Red flags to watch out for

At a conference in 2014, someone introduced himself as "from the competition" my then still very naive heart sunk ... 

I'd been refering to people to their website for at least 2 years. To me, they were making a good packer for everyone out there searching for one. I was working on the design of a "perfect prosthesis". I used to believe that anyone making penis prostheses/packer was a colleague.

There are so many companies now! So many options.

I don't consider t2 prostheitcs as part of the "industry" - I'm designing a prosthesis, not building a business. 

The prosthesis I make cost a lot of money, and most people are not in the position to support this project through orders. Likely, you are at this website out of interest, not here to buy one.

Aside from the prostheses that I make, the best options I see out there are still the basic soft packer, but in some new soft light jockstyle harness system or packing underwear. 

As for erection, I see lots of options. A rod insert system or the classic dildo (but made to look and feel more realistic than they used to be) are the best I see. 

I also see site after site advertising fancy detail work that seems to be designed for photos not for life, and video after video of excited reviewers showing a seemingly never ending line of products. 

Why include this section in this website?

This page is thanks to someone who wrote to me after having been seriously scammed. He didn't write to order, he's not a "customer". We just wrote a bit and he gave me some insights I'd been missing.  

I've been doing this work a long time, and I've developed a good eye. When I see a packer or prosthesis advertised online, I recognise and understand the materials, I can spot if something is well thought out or just well advertised, and I often know when there’s care for safety. 

It's hard to find what will best match what you want, and where to compromise. This page is me sharing some thoughts to help you search for what you'll buy.

There's a wide variety of information out there and lots of misconceptions. Everything I write here is something I've included in an answer to someone in an e-mail, recently. 

Some tips and things to watch out for  

• Unless you want a very noticeable bulge in your pants, the flaccid state should be relatively small and soft. 

• is it soft?  Or will it be a solid chunk in your pants? In general, if it’s not shown to be soft, it probably isn’t.  Check videos - see if it’s malleable.
• See if the penis lays down on it's own. If there is an attachment plate, and the penis is pushed down manually, does the plate come forward whenever the penis is held down? 

• Very soft, with very thin parts, is likely to rip or rub away fast - be aware of that - especially if the price is higher than an inexpensive packer. (Example - a higher price for a foreskin? Expect it could rip very soon, and be sure its worth the price difference with the one that doesn't have the foreskin, and/or that it is still useable if the foreskin rips). Also - really squishy silicone is often the type that must be powdered, and will break down fast (but these are often low priced, and the extra softness may be worth the other drawbacks).

• A pump or rod erection system doesn’t mean the erection is firm. The outer skin may be thick and squishy over a rod system. The entire penis can be soft like a balloon with a pump system. A bendable rod my feel wierd how it bends, unbendable may be too stiff for comfort for the person receiving penetration (things to be aware of and consider). 

• Detailed form and colouring is great - but if you're paying extra for that, and the device is hard and stiff in a way that can't feel natural to the touch or to wear ... is the price worth it for you? Regardless of detailing, it will still look like a prosthesis to anyone who sees it for longer than a glance. No matter how they're advertise. Maybe something that looks natural in pants, and allows you to move naturally is a better idea (often, even those very basic packers look natural for a fleeting glance. And always, they feel more natural at a fleeting touch - a sexual touch, but also any other sort of contact - a hug or someone bumps into you or a kid jumps onto your lap.) 

If advertised as attacheable with adhesive : 

• If silicone based medical adhesive can't be used directly on the prosthesis, it is not made of medical grade silicone. Most non-medical silicones have additives in them that cause silicone glue or the prosthesis to turn gooey - that's the stuff that gets all over the place. (I know of one medical grade silicone that doesn't work well with silicone, but it simply doesn't stick well, it doesn't make that goo.) Some individual people have a ph balance that effects silicone medical adhesive, but for most people medical adhesive works fine when the device is made of medical silicones.
• Most silicone that is compatible with medical adhesive, is relatively firm. If the prosthesis can't squish and bend, the prosthesis won’t stay attached when you move unless you hold it in place with tight underwear or a harness system - one of those incredicly large attachment plates that go up your belly are meant to allow it to hold longer/ better despite being pulled away from your body with each move you make.  

• Most soft prosthesis and packers are made with silicones that are not compatible with silicone based medical adhesive. If a company advertises use with adhesive, check that it is not water based medical adhesive. Water based is very weak and stops sticking once it gets wet (swim, shower, sweat).

• A prosthesis directly bonded over the entire genital area is never a well thought-out design. No adhesive will stay attached well enough to let you move while the prosthesis stays attached to your entire genital area. And if an adhesive that strong is advertised, do not trust the product. Also, your skin needs to breathe, moisture needs to evaporate. Otherwise, you have rashes, infections and stink. And - You need to be able to pee, to clean your skin, to touch your skin. 

STP:  Consider the STP system on offer. 

• Are you planning to feel comfortable at a urinal in a crowded public washroom? If advertised that you can stand to pee without explaining how - ask them to explain. If it’s just a large surface 'cup' or open funnel that collects the urine… how will you control your flow, so that it doesn’t spill? How do you wipe the cup after you pee? If the cup is soft, how will you hold it without accidentally squishing it so the pee spills out? If the cup is hard, how can that be comfortable for daily wear? .. and the tip/meatus hole - the urine needs to go out the meatus with some sort of pressure unless the shape is designed very well. (Have you ever noticed how a tea pot with a badly designed spout has the tea dribble down the pot rather than flow out the spout?) 

and more generally

If something sounds too good to be true, contact the company and ask them to explain how the feature functions. 

If a company advertises things that can't be true or safe - stay away, lots of companies have come and gone. There are a lot of scams.  

It's very easy to create a professional looking website, in whatever style you want, if you want that. And anyone can post a video or write a review - saying whatever they want. And a lot of influencers really just sell clicks. Videos are a way to get a better idea of a device of course, just remember - they talk fast and act excited so that you're entertained and keep watching. (I watched a lot before writing this page).  

Communication. Contact the company or person to see how they communicate/ to be sure that there is someone to communicate with. 

Has the company been around a long time, and still exists?  This is a good indication that people are continuing to support the business. Check with a way back machine - an online archive, there you can put in a site and a date and see how things have been over the years. Of course - new companies with new ideas come up too - and older ones survive if they have the funds. Longevity may say more about advertising and starting capital than anything else - so longevity is just an indication, one of many things to check.