Do! 👀 NOT!! 👀 Double!! 👀 Bind!!!
Double!! 👀 Bind!!👀 If!! 👀Needed!!👀For!!👀Flat!!👀Chest!!!
um or don’t because it’s unhealthy and can mess up ur body a similar way as an ace bandage?
Guys please dont double bind!! I know it sucks to not have a flat chest, trust me im a triple D and im not a big dude..im rather small. I. Know. It. Sucks. But. Please! DONT! DOUBLE! BIND! It can heavily damage your body! Its way too risky and not worth it… believe me its not!
Hey fam, double binding now severely impacts your ability to have a healthy enough body for top surgery (if you want it), exercise, or even basic respiration in the future. So, even though not being flat right now sucks (I hear you. I’m with you. I’m sorry.) right now will not last forever, and right now is not worth all of the things double binding will make you not be able to enjoy or even experience.
There are so many awesome things about you that deserve more room to breathe and flourish than double binding will allow.
Your validity is not determined by how flat you are.
Your worth is not measured in the circumference of your chest.
You deserve to breathe. You deserve belly laughs, and the ability for your lungs to expand enough to sing really bad karaoke or blow out birthday candles or take your dog for a walk. You deserve oxygen, and unbroken ribs, and unpunctured lungs. You deserve to live like the bad ass you are, and you can’t if you can’t breathe (I know this from experience!).
By double binding you are restricting the glory of who you are and all you can be to this idea that validity, joy, and worth are only for guys with flat chests. It’s a lie. You don’t need a flat chest to be valid. You don’t need a flat chest to own your truth and be true to it. The idea is a lie. You don’t deserve its consequences (physical and emotional). The truth of your validity and awesomeness is so much better, so please bind safely and keep breathing into the bad ass that is you.
No flat chest is worth a flatline.
Thanks, @transboysunited <3
Sorry for the spam guys, but really, I’m reblogging these because no one talks about double binding and the first reblog really shocked me. The only reason I am mentioning this is because I’VE done it, and it’s not ok.
Thankfully, I stopped double binding before breaking any ribs, despite doing it for a quite a long time, but I know that double binding has damaged me INSIDE.
I used to double bind almost daily because of dysphoria and it got to the point, I really did need to have a break. I couldn’t bind at all and thankfully, at this time I was going through mental health issues so I didn’t leave my house in need of having to wear my binder, but I was in pain; my back, my chest, my ribs, everything hurt. I remember for about 2 weeks I stayed in bed but I remember even lying down would kill me. I’ve never been to a doctor about it, but I have eventually healed.
However, even now, my back, chest and ribs can still hurt if I bind for about 1-2 hours. My body really can’t take it any more and there will also be times that even without binding, it will play up.
Just because you’re not using an ace bandage, or tape, does NOT mean that double binding with a chest binder, a small sports bra, a small binder or a mixture of both is safe and won’t harm you, because it’s far from safe.
Bind safely, one binder is enough and remember that chests are not 100% flat.
You really need to listen if you are doing this because I know that if I saw a message like this sooner, I probably would have stopped.
-Caleb
Note from a biologist and EMT
Your rib cage isn’t really a system of bones the way any other bone is. Its not anchored to other bones through joint systems. Its connected by a series of elastic cartilage segments or fused to your sternum or spine.
This elasticity is great for your lungs because it means your ribs can expand so you can take deeper breaths, but it also means your ribs are extremely vulnerable to warping under continual pressure.
Over binding, especially when you’re still growing (so from puberty typically until your mid 20s), will permanently deform your ribs and back. I assure you binding safely now will not only insure you can have top surgery, but will save you from chronic, often dehabilitating and life threatening injury.
For any of my binding nb peeps. Keep yourselves safe.
How to put on (and escape) your binder!!
Hi Gents and Gendercools and whomever else comes across this post and wants to know how to bind, here is a post of how to put on your binder!
Disclaimer: I have a GC2B full tank binder. So if you happen to have a different binder and these steps don’t work for you, please add on what does work.
Putting it on
Step One: Put your arms through both your armholes and pull it so the fabric is around your shoulders and in front of your face.
Step Two: Pull the binder over your face until it’s around your shoulders. You may look like an awkward chicken-pterodactyl thing right about now. Don’t panic!
