All About Binding

[zombiesarepeaceful]

About getting the tri top past hips...I guess I'm blessed in that department. Although they look downright horrid to me, I guess the fact that I can get it past my hips (I do have to tug and yank but I'd do anything short of dying for a flat chest) shows that I don't really have hips. I ordered a small and I'm 5'8", don't know my chesticle size or if I did, wouldn't post it, and 140lbs. I didn't bother measuring before I ordered cause I know that it would probably tell me to get a medium but I know that the bigger sizes don't bind as much as I'd like (been there, done that), so I got the small. Plus with time, the binder will get looser. I DO NOT advise any of this foolishness, cause my binder cuts into me. When I do take it off (once every 48 hours...yeah yeah I know)...I put cocoa butter on the places it cuts into. I guess I have a longer torso cause it only comes to the bottom of my rib cage, maybe even a little above.

[Konnor]

I have no idea how you guys get a tri-top on over your head. I got my tri-top in July and after the first week, gave up on getting it on that way. I have huge hips and thighs, trust me. The first couple weeks, I tore skin off my fingers getting it on over my hips, but over time it's gotten a lot easier to get on. It cuts into me under my arms, but not always. I kind of just grin and bear it, because it flattens me out really well. I almost always pass, atleast body wise. FYI for zombies, I'm 5'5 145lbs with a small B chest, and I got a small and it fits fine. Don't worry about what other people say, everyone seems to have a differing opinion on what sizes to buy for what body type anyway.

Forgot to add I don't wear anything under my binder. I used to wear an underarmor type shirt under it, but I've gotten used to wearing nothing under it. A wife beater type undershirt never worked for me, it always bunched up and just got in the way. I just wear a white t-shirt over my binder and then whatever shirt I'm wearing that day and it looks fine!

[Parker Lane]

Okay, so i know you're not supposed
to use ace bandages, but o found
this really good leg ace bandage that
completely wraps around the whole chest
and binds really really well.

I mean binding is going to hurt no
matter what, but it really works
and it was only like eight dollars.

I think I'll keep using until I get
my chest surgery done.

[no_id]

As I mentioned on the previous page of this thread, I got a binder from a Dutch provider; Danae 'Trans-mission'.
Decided to add some pics now to give folk an idea on how it binds. Just the binder, no shirts underneath or on top, and no; I'm not small-chested. 
Model 103:



On page 4 of this thread you can find my pics with the T-Kingdom 801 model.

[Konnor]

That seems to work really well no_id!! Good deal!!

[no_id]

That seems to work really well no_id!! Good deal!!

Yep I thought so too, thanks man!  

[zombiesarepeaceful]

Yeah, I wear nothing under my binder. I think that underarmor or something slippery like that would make things...shift...

[Griffin]

If you remove it [tape] slowly and carefully, maybe with the help of adhesive remover or something, there shouldn't be a problem. I've used sports tape to bind so that I could wear an open shirt before - granted that was for cosplaying, not everyday, but it worked really well and I've considered trying it again.

I used to use tape to bind and don't recommend it.  Sports tape is the worst because it's too sticky.  I used cheap dollar store packing tape (clear), which wasn't very sticky at all.  Then I would remove it SLOWLY with hot water (shower) and sometimes baby oil.  Even with those precautions, it still irritated the skin and injured some parts.  It's also nigh-impossible to remove if you need it off NOW -- ie cutting off breathing/circulation.  You can seriously hurt yourself doing that.

Here are some things I've done to bind:

My first "real" binder was (no kidding) a girdle with the old hook and eye closure (how a bra is closed), with a few of the middle hooks undone.  This worked for a couple of years.

Tight stretchy undershirt.  Champion, Underarmor, Nike, available at Target/WalMart/Etc.  They are stretchy (lycra?) and breathe really well.

Ace bandage (aka crepe bandage).  This worked for me a bit in middle school, but is actually the worst binding method for me since I have a large chest.  Bandages make it more noticeable, believe it or not.

Packaging tape.  The el-cheapo variety from dollar general that really couldn't hold together cardboard, was thin and very flimsy.  Worked well, but not great for the skin and more expensive long-term than a real binder.  (see above)

Back brace (firm).  This worked really well actually, no wonder that so many guys in days of yore used these.  Downsides are that it constricts the chest too much sometimes, and pretty thick so you can't wear it without layering a bit.  At least not if you're me.   

Soft neoprene exercise band (for your waist).  Sometimes this worked great, other times not so much.  Also gave huge tall blisters because of friction.  Works great if you are wearing a casual button-down and t-shirt.

