attached a picture of the final look with the device on. If that's enough skin, can someone give me tips on how to put it on? It's a freaking nightmare every time! Also, the videos I find online and here all have the demonstrators with pleeeeenty of skin, which doesn't help us cut guys at all.

Thanks in advance!

[Swingshiftworker]

The TLC-X is really for more advanced tuggers; not novices. How far down is the rod/pusher depressed? If it's not depressed at all, you definitely have a problem. A temporary one, but a problem none the less.

Have you tried to remove the rod/pusher (so that it's just like a regular tugger) to see how it fits? My guess is that is what you need to do for now and after you've grown enough skin, you can put the rod/pusher back in and proceed from there.

If you don't have enough skin to use it w/o the rod/pusher, then you have to resort to other pre-tugger methods, like taping and/or the canister method. They don't make film canisters anymore but you can use a pvc pipe of the appropriate diameter/length to achieve the same result. Ron has produced an excellent video on the tape canister technique.

Good luck!
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[Newtugger]

Hi! Thanks for the response I can push the rod until there's 1cm or less. The biggest hassle is actually putting it on. Trying to keep the skin rolled on then put the plastic cover is the biggest headache. Hand either slips or one side of the skin rolls back down, which means I do the whole process again ugh.

id add more pictures, but this site is also a nightmare when using iPhone photos

[John1624]

I had the same problem when I first started restoring with the DTR. I used the canister for a while and loosened up the skin by wearing the DTR retainer. The retainer was easier to get on by the way.

[Newtugger]

I think with practice it'll get better. I'm finding I'm able to get it on easier now. My big concern is, is it working with that much skin only? Based on the picture, and the rod only less than 1cm, do think it's functioning right?

The numbness subdued. Maybe my shaft skin wasn't used to the cone being on for so long (on started yesterday).

[Camouflage]

I started with a similar situation like you Newtugger. I had to remove the rod from the TLC-X and use it as a simple tugger. I used it like that for a few months. I then got enough slack to use it comfortably with the rod in place. Now after 1,5 years of tugging, I can push the short rod all the way down. It is nice to observe progress.

[parsecskin]

OK.....ONCE AGAIN! Here is THE way to put on a TLC X and get more skin trapped in the device. First, take the retaining cone and fold it back on itself and find something to hold it that way, like a pill tube or film canister. Next pull your skin up all the way around the device body as high and evenly as possible and hold it there with an OK sign type of grip. Now pick up the retaining cone with the other hand by your finger tips and lower it into position and flip the sides down quickly while simultaneously removing your other hand all in one quick motion. This takes some practice, but its not too difficult. This gives you the extra split second you need to trap more skin before it slides back. Now just even up the skin and do your thing.
You should also install one of these rubber grommets to keep the cone from slipping. You can get one at the hardware store. You may have to grind the thickness down so it fits properly if you can't find one the correct thickness.

I FEEL LIKE A BROKEN RECORDING ON THIS ISSUE. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS PUTTING ON THE DEVICE AS INSTRUCTED DUE TO LACK OF SKIN. RON, YOU REALLY NEED TO INCORPORATE THE INFORMATION IN THIS THREAD INTO YOUR PRODUCT LITERATURE AND WEBSITE, GROMMET AND ALL. WTF????

[mjwise]

I think Ron is hesitant to recommend anything that causes the skin cone to "bear down" on the skin any more (or lock the skin cone in a certain position), out of concern for people experiencing pain or loss of circulation. I can only speak for my own use, but if I wore the TLC-X with a grommet like that, it would be painful because the skin cone just naturally rests higher than where your grommet would hold it. The grommet may help you out, but it certainly wouldn't be a general recommendation I would make.

OP, I think you should start without the inner rod and and pusher and use it as a regular tugger for a few months and then introduce the rod and pusher. You seem a bit short on skin right now. You may limber things up fast enough that you can introduce the pusher sooner than that. The initial mechanical stretch lots of guys experience in the few few weeks will help with this.

[parsecskin]

[QUOTE=mjwise;n6933]I think Ron is hesitant to recommend anything that causes the skin cone to "bear down" on the skin any more (or lock the skin cone in a certain position), out of concern for people experiencing pain or loss of circulation. I can only speak for my own use, but if I wore the TLC-X with a grommet like that, it would be painful because the skin cone just naturally rests higher than where your grommet would hold it. The grommet may help you out, but it certainly wouldn't be a general recommendation I would make.

OP, I think you should start without the inner rod and and pusher and use it as a regular tugger for a few months and then introduce the rod and pusher. You seem a bit short on skin right now. You may limber things up fast enough that you can introduce the pusher sooner than that. The initial mechanical stretch lots of guys experience in the few few weeks will help with this.

Sorry, mjwise, but you don't know what you are talking about. The grommet DOES NOT increase clamping pressure if its the correct thickness. When the device is under tension the grommet "floats". It just keeps the cone from falling off should something bump the bottom edge. Try it, you'll like it.

[Newtugger]

Well this escalated quickly I don't have a canister or grommet, and can't really fork another 50$ on delivery as I live in Asia. Surprisingly, this morning I was able to do the whole thing in one go! Like I said gang, it's not that I can't do it, it's that the motion of slipping my hand off the skin while also putting the rubber protector is annoying. I think the support I got here was great (for the most part). Please don't get angry at people asking for help >.>

thanks all! I'll post a progress report in a months time!

[mjwise]

Oh, I thought the whole point of the grommet was to hold the cone down onto the skin. I can't say I've ever had a situation where the cone got knocked forward, but 1) I wear Tug n Wear (worth the money and then some - eliminates chafing and knocking and holds things if things really go awry) and 2) I always use spring tension, even when tugging with a strap, so the cone never wants to fall forward. Some occasional skin slippage can occur, but a floating grommet won't prevent that if it's not actually causing the skin cone to clamp onto the skin.

Regardless, I don't see how a grommet solves the OP's dilemma. He simply needs more skin. Also, it looks a little big on him, but that's hard to tell from a single photo.

ETA: Can I make a request that the forum regulars just stop being so catty towards each other? I literally don't understand it and it just scares off people who are just looking for advice.

[NITRO]

As long as it doesn't slip or something, then it should be fine. I started with only a little bit more than you, but it worked out.

[youssefb]

hi newtugger. i had the same issue with my device and i was pretty upset about it at first. i had to "downgrade" to the canister method for a month or so until i was fully able to use the tlc-x. it's still not very convenient to put on. but i've gotten much better at it. i have to agree with parsecskin on the grommet issue. for me, it was that the outer cone was slipping too much when i was wearing it. i used a hairband on it and the problem stopped. for me, at least, there was no issue with pressure on the skin. once i got the grommet thing down, then i knew i was in business. just be self-aware when using it. if it hurts, then take it off. if not, use it. i bought an extra outer cone recently, and it appears to have a smaller opening at the end, which has made retaining the skin much easier. the tugger isn't an easy thing to get used to. but with time, it'll get easier.