To achieve this goal, I’m employing specific methods and techniques.
These techniques are applied over the course of the program, and the more I can hold to the guidelines, the better chance I’ll have of reaching the goal. Everyone may have their own system to reach the same goal, and what works for me may or may not work for others. However, as with any difficult-to-reach goal, persistence and consistency will be the keys to success.
I sometimes live in warmer, humid climates so I often wear shorts or maybe go swimming in a pool or on the beach, so wearing tape usually becomes a nightmare at some point. I can’t let that bother me this time.
Often what happens is the 2″ Micropore tape I use separates at the fold after several hours, and it really hurts as it slowly pulls off from the skin. This kind of behavior hasn’t happened everywhere but it’s happening in my current location. The more I pull, the more it rips and winds up irritating the skin. If it comes off too fast, it can cause painful damage to the skin itself and can take several days to heal. Usually when that happens once or twice, I forget about my original goals and just give up. I suppose that won’t happen this time.
In order to overcome the splitting tape problem, I have to add a 1″ 3M reinforcement strip on both sides of the T-Tape, right over the fold. I’ve found that usually does the trick. It may take more time to construct, but at least it’s not so painful.
If anyone is wondering, I have a knee strap, a waist strap, and an over-the-shoulder-behind-the-back strap that I’ve constructed and I use for pulling the tape. I found these really powerful suspender clips online that can hold the tape forever, and I use various types of latching clips connected to the elastic straps to pull on the suspender clips/tape. There’s really nothing wrong with these pulling contraptions if the tape stays together.
In addition to the T-Tape, I have 2 DTR devices that I ordered online from Chuck. I’ve had them for several years now. They’re really great and well-made devices, and I suppose if my length was long enough they would be ideal for stretching the right part of the skin the right way. The really nice thing about them is that they can be worn, installed and removed without messy and painful taping. Although I haven’t tried many other available devices, I’m sure this one would do the trick if used consistently. However, it hasn’t worked for me in the past. This isn’t so much because of the device or it’s function, but because my length is so short I can’t use any kind of retainer at night to maintain the growth accomplished during the day. Although some people use O-rings or other devices to hold their new skin in place overnight, I can’t do that (not enough extra skin). The only way I can keep the growth going overnight is with the tape.
As far as showering is concerned, I’ve found that the tape does get stronger after a shower if I let it dry in place. Unfortunately, while it’s drying it likes to peel off, or I have to wait 1 hour before I can clip it to anything…then I’ll forget and lose several hours. Instead I’ve found that usually the most efficient way is to just put on a new one after showering, clip it and go.
Anyway this is just a summary for now. I’ll try to add some images and appropriate links at some point in the future, but for now this text will have to do.
Just for reference, I’ll be trying to use tape as much as possible, with the DTR at times when tape is impossible or inconvenient. I’ll be doing my best to keep something on all night long.