Underworks double-layer.  I'm 5'8"+ and found this to be too long.  It would roll up and cut into my thighs -- which I'm sure is hard to picture.  I still have it, but considering chopping off the bottom 1/3 or so.  The binding ranges from just okay to great-but-can't-breathe-well for me.  But I'm very large-chested, so take that with a grain of salt.  It also compresses my stomach a lot, but maybe I am oddly-shaped or something. 

GC2 Compression.  Works great for me, still too long, compresses a bit less than underworks, but works well with a button-down or layers.  Doesn't compress my stomach as much and you can buy a custom-fit one for $10 more.  I may wind up doing that because I must pull them down more than most or something. 

[zombiesarepeaceful]

Does anyone else have issues with binding, cause their pecs are too large and make it look like you have tits? Cause it's impossible to bind muscle. And I have pecs. I use the tri top and it binds everything except my pecs and in my mind, it makes it look like...not pecs.

[Farm Boy]

Zombies- I don't have any experience with binding, but I'm afraid I would have the same problem.  I'm really thin, unhealthily so, (not my fault, it's genetic) so the majority of my "pecs" are tissue rather than fat, and doesn't flatten down as well. 

I've been looking at underworks binders and I eventually want to get a tri-top, but I wondered if anybody had any suggestions for binding small chests?  Can us ectomorphs who can't pull off "moobs" or pecs get a flat chest through binding??  I also can't figure how to do the measurements for underworks either.  I'm rubbish at math and it says to take the average of two measurements?  The widest part of my chest is 32" and my rib cage just below it is 28".  Would that be a size 30" binder?

[kyril]

Technically, yes, it would give you 30" - but from my experience, you want to go down one size from that. I think 30" would put you in a small, so if so, go to an extra-small. And skip the Underworks cotton concealer entirely. I'm significantly larger than you in both measurements, I wear an extra-small, and it doesn't really bind at all - I have to wear a sports bra under it. You'll need a Tri-Top, Extreme Chest Concealer, or the basic 997 - basically the ones with PowerNet will really flatten, whereas the ones with nylon spandex just sort of gently compress/smooth. You may have some luck with T-Kingdom, but it really depends on your proportions.

I never had any real luck binding when I was small/skinny with a firm chest. Nothing I tried worked, it just made me look lumpy. A binder might smooth out the lines, but it's not going to let you wear close-fitted clothes. The main advantage, if you bind tightly enough for long enough, is that it will break down the tissue and thus slowly become more effective.

[Farm Boy]

Thanks!  I'd like to get one and try it out but I'm not sure.  I haven't really got any disposable income and I'm worried about what my family would say if I all of the sudden had a flat chest.  "Oh hey, mom...  I found a better bra!"  Not sure how well it would go, and since I still live at home I'd rather avoid questions. 

I've also seen lots of top surgery videos on youtube and I like to pretend that one day I'll be able to get it.  Since I'm really small I've been hoping for keyhole or peri-areolar but I read that it's best if the tissue hasn't been broken down?  Basically I'm just really undecided and not moving forward.

[zombiesarepeaceful]

I'm pretty skinny. I'm average height for a male. As my drag dad said, if I were completely flat chested, it would look unnatural. I have pecs when I bind, as I said. They look like pecs to everyone but me, lol.

I suddenly had a flat chest one day, when I still lived with my mom. It was awkward and she noticed, but I didn't like her and didn't care. So that was that.

Oh, and I don't go by the Underworks measurements. I want something that will bind, regardless of if I suffocate. But that's me. I don't advise sacrificing your health just to have a flat chest.

[Zack]

I'm an A cup, reallyy small, 5'3 and skinny, my chest is around 28-30 inch, does anyone have any suggestions on which binder would be best for me?

[Ryan]

I'm around the same size as you and the underworks tri-top is great. It doesn't roll up, doesn't put pressure on the stomach and it's cooler in Summer. It's also the only underworks binder that starts at 28". The others start bigger.

[Zack]

I'm around the same size as you and the underworks tri-top is great. It doesn't roll up, doesn't put pressure on the stomach and it's cooler in Summer. It's also the only underworks binder that starts at 28". The others start bigger.

Thanks, think I'll get that one.

