Wearing a binder for too long

[Everyone]

I try to obey the "no more than 8 hours" rule that I've heard of for how long you can wear a binder. But the other day I was wearing my tri-top for about 34 hours in a row. Well, I gave myself tiny breaks by lifting it up for a few minutes, but not taking it off. Anyways, it had no negative effects really, other than leaving an imprint of the seam on it, which left by the next morning after I took it off.

Why is there a time limit on binders? Is it ok to wear one for that long if it isn't causing me any harm? Or is it bad for the binder? Either way, I don't plan to wear it for such long periods of time. I was just at someone's house so I couldn't take it off because they didn't know that I'm trans.

[Kitoro]

I think the long term affect on wearing tight binders for long periods of time is it puts a lot of strain on your rib cage. I know of one guy that wore double binder for long hours, days in a row and his rib cage was bruised and traumatized and he had trouble breathing from the pain.

Just be careful if you plan on wearing a binder for this long and that often, if you begin to feel even slightly uncomfortable give yourself a break.

I for example, dont wear a binder in the evenings while at home and on weekends when I have no plans. 

[Robert Scott]

I consistently wear my binder for 12 hours or longer.  Both my primary care doctor and trans doctor know --- they both have said it's okay as long as I don't sleep in them.  I did have a couple occassions where did have to wear it for extended periods.  Both doctors said if I have trouble breathing I need to take it off and keep it off as long as I can and can breath without it hurting.

[tvc15]

Once in a while it should be OK to wear it for long periods, but Kitoro nailed it. Binders constrict your ribcage... it's never a good thing to cut into your lung capacity if you can help it. Especially if it's a new or tight binder. My Tri-tops always squeeze the hell out of my chest because they cover my entire ribcage. I can't wear a new one for too long. It's not hard to breathe, exactly, but as soon as I take it off there's just a huge difference in how deep I can breathe. Putting something tight around your bones and lungs just shouldn't be done for days on end without any breaks because  you will end up hurting yourself.

[poptart]

Making a habit of that can deform your rib cage over time... so when you get surgery your chest will look like a casserole of ->-bleeped-<-. Risk accordingly.

[Felix]

When I gained a bunch of weight really quickly I had pleurisy after about a month of wearing the too-small binder for about 12 hours a day. I imagine wearing one that fits normally could have a similar effect if worn too long for too frequently.

[anibioman]

i have a 30 min break every 24 hours i only take if off to shower but my binder isnt that tight

[MaxAloysius]

My binder fits well and I wear it all day every day. I have also worn it for two or three days in a row with no breaks because of staying with friends or for other such reasons, and have never experienced negative effects. That said I'm very careful to monitor my breathing and take it off if I get uncomfortable, or if my breathing starts to grow shallow.

As others have said, it can cause permanent muscle/cartilage/bone problems, build fluid in the lungs and restrict your ability to breathe drastically. Best to be careful and only take the risks you can justify.

[MiaOhMya!]

My boyfriend binds for long periods, sometimes 2 days solid, and it has me worried. He'll sleep in it, and sometimes I'll roll his arse outta bed and make him take it off. I really feel for him, though, as he hates his chest and it causes him a great deal of mental anguish. It's only natural to want to turn that mental pain into something else, because the physical pain can be managed much easier than the stabbing mental mockery even a single errant jiggle can cause.

On another note, I've heard that  binding can actually cause a temporary reduction in the apparent amount of tissue as it compresses and "breaks it up." It sounds possible, maybe through fluid reduction, though likely any tiny result is not worth the health risk. Anyone else heard that?

[Jeatyn]

I can confirm that binding does in fact break down the tissue. I used to have extremely perky E cups before binding Which as you can imagine required some serious compression.

Now 4 years on I have saggy deflated D cups, which are WAY easier to bind. So I don't have to bind as tight any more, and I can breath and move easier. I can pretty much get away with layering now if I need a break from binding aswell.

I have heard though that the more you flatten and mess up your boobage - the harder it will be for the surgeon to get a good result when top surgery rolls around. Me personally, I don't care what it looks like or even if it has nipples, as long as it looks flat under my clothes I couldn't care less. But if you're the kind who fancies the idea of walking down the beach topless once you fully transition I would try and take care of your chesticles, as much as they suck.

[MiaOhMya!]

Now 4 years on I have saggy deflated D cups, which are WAY easier to bind.

...But if you're the kind who fancies the idea of walking down the beach topless once you fully transition I would try and take care of your chesticles, as much as they suck.

Yea! That sound like my love. He, through some cruel twist of fate, has very large "pecs" (as I call them) and they've taken on a kind of deflated appearance as u described. Oh gosh I imagine he'd take anything he can get as well, regarding top surgery.

