Anyone else non-op on the chest front?

[insideontheoutside]

Just wondering if anyone else out there is going non-op on the chest front for whatever reasons. Or if surgery is so far off that you are just having to wait a long time.

I was wondering if there are any negative long term effects (aside from the smooshing of tissue) that any of you have experienced? Or any on-going issues/problems? I just mean with regular binding too, not double binding or binding with ace bandages or so tight that you're having difficulty breathing. I just mean you have found a comfortable binder that works for you and you use it all the time.

I hate my chest, but surgery just isn't in the cards for me so I'm trying to be proactive on how I can deal with it, but avoid any minor (or major!) health problems from binding.

thx

[LaPapito]

"Hey 'Inside' I had tha same issue when I was making my 'transition' to the male side... however I was blessed with not-so-large 'breast-tah-ses' "

"I am an ongoing athlete" most of the time...and in my early 20's was involved in all major sports...because I wanted to [always] have very 'toned' male 'pecs'

"I ordered countless of male magazines to achieve this, and found that 'Men's' health magazine is tha best one out there...I am a very satisfied customer..."

"I work out constantly to achieve my 'manly' pecs, and am quite satisfied..."

"I went in for a breast reduction to achieve the size I wanted, with little to no scarring...because that was my biggest fear..." the two lengthy scars that go across the chest....that tells your secret 'sooo openly' "

"This way, I don't bind...to be honest with you I have never really actually 'bind-ed'...I have purchased several of those t-shirt-like compression t's which works wonderfully for me, giving me tha look I need w/o taking my breath away..."

"...and my chest area looks very natural...if I wish to ghet an all-over tan...I head to Cali's nudest beach and voila! I can ghet my 'tan-on...'" 

"On numerous threads that I have posted on...I attempt to keep a positive light on everything that I do...I know what works for me...through 'trial-and-error...and patience...' "

"Find out what works for you, and then go from there...if you want to tone up tha muscle in your chest region, w/o having to go the surgery route...do a lot of push ups, and chest exercise...it will take some time, but the outcome will be well worth it...."

"I haven't had to bind in a verrrry looonnnnggg time...and my pecs, are almost equivalent to that of a decent body-builder...I try to practise what I preach...sooo yes, I am constantly exercising....because to me, Abs, and the Pecs have always been aesthetically pleasing to moi....!"

"I can't remember tha site...maybe someone passing through here does...but they have some pretty in expensive compression shirts [t-shirts] that works beautifully...I could never ghet much into the 'bra-like sports binders... because I absolutely abhor the wearing of bras...and, as-soon-as, I left home...freedom from those contraptions went out to the garbage..."

"Love seeing 'The' Ladies in them...but NOT me..."

[Mika]

I don't plan on getting top surgery, for several reasons. I bind probably an average of 16 hours a day for the past 3 months. My main safety issue is that I'm moderately asthmatic, and I have had a few asthma attacks while binding and had to struggle to get them off (I was dizzy and had muscle weakness). I probably would have been fine, it was mostly panic and claustrophobia, but it's been an issue. Hopefully that doesn't affect you, though.

Because my lungs are restricted most of the day, I have a harder time fighting congestion, but pneumonia is already a risk factor for me with asthma. So again, hopefully that doesn't affect you.

Other than that, I've just had skin irritation, and some minor stretch marks. I'm pre-T though, so I have less risk for tissue damage, it seems.

Just my (limited) experience.

[insideontheoutside]

Thanks for the input LaPapito. I do work out but more for a "maintenance" type of thing rather than building muscle. I suppose I could incorporate more chest exercises though. How does breast reduction surgery go? Is it really involved or some out-patient type process? Can anyone get it or do you have to be diagnosed trans, etc. first?

And Mika, since you have asthma, maybe the velcro ones like I've been getting might be good for you? They definitely go on and come off easy.

[Luc]

I've been binding for over 5 years now; I desperately want top surgery, but a series of complications has prevented me from ever having the money to get it. So far, the damage isn't making me too happy. I have intermittent bursitis in my shoulders, more severely in my left shoulder. Recently, I learned that not only is my left shoulder damaged, but I have about 10% the strength in that arm that I do in my right (most likely due to the shoulder issue). I can't even sleep on my left shoulder anymore (and I'm a side-sleeper) without waking up in excruciating pain.

Fortunately, I haven't experienced any real problems with breathing due to binding. I'm a smoker, but really, I don't even have trouble breathing from that. I suppose I'm lucky in that way, but I'd really like to have the full use of my shoulders back. It seems so pointless to have destroyed them as I have... until I think about going out in public without binding. All I can say is, top surgery can't come soon enough.

[xAndrewx]

I'm replying to this but I might have the loan for top surgery in January maybe but probably not. At any rate I've been binding with a binder a size smaller than suggested for two years now and it's been alright for the most part. I get bruising in the arm pit area often so it sometimes lasts months (due to re-bruising) because I bind daily about 14-16 hours.

Breathing is an issue occasionally due to the compression and being overweight but other than that and my shoulders aching from carrying the weight (I could have been stuck with a bigger chest considering my family history but I still deal with a rather large chest) no bad effects.

On the note of breast reduction you don't have to be trans but if you are smaller chested it might be harder to get. My mother is large chested to the point of it causing back pain and they were wary of taking too much size off for some odd reason....

[LaPapito]

"Hey Guys...not ignoring, have business to complete...InsideOut, look for my return answer tomorrow..K?"