[JamesRoe73]

It's been kind of awhile since anyones posted on this, but I thought i'd just review a binder
Underworks 988
I really like this binder, I tried the tritop and double front compression and they just didn't really fit. The 988 is sort of like a combination of the tritop an the double front, it only binds your chest like the tritop, but it has an extra layer that makes it longer so you can tuck it into your pants and wont roll up. The 988 makes me really flat (I am small chested) and I really like it, but the seams along the sides and in the collar/back stick out so sometimes it's noticeable and I'm not sure how to fix it. I haven't seen many reviews on the 988 and I wanted people to know about it

[Renard]

I have a bit of a question for those who use/have used the Underworks 997 - what's the compression on the hips like?

I'm short (5'3") and on the heavy side (~160 lbs), and though the front of my stomach is fine, getting better with exercise, I'm still carrying a bunch of weight on my hips. I'm a medium according to the sizing for that model, but I'm worried that the hips might be uncomfortable in the medium. (I'm a bit oddly proportioned - my waist is 34/36 in men's jeans, but above that I have this chubby feminine bulge  )

Are there any other binders that also man up the hips?

(Whatever I do get, it'll be my first binder. Yay for eighteenth birthdays and paypal accounts!)

Also, general question for anybody who's ordered from Underworks: I'm in Eastern Ontario - would it be reasonable to expect delivery within 4-5 days?

[LilDoberman]

Just throwing my experiences out here; hope it helps someone.

I'm a 34DD.  Yeah.  Um.   Yeah.  5'5 and 140.  I have a medium 997 and I do like it.  However, that's only because I butchered it.  It was KILLER on my waist and made breathing hard, plus it rolled up all the time.  So, I cut it in half.  The bottom half I made into an entire additional binder (luckily I can sew) and THEN recut the 'original' top to have larger armholes because it rubbed and felt like crap, even with something under it.  Binding is fine, but not superb.  I mean, with my measurements, you can't expect flat and I'm not, but if I wear a button down shirt it's fine.  I'm not trying to pass, so it doesn't bother me.    Ok, just reread and that sounds like the 997 is the most awful thing on the planet.  I'll rephrase:  Before I reworked it, it sat in my drawer on most days and I just dealt with a sports bra.  Now I wear it daily. 

When I requested sizing help, they said to go with a medium 997 or a large tritop.  I agree with the 997 rec but in the tritop I wouldn't size up to the large, I'd get a medium (and am thinking about it).   

And now, a request.  Can I get a recommendation on something for summer?  I don't like the feel of the underworks fabric against bare skin, but I can deal if I have to.  It's really more the sweat ickiness than the fabric.  I don't want to have to wear a ton of layers and need to be fairly comfortable.  I'm thinking of trying a medium tritop but I'd kind of like to try a velcro version.  I'm thinking T-kingdom won't bind well enough, I LOVE the look of the Denae's so may go that way.  Someone recommend something!   

Oh, and hints for getting it on over your head:  You need to put one arm the whole way in, down to your shoulder and THEN squeeze your other arm in.  You can't do both at once.  This works for me, at least, but my binders aren't super, super small.

[LilDoberman]

I have a bit of a question for those who use/have used the Underworks 997 - what's the compression on the hips like?

I'm short (5'3") and on the heavy side (~160 lbs), and though the front of my stomach is fine, getting better with exercise, I'm still carrying a bunch of weight on my hips. I'm a medium according to the sizing for that model, but I'm worried that the hips might be uncomfortable in the medium. (I'm a bit oddly proportioned - my waist is 34/36 in men's jeans, but above that I have this chubby feminine bulge  )

Are there any other binders that also man up the hips?

(Whatever I do get, it'll be my first binder. Yay for eighteenth birthdays and paypal accounts!)

Also, general question for anybody who's ordered from Underworks: I'm in Eastern Ontario - would it be reasonable to expect delivery within 4-5 days?

I wear a size 30 pant and the 997 medium wouldn't stay down over my hips.  It constantly rode up whether I tucked, wore a belt, etc.   I wouldn't plan on it working for your hips; it was TIGHT on me and I'm 5'5 and 140.   Everyone's different though, so who knows?   I can tell you that it's going to really restrict your stomach and breathing; at least it did me.  It was pretty darn uncomfortable.  You can read my whole rambly post before this, so I won't bore everyone with repeating.

I'm in Massachusetts, so not TOO far and it took a full week to get to me without customs to deal with, mostly due to their delay in shipping.  Could have been a fluke and you might have yours in a few days, but it could take longer depending on how they ship to you.   So, I'd say hope for a week but don't freak if it's a big longer   Hopefully someone else from CA can chime in on that one.

Happy Birthday