[ ARC forum 2 ]

Re: foreskin stretching

Written by Richard at 22 Jan 2002 00:26:21:

As an answer to: Re: foreskin stretching written by Jim at 21 Jan 2002 23:12:12:

>>Alright mate,
>>I had the same problem, and I'm 17 too. Instead of trying to pull your forskin back which is very painful I know pull it foward instead. A method I used was best in the bath, something to do with hot water. What I did was have 1 hot bath a day and try pulling your forskin foward and holding it for a few minutes or so. Repeat this process a few times for a while. This will take a while but I noticed improvement after a couple of weeks. Soon it will be able to be pulled back more easily.
>>I do not recommend the advice of some other people who claim you should place an object, eg. a piece of plastic in the end of your penis as this could damage or scratch vital areas which would not be nice. Stick to the pulling...it will become more elastic...trust me.
>>Thanks
>>~ Jake Booth
>Jake, I can understand that you might be reluctant to try a device for stretching, as without proper caution, anything can cause damage, including improper or overzealous stretching methods.
>However, the method is quite medically sound. The only reason there is not such a device available for prescription is that the medical doctors who generally treat foreskins have much more to make by lopping off the skin, rather than trying to save it.

I think this is a bit of an exaggeration. I think the reason it's not more widespread is because it hasn't won acceptance via CLINICAL TRIALS written up in the literature.

>If you'll read back over some of the post where the advice is given on how to develop the right instrument and how to use it, you'll find the hardy endosement of PaulB, who is a physician who has experience in the field of treating foreskins.
>Using devices for stretching is quite common in the treatment of skin "challenges" and also movement of bones. You have no doubt seen kids in braces, either on their teeth or on their limbs, right? Do you think these things always existed in their present state, or do you think that perhaps along the line, someone stepped out of the box and created such devices from common materials? Don't you suppose they had to be invented and tested?
>It's no different with using something as simple and common as a 35mm film canister for stretching penile tissue. The size is right, the composition of

The size isn't right for me at least. A film canister would be FAR too big for my glans, let alone my foreskin. And I still have serious worries about how hygienic it is for people to have devices under their foreskin for protracted periods. Dental braces are designed in metals that won't corrode. Recommending do-it-yourself devices could be a bit hazardous without supervision. I take your points made below, but people using household objects merely on the say-so of what they read on the internet seems rather unscientific to me.

>the device is right for ease of cleaning and inertness of the plastic. Tape used for affixing such a devise is used in covering wounds, so it follows that it would work for attaching something to the penis.
>The same goes for caps or other plastic devices necessary for use by those with smaller openings.
>Yes, one does need to practice caution, the same as he would taking prescription drugs advised by a physician. Would you just blindly continue swallowing something the doctor asked you to take if that substance were making you ill or if you were witnessing obvious reactions to it? Of course not. One must become a partner with practioners in dealing with health and body issues. Also, do you call your physician each time you have a headache or bodyache and wish to take aspirin or ibuprophen? What about OTC antihistamines? These are really dangerous substances when abused, but generally are considered to be safe in the recommended dosages. Yet, they still need to be monitored by the patient himself.
>Using plastic devices for stretching foreskin tissue is actually quite ingenious. It was invented by those unfortunate fellows who lost their foreskins at the whim of a greedy medical industry. Based mostly in the states, there are several manufacturers of devices which are TAPED to the penile skin in such a manner as to stretch the skin, either by tension of the stretching itself, or by weight. The devices are made of various material that have been found not to cause skin allergies and are easily cleaned. During the past fifteen years that I personally have been aware of their existence, I have not witnessed even one of the companies to have ceased production. In fact, they are flourishing and increasing in number.

I'm sure these are good things, and I have the utmost sympathy with those who want to regrow a foreskin. But the two situations are not necessarily analogous. We just don't have the knowledge, so far as I'm aware.

>Are you aware that there are foreskin restoration groups which provide advice and support for those who wish to join forces with the tens of thousands of men who have already been successful in restoring their penile coverings? The forums are populated with men who are actively involved in their own care and restoration. The use of pill cans and 35mm film cans is a forerunner to the commercial devices on the market today. They work and they work well. Oh, BTW, many of these thousands of guys have actually consulted their doctors about the use of stretching devices. The reactions, of course, run the gamut, but I've never heard of anyone being chastised for using a device for stretching. In fact, some physicians have become so intrigued, that they have taken up the practice of foreskin restoration for themselves.

That may be true, but this is reading more like a dissertation for AJ's benefit than Ian's.

>Caution against hurting oneself has always been given coincidentally with a description of application of the device. Of course, one must be careful. Sharp edges must be filed down or covered with tape to prevent gouging. Progress must be monitored regularly. In addition, hygiene must be maintained.
>The greatest advantage of using a stretching device over intermitten stretching is that it saves time while it gives the skin no choice but to stretch. With diligence, intermitten stretching will also work, but why deny oneself the desired benefit any longer than necessary? Does that make sense?
>

Yes, but I personally would get the heebie-jeebies from sticking things into such an intimate place. Stretching with fingers in the bath is the right place to start off with.

Richard


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