#I wear sports bras bc they flatten me out a bit

[lesbianstarlightglimmer]

“You’re a girl get over it” gonna fr throat punch my parents

[genderqueerboy]

im trying out trans tape for the first time and WOW I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

it looks pretty shit though, I'll be honest, like it's not doing a super good job of flattening my chest rn but I expected that lol. it's partly bc it was my first time doing it and and I had no idea what I was doing and partly bc my chest just has a very high density lmao. and tape in general tends to flatten you less from what I've seen/heard.

I just bought some regular kt tape because that's what I have access to (+ it's cheaper lol. paid about 5 dollars maybe for 5m of it. the downside ofc is that it doesn't come as wide as Actual trans tape). I can totally see how it would be easier if it was a bit wider but honestly the hassle of ordering it wasn't worth it for me atm.

idk if it's because I didn't stretch it enough, but I haven't had any itchiness? like. At All. and that's something I've seen lots of ppl complain about so I'm really glad I haven't experienced that yet.

but omg! it's so comfortable. like unreal-y so. like this is to most comfortable I've been across every way to handle your chest. from a binder to just wearing nothing. (idk about a proper bra though bc I do not have one of those lmao. previously I've basically mostly been wearing sports bras and then ocasionally my binder when I've felt the need)

but yesterday and today, I've just been straight up forgetting about it?? that doesn't ever happen! like when I'm wearing a bra/binder I'm constantly feeling it and thinking of it and am reminded of the fact that I have a chest. and when I'm not I still feel them and they Bother Me. but now ? I can literally just forget about it ? and it was such a weird feeling when I'd just put it on and was just at home chilling and it just... wasn't an issue? and today I was out and about doing stuff and yeah. it was just such a non-issue. I'd say with what I managed for a first time it's basically supporting me as much as a bra would, but without the feeling of wearing one. So if I'm running or something like that I still feel them but it's still a huge improvement.

and for me personally, I'd say the sensory issues are a 100% what I struggle with the most. like it would be great if it also looked like i didn't have them but if I got to chose I'd chose feeling comfortable over looking completely flat. especially now when it's starting to become summer and warmer, it was just. such a relief. to not have that extra layer and feel burdened by them.

[ftm-radio]

a plus-sized trans masc's review of various chest containment methods*

*as you can guess from the title, this post will be discussing the chest area, so if this subject & related terminology is discomforting to you, please skip this post & I hope you have a good day 👍🏻

Okay, so I have 4 methods that I bounce between for dealing with my chest and existing as a pre-op trans guy. I'm gonna write a bit about each one, and I have photos of how my chest looks with all four (clothed, ofc) that I will put under the cut for both self conscious reasons and to be considerate for those who'd rather not see them. idk.

oh & quick disclaimer, this post is absolutely not meant to bash any particular binding method or ppl who use those methods, or ppl who don't bind! no one method is superior, some just work better for one person than another bc everybody's different and all that. just tryna share my experiences to maybe help out other folks like me. ✌🏻

Sorry in advance, I'm sure this is gonna be a long post.

Method #1: No Containment

Pros—

easy

free

may be passable as moobs with enough layering ?

Cons—

underboob sweat at 100% strength

chafing

oh god they move so much, why, please don't, i hate this

Wearing just a shirt with nothing else under it is a great feeling at times, but that's generally short-lived and it's not very comfortable in the long run, especially if I'm being active and moving around. Feeling my chest wiggle and jiggle and move around is just so gross to me, so I usually avoid this method.

Method #2: Compression Top (Tomboy X)

Pros—

pretty comfy for everyday wear

prevents the worst of the wiggles

can exercise in it

could probably sleep in it if I wanted to

Cons—

basically just a sports bra tbh

mine is uh.. ~2 years old & pretty worn, probs doesn't "compress" much anymore 😅

heard that this particular company has done some yikes things?? so I'm not super keen on purchasing anything else from them (I don't have details & don't feel like looking them up rn, just mentioning it so you can look it up yourselves if you want)

This is my go-to method for when I'm just hangin out around the house (which is basically every day). just wake up, yank on the compression top, and then I don't have to think about it until the end of the day! I actually got this as a baby-step to using an actual binder bc I was a little anxious about it lol.

Method #3: Full Tank Binder (gc2b)

Pros—

flat chest

full tank contains everything better than a half tank

ngl I appreciate the fact that it kinda helps contain my stomach fat too bc I am ~☆~insecure~☆~ (but working on it)

Cons—

tbh I think my binder is too big specifically in the chest area so it doesn't compress & hold everything in place for very long, esp if im moving around, but I can't size down any smaller bc that's unsafe

the bottom edge of the binding panel makes it pretty uncomfortable to sit & just makes my stomach look weird

can't exercise or sleep in it

can only wear for 8 hours at a time, max

I loved my binders when I first got them, and wore them almost daily, even around the house, because I felt good & happy in them. after a while, though, the constant need to readjust my chest & having to keep checking to make sure it looked alright kinda wore me down and I got tired of it. going to the grocery store and feeling my chest shift around in my binder and being unable to fix it is just not a good time. :(

