Just thought I'd put this here in case anyone else is in the same boat for whatever reason: you don't want to bind, you find it too uncomfortable, or your anatomy just doesn't work for it.

I've recently come to the conclusion that I can't bind for longer than a few hours at most, and that my results are less than satisfactory due to having extremely dense breast tissue. Like... they're solid lol. I thought about trying KT tape under a binder, but even positioning my chest properly underneath for the 5 seconds that it stays put results in too much spillover in my armpits and there's NO way I can position them down and out like other guys. Then today I realized that I get a pretty decent profile while wearing a sports bra, so I'm learning to be happy with that. It's also WAY more comfortable than a binder, not to mention that it almost works just as good as a binder at hiding these large C-cup moobs.

And mind you 'comfortable' in the blistering southern california summer heat is pretty much the difference between getting heat sickness and not.

one thing i've highkey considered is gaining enough weight to be able to pass them off as man boobs, then just letting them roam free 

Quote from: BT04 on February 09, 2018, 02:42:00 PM
Just thought I'd put this here in case anyone else is in the same boat for whatever reason: you don't want to bind, you find it too uncomfortable, or your anatomy just doesn't work for it.

I've recently come to the conclusion that I can't bind for longer than a few hours at most, and that my results are less than satisfactory due to having extremely dense breast tissue. Like... they're solid lol. I thought about trying KT tape under a binder, but even positioning my chest properly underneath for the 5 seconds that it stays put results in too much spillover in my armpits and there's NO way I can position them down and out like other guys. Then today I realized that I get a pretty decent profile while wearing a sports bra, so I'm learning to be happy with that. It's also WAY more comfortable than a binder, not to mention that it almost works just as good as a binder at hiding these large C-cup moobs.

And mind you 'comfortable' in the blistering southern california summer heat is pretty much the difference between getting heat sickness and not.

Honestly, I don't do the "down and out" method, as I never learned it until much later, not to mention complications that can occur.  I simply let my binder smash them flat, position my nipples where I want them to be and pass them off as pecs.  I'm somewhat muscular, so it works.

And considering I'm a D-cup, almost a DD, my binder combined with a sleeveless undershirt looks pretty good as pecs.

Ryuichi

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Quote from: Ryuichi13 on February 10, 2018, 04:33:51 AM
Honestly, I don't do the "down and out" method, as I never learned it until much later, not to mention complications that can occur.  I simply let my binder smash them flat, position my nipples where I want them to be and pass them off as pecs.  I'm somewhat muscular, so it works.

And considering I'm a D-cup, almost a DD, my binder combined with a sleeveless undershirt looks pretty good as pecs.

Ryuichi

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Trust me, I've tried everything. When they're this dense, there's only so much you can do with them, and my default is 'uniboob', which is really uncomfortable and makes it harder to breathe since it puts the pressure pretty much squarely on my sternum. I'm also really, really thin so trying to pass them off as pecs just ain't happening unless I'm wearing a few layers.

But it's fine; I'm really not that dysphoric.

I do that most of the time. I gave back issues, breathing issues, reflux and a chest that defaults to
Uniboob in a binder. I tend to just go with sports bras.

Maybe it's good to be a bit older and having two kids, binderwise. My chest is anything but firm. I can put them in my arm pits if I want. Very adjustable.

Sometimes I manage to make my G-cup vanish almost completely. Sometimes I get the uniboob. It's like a bad boob day when they have their own will. Haha


Tony

Oh my goodness someone gets it *cries in joy*

I keep telling other trans people and cis people alike I can't bind because my chest tissue is dense and heavy. And when I'm on my period, my chest gets sore and swollen (I'm pre hrt btw) so binding is totally a no during that time.

My underworks cotton lined binder binds just as well as a well supportive sports bra a cis women might wear so I've decided to bite the bullet so to speak and just wear a sports bra so I can stop the chaffing under my boobs from going binder/bra free.

I remeasured myself and am a 38F/FF so binding just doesn't work anyway haha. When I bind it looks like I'm wearing a push up bra lol and I'm like "Yeah this isn't gonna work".

i don't bind atm because i fear it can damage my health. I heard bad things about it. Also, i heard it can ruin the surgery final effect.

I bought a binder from g2cb a few months ago but i could only wore for a couple of hours before it started aching in my chest. The size was correct (yep, they assist you in every step of the purchase so i was sure size was correct for my measurements). I sold it. Then i decided to try again and i purchased the next size up (medium instead of small). Looks more confortable. Still, it is in my wardrobe since it arrived (a month ago more or less); i always fear i can have issues if i wear it. Yeaterday i wanted to bind since i had a work meeting, but i had to catch a train and stay away from home for 5-7 hours. So i decided "Not to risk".

