Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Anybody have any advice on where I could find the best and most natural feeling breastforms, without costing a ton of money? I'm also gonna be looking for a first bra too...and I have a general idea of what to expect, but am wondering how to go about searching for one when I have no chest for it, except for later on getting some forms? Any advice would be great! :)

The cheapest is the knee highs and rice.  Simply put rice in a knee high and tie closed.  Use a wire tie till you get the size you want.  Once you find the size that looks the best, tie it off with a knot and place in a second one to keep from having an accident spill.

They work good as you develop.  If you use this method, start with a sports bra so you can put them in the bra and see how that size looks on your frame.

Hair-gel in a condom was what I used in the old days.  You are going to bump into people if you go to clubs, and something with the wrong texture will draw unwanted attention.

However, I am an advocate of going au-natural.  Flat-chested girls do it with the right kind of clothing to draw attention to their good features.  Breast forms are a mental distraction that can make you more self-conscious and less passable, even when they look right.

First of all, what constitutes "a ton of money" to you?

Second of all, measure your chest right underneath where your breasts would be. Make sure the tape is flexible, level, and snug (not loose, not tight), and that you're at mid-breath or rest.

Thank you everyone for your advice. :) I went ahead and bought a sports bra with some help from a friend, and when I tried it on....I had no idea it would feel like it did, but it felt absolutely wonderful. I did not want to take it off either, it just felt right, I felt like this tingly and warm sensation from inside me. At the same time, another feeling came too. I wanted to be able to fully "fit" into it, meaning physical transition too. I know what needs done now, and this was kind of one of the big indicators too....it basically piled a lot of what I already have experienced with gender and felt over the years....and put it all together. I'm still fighting fears, but some doubts have been reduced for sure. I swore to myself that I would not run away this time....and I am glad I am not anymore.

A decent padded bra. Nothing else needed; gives just enough boobage to make you feel like a woman.

now you know your basic size you shoudl go looking for a Gelbra which has gelbags in and gives anice look and can be boosted if necessary.

People, I think you missed the key here.

Quotewithout costing a ton of money?

Gelbras, decent Padded Bras, even inexpensive forms can be a ton of money.  We are talking on a shoestring budget, or think college student.

Quote from: Janet Lynn on December 31, 2010, 11:20:38 AMWe are talking on a shoestring budget, or think college student.

This is why I asked before, but I didn't see anywhere where we were talking about a "shoestring budget". Personally, I bought a set of Nearly Me/Transform #TF200 breast forms from thebreastformstore.com. They cost me 150 USD. That may or may not be considered "a ton of money". In terms of high quality breast forms, 150 USD is well toward the low end of prices. You can easily spend upwards of 600 USD on the really good stuff.

That 150 USD was the wisest spending decision I ever made in my life, even though I no longer need breast forms, since I now have breasts of my own. Every person who knew I was wearing forms when I did wear them remarked that they looked (and felt !) very natural.

Think it feels good to just put on a bra (and, BTW, I agree with you on that one...exactly how I felt), wait till you have something pretty realistic to fill it with...whoa...the weight distribution change alone is worth the price of admission! I can tell you that I immediately felt incomplete without them.

Quote from: Vexing on December 31, 2010, 02:51:22 AM
A decent padded bra. Nothing else needed; gives just enough boobage to make you feel like a woman.

totally agree here...padded bra and the right outfit and they so won't get confused for pecs.

Janet had the best overall answer, FR.

Yeah breastforms / gels are possibly better over the long term, but with kneehigh/rice you can experiment with the size that best suits your frame.

I believe the wiki here has something that covers ricebag breast forms, additionally, you can find something if you google for it.  Basically use a measuring cup and pour in as many ML's as you want to try.  Approximately 450 ML equals an average C cup.

What is nice about using the ricebag besides its versatility is that you can also experiment with having a nipple projection by rotating the knot that you tie in the kneehigh forward in your bra.

Also rice has more a an appropriate heft to it and will feel more natural hanging off your chest and will have a natural movement to it as well as you walk and dance.

Water/gel works as well, but they can leak and if you have a blow-out on the dance floor, the results can be embarrassing.

-Sandy

Quote from: yin_haan on December 31, 2010, 03:53:57 PM
This is why I asked before, but I didn't see anywhere where we were talking about a "shoestring budget".

Yeah, I'm on a semi-shoestring budget, I apologize for not mentioning that...I may be able to afford actual forms, but for now as I'm getting an idea I can do the rice in tights method.

Quote
Think it feels good to just put on a bra (and, BTW, I agree with you on that one...exactly how I felt), wait till you have something pretty realistic to fill it with...whoa...the weight distribution change alone is worth the price of admission! I can tell you that I immediately felt incomplete without them.

Oh my gosh yeah....I still am debating around with transition, and still dealing with previous fears/doubts, but I'm at the point now of knowing one thing: I'm NO boy. :D Getting called one or a guy, or he now....is suddenly ten times worse than it was before. I could handle it before alright, but now I'm gaping inside screaming "I'M NOT A BOY DANG IT!!!!!!" My first bra is cupped, and I am considering getting one that is not to wear underneath clothing, and layering and such now. I can't not do it I think....it just feels wrong now. I know what I want now, I was looking at my male body now with a slight disgust earlier, it just looks so....foreign I guess.

I know I'm scatterbrained still :D so if my replies seem that way I'm just working out a lot of emotion and feeling that came so fast I was overwhelmed when it happened. ::)

I tried the gel and eventually it deteriorated the latex and leaked.  No loss though as it was super cheap gel from the $2 Shop. Good for a couple of weeks.
The rice works ok, and as Sandy said you can use the knot to simulate a nipple.

You can get cheap bras at the Salvo's Op Shop for a couple of dollars, and rice is cheap.

All part of the fun of discovery.

Quote from: findingreason on December 31, 2010, 11:56:36 PM
I know I'm scatterbrained still :D so if my replies seem that way I'm just working out a lot of emotion and feeling that came so fast I was overwhelmed when it happened. ::)

You're not scatterbrained, FR.  What you are/were trying to do was balance the two sides of your gender, the exterior manifestation of your body and the interior presentation of your mind.

What you have found out is that the internal part of your mind is stronger than the exterior of your body.  And when you manifested part of your mind on your exterior body, the connection was overpowering.

I attempted this balancing act for quite a while, but I eventually could no longer keep up the juggling.

Experimenting in this way is appropriate and actually a bit of fun.  So enjoy!

-Sandy

I haven't tried rice or anything other than water as a makeshift form, but it may be worth trying. I use a pair of forms that were something in the $50 range, they are actually pretty nice I think, however I have a very slim/athletic build and my large chest muscles make an awkward shape in anything that exposes the upper chest (speaking of garments such as tube tops) so I've found only success in full coverage tops with these forms.

I used silicone breast enhancers from Walmart.
Last I looked they still had them in the the lingerie section.
They cost me about $28.00.
I thought they felt real and did enjoy them in my bra until I grew my own.
Hope this helps.
Jillieann