Something I've been wondering about is why there is no practice of lipo-sculpting as a means to reduce chest size in trans men. it would be an excellent lower-cost alternative, and yes there would be some saggy skin, but in time probably about half of the excess skin would reduce. The extra skin could simply be removed at the time of full surgery.

What do you guys think, would you rather have saggy skin and a nearly flat chest? I would if I were you, it's not like you like those *itches anyway!

Oh and Chesticles! I always called 'em "pecs" but OMG I AM KEEPIN THAT ONE !!  CHESTICLESS AHHH!

[JayKyle]

I have heard though that the more you flatten and mess up your boobage - the harder it will be for the surgeon to get a good result when top surgery rolls around. Me personally, I don't care what it looks like or even if it has nipples, as long as it looks flat under my clothes I couldn't care less. But if you're the kind who fancies the idea of walking down the beach topless once you fully transition I would try and take care of your chesticles, as much as they suck.

That's about the only reason why I only bind if I go out in public and its hot and I can't get away with wearing my oversized hoody and tight sports bra...But damn, I can barely stand it!

[Natkat]

I try to obey the "no more than 8 hours" rule that I've heard of for how long you can wear a binder. But the other day I was wearing my tri-top for about 34 hours in a row. Well, I gave myself tiny breaks by lifting it up for a few minutes, but not taking it off. Anyways, it had no negative effects really, other than leaving an imprint of the seam on it, which left by the next morning after I took it off.

Why is there a time limit on binders? Is it ok to wear one for that long if it isn't causing me any harm? Or is it bad for the binder? Either way, I don't plan to wear it for such long periods of time. I was just at someone's house so I couldn't take it off because they didn't know that I'm trans.

well binding is never healthy,
I been binding since I was around 13, I must point out the first years I used bandage and not a real binder + I didnt had much break and tended to bind all the time..

but well, yes it has caused me damage, my lung qualety got really bad, I got marks on my back, my skin fell dry where I used to bind and so..

[Everyone]

I can confirm that binding does in fact break down the tissue. I used to have extremely perky E cups before binding Which as you can imagine required some serious compression.

Now 4 years on I have saggy deflated D cups, which are WAY easier to bind. So I don't have to bind as tight any more, and I can breath and move easier. I can pretty much get away with layering now if I need a break from binding aswell.

I have heard though that the more you flatten and mess up your boobage - the harder it will be for the surgeon to get a good result when top surgery rolls around. Me personally, I don't care what it looks like or even if it has nipples, as long as it looks flat under my clothes I couldn't care less. But if you're the kind who fancies the idea of walking down the beach topless once you fully transition I would try and take care of your chesticles, as much as they suck.

Deflated ones seem to be common for transmen. But how do you know if they're too messed up, to where a surgeon would have trouble with them?

[JayKyle]

Deflated ones seem to be common for transmen. But how do you know if they're too messed up, to where a surgeon would have trouble with them?

Its when they sag to the point they look like that of a really old women I think...but don't quote me

[Felix]

Kay I just want to throw in that I think everyone is overestimating the effect that binding-related breast tissue breakdown is going to have on top surgery results. Go join surgery listservs and decide for yourself, of course, but bodies are bodies. Generalizing is hard with so many variables.

[wheat thins are delicious]

What Felix said.  I've seen a guy who's tissue break down was so severe all his breasts were, were flaps of skin and his chest looks perfect aside from a little spot of wrinkling. 

That said, everyone's body is different.  You could go into surgery with severe tissue break down and come out with no wrinkling, puckering, etc.  You could go in with no break down and have wrinkling, puckering, etc.  It just depends on your body and your skin.

[Kyle_S]

I usually only wear my tri-top if I'm at work (at the most 9 hrs) or if I have to go out in public. That being said, I do have my size larger 997 which I wear if I am experiencing any pain. Lately I have had to wear it a couple times at work because my tri top is doing a number on the left side of my collarbone, and I need a break sometimes. I also take my 997 with me to change into (for sleeping) if I know I am going to be staying over at someone's house, so that I am still bound well but it isn't so tight and I can breathe normally.

Might be worth anyone's while to get a slightly bigger one than you normally wear for times when you don't need to be so tightly done up. It helps, trust me.

[Kris]

To be real with you I wore mine for a hella long time when I first got it, I didnt even notice that it was bruising my back until my girlfriend was rubbing my back and it hurt like hella BAD, so i gave myself a break (well my girl made me take a break from them) from the actually binders from like underworks. I only wear those if I'm going to work or going out with friends, if i'm sitting around my house or running to the store or chillin with family I put a sports bra on & one of those under armor shirts from like walmart. There not as tight as the ones from underworks. and they work pretty good I noticed I dont get all bruised from them, and they only cost like 10-15dollars.

[wheat thins are delicious]

if you are getting bruised they are most likely way too tight.