I have small/medium sized boobs, so, i somehow manage to hide them thanks to sport compression bras (from nike). But still they are visibile. SO i would really like to bind - and sometimes i would need to. I can manage this thing so i never do, but still i'd love / need to sometimes. I guess i should start with small periods binding and see how it evolves.

Quote from: Pao on February 12, 2018, 02:48:15 AM
I do that most of the time. I gave back issues, breathing issues, reflux and a chest that defaults to
Uniboob in a binder. I tend to just go with sports bras.

I still wear normal bras (well, soft bras, so no underwire, no padding) most of the time because sports bras do such a good job - and I'm not out yet. But, they also do such a good job that I can't even seem to wear THEM for a whole day without hurting after a while.

Quote from: MeTony on February 12, 2018, 07:59:58 AM
Maybe it's good to be a bit older and having two kids, binderwise. My chest is anything but firm. I can put them in my arm pits if I want. Very adjustable.

Sometimes I manage to make my G-cup vanish almost completely. Sometimes I get the uniboob. It's like a bad boob day when they have their own will. Haha


Tony

"Good boob day". Haha, gonna start using that one.

Quote from: AgentVermont052 on February 17, 2018, 06:12:48 PM
Oh my goodness someone gets it *cries in joy*

I keep telling other trans people and cis people alike I can't bind because my chest tissue is dense and heavy. And when I'm on my period, my chest gets sore and swollen (I'm pre hrt btw) so binding is totally a no during that time.

My underworks cotton lined binder binds just as well as a well supportive sports bra a cis women might wear so I've decided to bite the bullet so to speak and just wear a sports bra so I can stop the chaffing under my boobs from going binder/bra free.

I remeasured myself and am a 38F/FF so binding just doesn't work anyway haha. When I bind it looks like I'm wearing a push up bra lol and I'm like "Yeah this isn't gonna work".

Whew, FF is a tough size. I thought C was big! And yes, having "very dense breast tissue" is a thing, but the composition of breast tissue doesn't seem to be a topic that gets covered a lot, if ever. I basically grew up thinking all boobs were the same except for size and shape... actually, I thought this was more or less the case until I had a breast exam done last year and the doc told me that I was at a greater risk of developing lumps because of my extremely dense tissue. My normal OBGYN never told me that, the textbooks and pamphlets never told me that. What the hell gives?

So then there I was, wasting money on binders because I thought I was just sizing myself incorrectly because I've never read about a trans guy having an unbindable chest. And if they were out there, then they were very hard to find.

Quote from: rorythedinosaur on February 20, 2018, 09:46:37 PM
i don't bind atm because i fear it can damage my health. I heard bad things about it. Also, i heard it can ruin the surgery final effect.

I bought a binder from g2cb a few months ago but i could only wore for a couple of hours before it started aching in my chest. The size was correct (yep, they assist you in every step of the purchase so i was sure size was correct for my measurements). I sold it. Then i decided to try again and i purchased the next size up (medium instead of small). Looks more confortable. Still, it is in my wardrobe since it arrived (a month ago more or less); i always fear i can have issues if i wear it. Yeaterday i wanted to bind since i had a work meeting, but i had to catch a train and stay away from home for 5-7 hours. So i decided "Not to risk".

I have small/medium sized boobs, so, i somehow manage to hide them thanks to sport compression bras (from nike). But still they are visibile. SO i would really like to bind - and sometimes i would need to. I can manage this thing so i never do, but still i'd love / need to sometimes. I guess i should start with small periods binding and see how it evolves.

It can if you do it regularly over many years. Every once in a while for a few hours will not have any noticeable long-term impact. Given that, the only other concern is to make sure you're comfortable. If sports bras do the trick, then rock it. Also, if your sports bra is causing you discomfort, there are a lot of compression styles out there. Hell, you might even find a camisole with some chest lining does the trick if you aren't that big.

Good luck~

I can get away most days without any thing more that a sports bra and hunched shoulders, but I cant use a binder even if I want to. My sternum and ribs grew funky during puberty and I've got pectus excavatum. If I wear even a loose binder it can bust ribs, damage my sternum, and put pressure on my heart. My sports bras with the pads removed work, but dang I'll be glad to get rid of these lumps. I can't really use kt tape either as any shirt settles in the valley in my sternum and makes it look like ive got boobs even if they're taped flat. Thanks genetics...