Method #4: Trans Tape

Pros—

comfortable! (long as you put it on right 😅)

my tiddies are SECURE they are not going ANYWHERE, I can bend over to pull the laundry out of the dryer with no problem, gravity cannot emotionally damage me anymore <3

I feel like I can move and do stuff and be confident w/o having to waste any time or energy thinking about my chest

my chest is approx a C-cup? (and I'm fat) so the tape definitely doesn't flatten me out but it masculinizes the shape of my chest in a way I'm happy & comfy with! yeah i have a chest but it def doesnt look like girl boobs!! I just look like a fat guy! which I am! so I'm cool with it!! hell yeah!

can wear for days at a time (recommended is 5)

can sleep, shower, & exercise in it

no worries about rib damage/breathing problems

when I hug my mom I actually feel it in the middle of my chest

Cons—

can't reuse tape so gotta buy more to keep using it (~20 bucks a roll with shipping iirc?)

there is a learning curve!! first couple times suck & it can be discouraging (I gave up a couple times) and I'm definitely still learning myself how to use this stuff

physically kinda difficult to put on, it's a bit of a workout for me

itchy (especially if you overstretch the tape, try not to do that)

what goes on must come off 🥲 and removal is kind of a pain in the ass because oil is messy and you really have to give it enough time to soak

need to be patient & careful so skin doesn't get damaged in removal

if you damage your skin you have to give it time to heal, no taping for a while

I am quite new to trans tape, literally this is only my third time wearing it as I write this. My first two attempts were pretty rough (application and removal) but I'm starting to get the hang of it and it's becoming less of an Ordeal as I get used to it. there are definitely some less than ideal factors to keep in mind with using this method, but I've found that for me, the positives vastly outweigh the negatives. when I get better at using this, I plan to make it my primary containment method. I know a lot of folks say that using trans tape just doesn't work at all for bigger folks & bigger-chested folks, but that's not necessarily true. I'm proof.

Alright, that's all I've got!

I dont wanna make this a horribly long post, so I'm sure I missed some things but idk this is the gist of it. If you read all of this, I hope you got something from it (or at least don't feel like it was a huge waste of time....) and I hope you have a good rest of your day!

It's totally okay to reblog/reply/interact with this post, just, y'know, have common sense and don't be a jerk!

As I said before, I have photos under the cut to give you a visual for how these different methods look on me & how they might look for you if you're anything like me. Please do not be rude or creepy or gross, alright? alright.

Method #1: No Containment

...........yeah this is what I'm working with, let's just move on and pretend we didn't see this, please & thanks

Method #2: Compression Top (Tomboy X)

comfy & fine for everyday use but I don't love the look. still looks and feels like a feminine chest shape.

Method #3: gc2b Full Tank Binder

flattest results, looks pretty good, but only lasts about five minutes before the tiddies start their constant migration and it gets uncomfy and I have to adjust everything :/

Method #4: Trans Tape

not as flat as I get with a binder, but the goal with trans tape is a more masculine shape to the chest, not flatness, and I think im starting to achieve that even as a noob! my results will probably get even better as I get more familiar with it, but this is already my fave method by far

bonus photo because wearing trans tape makes me happy and i was feelin good:

That's the end-end of the post, so I will once again request that you do not make any rude or nasty comments about me & my body. thanks!

[sadorange2]

honestly my body pisses me off so so much. like on monday i was looking decent. but now i look like a stupid cow. like the way my thighs touch and look super huge while the rest of my legs are slim. and then i have hip dips so if i wear underwear that’s not high waisted i look stupid with a bit of belly even tho you can see my ribs like wtf man. and then my stupid shoulders are wider than my hips so i just look dumb in pretty much anything i wear that’s tight fitting. but whenever i wear smt flowy or baggy i fear that people think i’m trying to hide a fat stomach. it’s exhausting having my body type. and then my boyfriend will try to encourage me to gain weight and shit. but like no man. it’s better to be skinny with no ass and no hips than to be thicker with no hips and no ass. I HATE BEING BUILT STUPID. ITS A CRIME. and then my boobs are big for my body and i hate it, so i wear sports bras to flatten my boobs. but then i just feel worse. I DONT LIKE MY STUPID BODYY. ITS EMBARRASSING. and then to tie it all together im really short. so nothing ever fits me well. and i feel like a stupid thumb. then i go on these stupid apps and feel out of place bc there’ll be people who weigh more than me and are super skinny and close to being underweight all bc they are TALL. like it’s so unfair. all i have going for myself are my eyes but i wear GLASSES. like god really just fucked shit up for me and i’ll never be attractive.

like i just don’t know what to do man. like whenever i weighed more back in junior high, id get comments about how i need to get a bigger ass and wider hips and how i have thunder thighs. or that my body would be perfect if i had a bigger butt. now that o weigh less i get comments from my family to “eat a burger” and all that stupid shit. and from friends and people at church. like for years i’ve had people poke fun of me for mt body. so now that i have no ass, no hips, and am skinnier so my body type looks kinda better on me theres a new problem. like don’t people see that i’m NEVER going have wider hips and a nice ass, like i didn’t when i weighed more than i do now. like it’s so stupid bro.