Step Three: Using your hands, pull down on the binder until it covers your chesticles. It might be crooked but don’t worry about that right now. It will be tight and maybe even a little uncomfortable while you’re pulling it onto yourself. You should feel it just fit when you have it on right. It will feel comfortable and you will be able to move your arms like normal.
Step Four: Here’s where you adjust your binder and/or chesticles so you are wearing correctly and get the best flattening effect. Basically just pull your binder so it’s in the middle of your chest and comfortable. I have smaller chesticles, so I tend to be done at this step. But if you have larger ones, you might have to adjust them to fit in your binder. Push them to the inside of your chest and up or down, whichever is more comfortable for you. If someone more experienced in this are would like to add onto this, that’d be fantabulous.
Step Five: Put on a top and walk out into the world like that wonderful person you are. :)
Taking it off
Note: This process is different for everyone, and there’s probably an easier way to do it than how I do it, but this is how I first figured it out.
Step One: Put your arm (I usually do left) through the arm hole and down your chest between your chesticles.
Step Two: Pull the left shoulder with your right hand until you can free your arm. I’ll be honest. This is uncomfortable, and if you let your binder roll up while you do this, and right after you do so, your arm will get red. It’s not a big deal, cause it goes away pretty quickly, but if you’re closeted and your parents are nosy, it might make them suspicious.
Step Three: Just pull the rest of the binder off. It should come off easy-peasy.
Binder Emergencies
There are times, especially when you first put on your binder, that you will get stuck in it. These are terrifying. I know the feeling. But don’t panic. Depending on how you get it stuck on you, whether its halfway on, halfway off, or some monstrous other option, there are remedies. Believe me. I have been through them. But if you’re like me, and you aren’t out yet to your parents or your parents aren’t accepting, your binder mishap may become an actual emergency. The best thing you can do is not panic.
If you get stuck taking your binder off, and you honestly cannot get it off, try to put it back on. You hear your parents coming up the stairs? Tell them you’re getting dressed, changing your shirt, or, worst case scenario, wrap yourself in a big bathrobe and pretend you’re taking a nap until you can get it off of you.
So you got stuck putting your binder on and it’s around your shoulders or something, and it’s nowhere near being on you? Pull like hell. Off of your body. Try putting it on the way I told you above. But if you get it stuck, just pull so you can get it off. It’ll probably hurt. It’ll probably hurt a lot. But as long as you don’t break an arm or something. it’s better than getting caught in your binder, looking like an awkward pterodactyl forever.
If you don’t have time to take it off and there’s someone you need to hide your flat chest from, throw on a shirt with a colorful, busy pattern. A button-down is also a good choice, since those don’t flatter your chest anyway. Put on a bathrobe. Literally, anything. Keep yourself safe.
What if you’re at school and this happens? If you’re able, go to the school nurse. At most schools, the faculty isn’t allowed to disclose your transgender identity to your parents. Sure, it will be embarrassing. But it’s better than being caught. If you’ve got a friend you’re out to, ask them to pull it off of you. A bathroom stall is a good place for this.
If there’s any questions or something to add to this post, please go ahead and do it, or message me.
Good luck, my brothers and siblings, and happy binding!
GROSS THINGS U SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CHEST BINDING IN SUMMER
you can find fashion advice on how to make things more visually manageable and more comfortable, but for bigger guys some of those tips don’t apply and some issues will come up anyway. here’s some stuff I could’ve stood to know last year.
- if you feel the need to layer or wear something thick, sleeveless hoodies exist. they can save you a bit of heat.
- take off layers when you can. wash carefully in the folds of your skin, dab moisture away occasionally during the day, and wash your binders OFTEN.
- fungal infections: for bigger guys, these can happen between and under breasts. if you notice a vinegary smell when you unbind, that’s what that is. afaik there’s no massive health risk from this kind of thing on your skin, but still try to keep those areas dry and clean.
- you might get some pimples on your chest, which is fine.
- you might also get sebaceous cysts. LEAVE THEM ALONE. do not try to pop them yourself, it increases risk of infection. they’ll probably go away on their own; if one becomes inflamed, see a doctor.
- in the heat, your binder will stick to your skin more and the shoulder straps will dig into your skin. don’t wait until you’re bleeding - if it feels raw at all, pad your straps. you can get bra strap pads online, or just make your own with whatever you have handy.