[ilovetodrinktea]

I suppose I could incorporate more chest exercises though. How does breast reduction surgery go? Is it really involved or some out-patient type process? Can anyone get it or do you have to be diagnosed trans, etc. first?

http://www.ftmguide.org/chest.html
This answered all my questions about surgery. It is a fairly simple procedure, depending on the method. Usually you can go home in a few hours.
Also, working out really does help, most especially on T. I have noticed significant change in my chest area since doing more exercises. I'm actually hoping (since I'm fairly small) I can continue doing this and stay vegan, and not have to get chest surgery after all. Once I get more chest hair and stomach muscle, I really think I could pass at a beach and outdoors. Anyway. Yeah.

[insideontheoutside]

@Luc, man that sucks about your shoulder. There some alternative treatments for bursitis that have actually worked for me (I screwed up my left shoulder falling from a 1 story balcony while wasted years ago).

Luckily I haven't noticed any shoulder pain from the binders I have. However, with that size small one I have I have noticed upper back pain - and my first guess is because it's too small.

But just having these damn things has been a total curse in my life. My posture is ->-bleeped-<- because of growing them in the first place and not knowing anything about binding when I was a teenager.

@Andrew Yeah I figured there might be more "issues" in asking for breast reduction because they wouldn't be dealing with me as trans ... I think it would be the same type of scenario as when women who don't want kids want a hysto ... they basically get told, "no you should be a baby-making machine!" Lame.

[Tmale]

Wow! Thanks for sharing these stories. I think I can relate to each post. Its comforting to see and hear that there are others who are struggling with same  physical and emotional challenges. I have been binding for many years. Bad posture, chest soreness, sometimes trouble breathing, sweating in summer. I have not saved for surgery. I purposely keep it far off because I don not want to be sliced or diced. I have never have a stitch or broken bone. Do not want scars. Do not particularly like Drs. and visit solely for my shots. I try to keep fit but do not consistently work out. Use supplements to stay healthy. I am now working a home based business to create an income to support the needs of this lifestyle. I too, am looking to avoid as many minor and major health problems as possible!

[Julie Marie]

The female breast is made up mostly of fat.  Reduce your body fat, reduce the size of your boobs.  And if you focus on building muscle mass, that further enhances the male physique.  So if you don't want to or can't afford the op, diet and exercise is an alternative.

[Luc]

Julie Marie---  I figured that adage was true, so I tried losing weight. I lost 80 lbs, in fact, over the course of about 6 months. They were suddenly, dare I say, perky, much to my disgust. Because I have decent pecs, they stick out, and no amount of weight loss took any of their size away. The tissue does seem to have broken down somewhat over my time binding, but not enough.

Inside--- I would love any tips you have relating to treating bursitis. Also, I think my binders are typically too small, but only technically. I buy Underworks binders, and typically go one size beneath what my measurements would indicate. I've tried the "right" size before, but because I'm fairly small-chested (B or so, I think) and have a bit of a gut, I have to go with the smaller size to have effective binding in the slightest. Which brings up a good point: I always see large-chested guys being afraid they may not be able to effectively bind, but the pictures I've seen of these guys binding typically look better than mine. Hence the perky thing again. I don't know if that only happens to smaller-chested guys, or if it's just me, but it's irritating.

[anibioman]

im far of from surgery at least for 2 more years and ive been binding for 2 years already so far the only problem i have had is back pain really bad back pain mostly when being active like walking even if its just a half a mile walk.

[insideontheoutside]

Inside--- I would love any tips you have relating to treating bursitis. Also, I think my binders are typically too small, but only technically. I buy Underworks binders, and typically go one size beneath what my measurements would indicate. I've tried the "right" size before, but because I'm fairly small-chested (B or so, I think) and have a bit of a gut, I have to go with the smaller size to have effective binding in the slightest. Which brings up a good point: I always see large-chested guys being afraid they may not be able to effectively bind, but the pictures I've seen of these guys binding typically look better than mine. Hence the perky thing again. I don't know if that only happens to smaller-chested guys, or if it's just me, but it's irritating.

I've been able to successfully treat it with Chinese acupuncture and herbs (and don't self-treat with the Chinese herbs - go to a professional TCM practitioner who knows their stuff!). Also, I take turmeric (same as the Indian spice) which is a natural anti-inflammatory. After taking that for a few months (I buy it in bulk in the bulk foods section of the grocery store - add a heaping teaspoon of it to a small glass of warmed almond milk and honey in the morning and just drink it down) I've noticed a big improvement with general joint stuff and other odd aches and pains. The other things I've tried are Arnica cream (it's a homeopathic that you just rub on wherever it hurts) and Trigger Point Therapy (there's a book on Amazon that's one of the top ones that comes up if you search that and that's what I bought). I believe there's also some specific exercises that help but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

[zombiesarepeaceful]

parts of my chest/back go numb and tingly in places, and i get chest pains sometimes...who knows what damage I've done to myself while waiting for the money for surgery.

[Berserk]

The female breast is made up mostly of fat.  Reduce your body fat, reduce the size of your boobs.  And if you focus on building muscle mass, that further enhances the male physique.  So if you don't want to or can't afford the op, diet and exercise is an alternative.

Depending on the person, they might have to reduce it quite a bit. A person would have to reduce their body fat to less than 11-12% in order for the body to begin to reduce the actual fat of the breast tissue (rather than its "give" or general...erm..."resilience") since its unfortunately one of the last places on the body to lose fat, and lower than that to see a significant difference. Being on testosterone certainly helps as far as changing the tissue to be more manageable/less noticeable/less resistant, but for guys who aren't on testosterone they'd have to drop their fat percentage pretty darned low to reduce the fat there (and with the added downside of no tissue change to make the chest less noticeable etc)...which can cause health complications, unfortunately.