[alternativegenderdysphoria]

Trying to hide your chest? Sports bra!

I know, this ones a little obvious but it's genuinely been so helpful for me. Some sports bras have a little bit of compression built in that will help flatten your chest. They also keep your chest out of the way by tucking it against your body so you don't feel or see it as much. Make sure you get one without push-up properties. You can also take out the padding without having to worry very much about nipple exposure, because the compression will also kind of keep your nipples from showing if that's a concern for you. You may need to slip them back in if you're wearing a light colored shirt, though.

This works especially well if you're a bigger person with small-medium boobs, as you really don't need to super-flatten your chest with a binder. It actually sometimes looks less natural bc bigger people without boobs don't have naturally flat chests. Pair it with a t-shirt or loose button up top for the illusion of no boobs.

[wellgreathereiam]

Underworks is the cheapest reputable brand, the material they use also has greater compression than gc2b so that's where I got my first binder.

gc2b is much, much safer to wear for 5-8 hours at a time on a daily basis (5 days a week) than underworks bc their binders don't rely only on compression fabric to flatten a person's chest, they use a canvas panel in the front to shape what is compressed.

Shapeshifters does all custom sizing at a higher price point than both of the other two, their binders have the option of a zipper or clasps to make it easier to get in and out of. They don't use a canvas panel and have comparable compression with gc2b.

Generally when shopping for a binder, look out anything made with material that isn't stretchy. If the binder can't easily expand, neither can your ribs when you wear it. Be extremely suspicious of binders made with clasps or zippers that don't come with good reviews from sources you trust.

I've binded with KT and Trans tape as well. Many people find that tape binding is not a good choice for them, and I certainly don't recommend binding with tape more than a week each month, but tape binding gives me better results than anything else I've recommended above so I'll give some general advice.

Medical adhesive allergies are common, test a small piece of tape on clean skin in the area you plan to use it on for a day before you try using the tape for it's intended purpose to check for an allergic reaction. Always cover nipples with gauze, paper towel, bandaids, etc. NEVER attempt to take off the tape without soaking it with oil or vaseline for a few minutes first. If the skin under the edges of the tape starts feeling itchy, that means the physical stress on your skin is causing it to blister and you should take it off as soon as possible.

Do not tape all the way around to your spine, the tape should not cover the entire circumference of your rib cage. Try not to overlap tape, especially on the ends, the adhesive is made for skin and it does not stick to itself as well. The ends of the tape shouldn't be stretched, peel off a 1-2 inch section, apply it to your skin and allow it to adhere before stretching the rest of the tape, the last 1-2 inches of tape also should be relaxed when adhering it (prevents blistering). The tape shouldn't be stretched to it's maximum while applying it, it should still be able to stretch a little bit more to allow your rib cage to expand.

Pros and cons to taping versus traditional binding:

Traditional binding done unsafely can bruise lungs, cause rib fractures, and when done safely on a regular basis can still damage the rib joints at your sternum and your clavicle joints, weaken the muscles that support your ribs and your upper body strength, slowly deform your rib cage, and give you general soreness. Traditional binders are much more cost effective, they last for a few years.

Taping doesn't compress your entire chest and allows better breathing and free-er muscle movement. Taping stretchs skin, which is naturally elastic, beyond what it is meant to and will cause sagging. If you want to decide in the future if top surgery or breast reduction is right for you, low skin elasticity would prevent a successful procedure and most surgeons would not perform either. A role of tape costs about half the amount of a binder, and lasts about two months.

I work full-time in a kitchen, I do heavy lifting of boxes, trays, and containers and I'm on my feet at least 9 hours a day. I am very thin. Binding don't compress tissue and muscle between the binder and my ribs bc there isn't anything there to compress, so the force is acting directly on my rib bones which makes me prone to rib dislocations. This means the safest options for my body are taping or a sports bra + layered shirts, and a gc2b binder used only occasionally.

Someone who is a different size and has a different activity level will have different results with these binding methods than I do. Hell, I had different results when I was a student with a lower activity level, I comfortably wore a gc2b binder 8hrs a day, 5 days a week.

Hey guys!

Soooo... I’ve been doing some thinking about this whole gender thing (sounds fake, I know 😂) and I’ve decided that Girl™️ just doesn’t fit the bill anymore, yknow?

Kinda started feeling this way after I cut my hair short. But I kind of figured ��eh, it’ll pass’. But it didn’t.

So guess who spent a whole lot of money on men’s clothes because they’re comfortable and also I feel fantastic in them?? Me. I did. Trick question.

Only problem is.... (I bet any ftm can guess this part)

BREASTS

Am I allowed to say that word or will Tumblr kill me?

Anyways! I know a few of my followers are maybe in the same boat with the self image thing, so maybe some of ya’ll have any tips on binding or where to buy safe/comfortable binders?

Please help a baby nonbinary trying to make themselves feel a little more like their self ♥️