That really sucks, Raincrow. I have some odd things going on with my sternum/ribcage too, though not to nearly the same extent as you - I have a small dip at the bottom of my sternum and my ribs are a little lopsided. I may have Marfan's Syndrome, but whatever.

Makes me wonder how much more will be visible after top surgery...

I owned a binder, but I very rarely used it. I was very large chested, and it was just too uncomfortable for me. I preferred using a compression sports bra for everyday life, and I used the binder for special occasions. In the year and a half I owned it pre-op, I think I wore the binder maybe 20 times.

I wouldn't be too surprised if you've got a mild case of pectus. I was tested for Marfan's years ago but they said it was inconclusive. I've got the physical characteristics, flexibility, height and everything.  Oh well, once I get top surgery at least I'll have a good excuse for the scars if I have to go double incision, I've got a chest deformity.   

Quote from: RainCrow on March 22, 2018, 07:18:01 PM
I wouldn't be too surprised if you've got a mild case of pectus. I was tested for Marfan's years ago but they said it was inconclusive. I've got the physical characteristics, flexibility, height and everything.  Oh well, once I get top surgery at least I'll have a good excuse for the scars if I have to go double incision, I've got a chest deformity.   

Trust me, I've got the whole nine yards too. Scoliosis, deep and narrow palate, height, deep hip sockets, nearsightedness, and I pass the finger/wrist test. My neck is skinnier than a roll of toilet paper lol.

And yeah, rock those scars! I personally think scars are cool, but I'm an outlier and should not be counted hehe.

I feel for you, man, and everyone in that position, I really do.

Like I started binding at 14... I was already big-chested back then! Later on as an adult once I got fat I stopped binding. After years and years doing it I was just so sick and tired of it!!! It was painful/uncomfortable as hell!!! And maybe I thought something like, 'I'm gendered female anyhow so what's the point'. So I strarted using too tight sports bras/tops instead. They were better than none - but I had visible breasts.

Now I have a layer of 3 tight sports tops plus a back support that do the trick. I only wear that back support outside though, not at home. It's just too uncomfortable. It flattens my chest alright.  But with just a T on there are visible lines etc. and it doesn't look that great. But under a hoodie it's alright. As good as it gets, at least!

But, so... I had/have HUMONGOUS chest!!!!! Like HUGE  !!!!!! Thanks, genetics. So it's extremely difficult to hide entirely with anything. Layers, and open jackets, vests etc. help. I'm about to order an underworks binder though. Maybe the result will be better, hope!

I used to bind down and out for years... Well that caused the tissue to really droop. It was also painful af. But since then I'm able to do pretty much anything with them so... They are not that sensitive. Though after binding etc. might be a bit sore. Again.

Now I'm binding more up/against chest. The first 3 sports tops create that uniboob effect... Then the back support will flatten it against my chest. Like I said - the result isn't perfect, but at least I don't have boobs now!!!

So, how did I manage to unbind  for years? Well... I just tried to ignore it the best I could. I was unable to bind - so I didn't bind - so I had to continue living regardless. It didn't kill me - but it didn't do good to my self-esteem either... Didn't really feel like socializing! After this new DIY method my confidence is up 100%! The biggest incentive on losing weight for me was to be able to bind again...........! But I still don't use that thing around the house or while exercising at home, which does make me feel a bit dysphoric. Seeing the chest (and being aware of it) does dampen my mood very easily. 

It's really strange but I pass better when I don't bind. I have odd proportions and I found that on the days my chest hurt too much or it was too warm, people generally took me as male, whereas when I actually bothered to bind, I didn't pass to anyone. My BMI is 22 but I look a lot thinner and am a 32AA cup so I think that gives me a lot of wriggle room. During the periods of my life when I was sure I was female, I was "mistaken" for a man on a regular basis, and during the periods I've been sure I'm male, it took me a long time to figure out that I passed better without a binder.

Quote from: Robert. on March 27, 2018, 11:27:09 AM
It's really strange but I pass better when I don't bind. I have odd proportions and I found that on the days my chest hurt too much or it was too warm, people generally took me as male, whereas when I actually bothered to bind, I didn't pass to anyone. My BMI is 22 but I look a lot thinner and am a 32AA cup so I think that gives me a lot of wriggle room. During the periods of my life when I was sure I was female, I was "mistaken" for a man on a regular basis, and during the periods I've been sure I'm male, it took me a long time to figure out that I passed better without a binder.

Wow well lucky you then