Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I've gone over every topic I can find on binders and binding and just can't find much of an answer for my problem.

I have a large chest (E sized. Bane of my life) and a bit of a gut (sit at about 83kg at 5'6") and no matter how I bind my chest shifts and moves until I've got one big uni-boob in the middle of my chest.

I've tried the Underworks Tri-top in two sizes (one was way too small and I couldn't get it on, the other worked fantastically but same problem) and the T-Kingdom 801 (which did absolutely nothing in the way of compression) and the 1700 (which worked somewhat. Was a good start).

No matter how I position the beasts, they shift within about 15 minutes, even if I'm not moving around much. I constantly have to adjust and go to the bathroom and pull everything around again. I've tried placing them up and out, down and out, wearing a sports bra underneath and finally taping them down.

Taping them down to the side is literally the only thing I've found that works. But not only is it painful but the tape causes rashes and rips off skin and causes blisters when I remove the tape layer. Not fun.

Does anyone else have this problem? If so, how on earth do you deal with it, cuz I'm going slightly nuts trying to figure it out!

I've got the same issue and I'm trying to find a fix as well :/

Wow, I am really sorry about the problem you are having. My pecs are DDD's so I can empathize to some extent. Might I suggest the tri tops that zip in the front and then layering? IDK what your home climate is like but baby power under/around your pecs (ever4ish hrs)can help keep you dry and rash free.

Powder is a must most days for me. Australia is hot. Sweat is an everyday experience.

I'm looking at getting a new binder to see if I can fix the problem. The Tri-top flattens everything pretty well but it also rolls up unless I wear control pants (which also works well but adds another layer I really don't need when it's hot).

I've tried rolling up some cloth to shove...in the middle...before but still no luck. I'm thinking of perhaps double binding but with a looser compression shirt underneath (under armor or something similar). Anyone tried/do this?

That seems like an idea worth trying.

I've used the rolled up cloth method in between and it's better than nothing. Especially on a hot day. Luckily I don't have an insanely large chest either.

There's an underworks binder that has hook and eye closure on the front. It might help. Plus it's easier to get on. The double layer one is similar to a 997...I think.

I used to double bind with two regular binders. It worked rather well, but I wasn't as large as some of you (they seemed huge to me, of course). I used two Cotton Concealers from Underworks. They are longer binders with a nice hem at the bottom. Less of a problem with rollups. However, they aren't quite as powerful as other binders. I wore them instead of the killer binders because I was allergic to synthetic fabrics (the T seems to have cured that). I would turn the bottom binder inside out so that the 90% cotton shell was next to my skin.

I suppose you could try a Cotton Concealer over a more heroic binder, but I suspect that an extra large chest would not be impressed and that you would get...shifting. What about a rash guard? Some guys say they have had success with one.

I have always thought that it would be nice to have a sort of fabric frame for under the binder. Something that surrounds the horrible growths above and below--and that has some fabric for in between the growths. The fabric above would create the illusion that there isn't a hump on one's chest, and the fabric on the bottom would do something similar but also absorb some sweat. I used to get pretty sticky underneath my squashed moobs.

However, I don't see such a scheme working unless it's part of the binder, and that would probably create all sorts of problems and add a layer of unwanted complexity to the binder, making it harder to put on and take off and maybe even messing with the structural integrity.

Do you plan to have top surgery, NoAlternative?

Quote from: Arch on June 04, 2013, 02:51:59 AM

I have always thought that it would be nice to have a sort of fabric frame for under the binder. Something that surrounds the horrible growths above and below--and that has some fabric for in between the growths. The fabric above would create the illusion that there isn't a hump on one's chest, and the fabric on the bottom would do something similar but also absorb some sweat. I used to get pretty sticky underneath my squashed moobs.

However, I don't see such a scheme working unless it's part of the binder, and that would probably create all sorts of problems and add a layer of unwanted complexity to the binder, making it harder to put on and take off and maybe even messing with the structural integrity.

I've always thought something underneath would be a fantastic idea, too! Something that...separates and wicks away sweat but gives a more natural look. I've thought about it a lot and how I might be able to alter a binder (I can work my way around a sewing machine and pattern pretty well) but I just can't get a clear idea in my mind about what would work.

Quote from: Arch on June 04, 2013, 02:51:59 AM
Do you plan to have top surgery, NoAlternative?

I did. I had the surgery approved and it wasn't going to cost me a penny...but of course everything happens at once and I actually need heart surgery now. I was so happy - ecstatic! - when they told me my top surgery was approved and then...yeah. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact. I CAN go ahead with top surgery but the risks are huge and I've been told that they "strongly recommend against going ahead". So...yeah. It's a choice I'm going to have to make in the future that I'm just unsure about at the moment. Is my life overall more important than a REAL life where I'm happy? (I sure am a mega downer -.- Sorry.)

Jeez, what a choice to have to make. I'm sorry, man.

Yeah...dunno what to really do with it but time will tell, I guess!

It's why it's important to me to get a binder that not only does a good job but is comfortable if I knowingly have to wear it the rest of my life. I'm getting more and more interested in either altering a binder or just making one from scratch, just to see if I can get something that works a bit better. If I could get a base pattern going I could share it with other like-minded sewing-abled guys.

It just seems like there is a lot of room for improvement for binders, in general.