- lastly: drink a lot of water. you’re wearing layers, and binders are skintight. you will sweat more.
I know everything is gross + miserable but hang in there and take care of yourself.
Summer is around the corner! Please remember all these safe binding tips. Stay hydrated and don’t over exert yourself. Your identity is important, but so is your health/well-being.
*hal
Muggs Fogarty - “Ritual” (IWPS 2015)
“…and so I wrap them so carefully, as if bandaging a still healing wound, or, as if casting the most sacred of spells. Half a hex on this grey world, half a love spell on myself.”
it genuinely stresses me out that hat video of Ruby Rose binding with ACE bandages is getting so much traction. ACE bandages hurt so bad don’t fucking bind with them you can damage your body!!! It’s not cool and subversive to hurt your ribs!!!!!
What do we bind with then? .-. This is news to many people
real binders that were made for chest binding. ACE bandages are made so that they constrict, and this can fracture your ribs, or at least bruise and bend them. any trouble breathing experienced with ACE bandages also should not be part of binding, I breathe (and exercise) fine in my binder.
every option i am aware of is online, but you do have options.
underworks (http://www.underworks.com/ultimate-chest-binder-tank) is by far the most popular store. even though their binders were made for cis men who have gynecomastia, that basically means cis men with enlarged boobs, so it’s the same idea, and meant to be safe.
gc2b (http://www.gc2b.co/#!store/c205c) is a store that’s definitely gaining traction. you can find reviews on their website i believe but also on their tumblr, gc2b-apparel. everyone i’ve ever seen who had one felt much less pain with these binder because they’re designed by and for trans people, so they fit right.
these more colorful/patterned binders:http://shapeshiftersinc.storenvy.comwere going around tumblr for awhile, but i’ve never used them, never have known anyone who used them, so i can’t vouch from a personal standpoint, but they do have a testimonials tag on their tumblr:http://shapeshiftersinc.tumblr.com/tagged/testimonials.there’s other options - whether you ID as a dude or not, if you google search “ftm chest binders” you will find results, but these are the ones i’d vouch for most, the first being so widely used and the second two being by and for trans people.
hope this helps, if you want to know anything else about binding feel free to let me know!
Here’s your friendly reminder to not ever bind with ace bandages ever
penicillium-pusher.tumblr.com
stop fucking depicting people binding with ace bandages. binding with ace bandages is dangerous and can lead to injury.
what our friend is getting at is that ace (or any brand of compression-) bandages are designed to constrict when stretched to…
Anonymous:
Could you give me some good reasons why it's ok to bind for gender and non gender (my father doesn't think it the right thing and it's making me more and more depressed)
Definitely. It is fine to bind no matter who you are because binding is a matter of gender expression, not an indicator for your identified gender. For me, binding is primarily an expression of the body rather than the mind. It is what makes my body feel the most comfortable, and then consequently, brings my mind ease.
I mean, both gender-identified and agender people dress themselves, and they still have expression and they still choose what to look like. That is all you are doing when you bind: choosing how you are looking. And that is no one’s decision but yours.
In short, if this were my father, I would tell him, “It is how I feel comfortable.” and make the argument that it doesn’t matter who I am or what gender I identify as, I deserve to be comfortable and make decisions about my own body.
[There are right and wrong ways to bind, though, and you should be sure you aren’t hurting your body. Binding with bandages can be dangerous and harm the body; binders or compression sports bras are generally what I use.]
All the best,
-Kai
Binders4Teens
Binders4Teens raises money to buy custom binders for teenage transmales ages 13-17. Donations can…Alex (http://imheretocrushthepatriarchy.tumblr.com/) brought to our attention that there is a wonderful organization doing their best to help people ages 13-17 receive binders. If you are in need of binder or just want to check it out, here’s the link to their facebook page!
-Jay
Trans Guys | Bind Kinder
The use of ace bandages for binding is not only extremely uncomfortable, its dangerous.
Ace bandages contract around the ribcage, not allowing your ribcage to expand as you breathe, furthermore, putting you at risk for deformed ribs from prolonged use, as well as broken rib bones.
Always use a binder, which is specifically designed for binding and shaping the chest.
Can’t afford a binder? contact Aydian Dowling at point5ccclothing@gmail.com and get a binder for nothing more than the cost of shipping.for my brothers in need
This seems far too practical to not reblog
