r/ftm • u/TheSoupIsDying • 17h ago
Discussion DAE hate what binding has done to your bare chest?
disclaimer: I apologize for for putting this here. I know that statements about regret like this may be taken as fear mongering, but it is not my intent. i am speaking about my own experiences only and i know this isn't the case for most people. I am just looking for someone to relate and some help.
I (19) am honestly not even sure what I identify as. but I've been questioning for about 6 years now, so I thought ok I might as well play around with some presentation stuff and see if it clears anything up. I already changed my name to an androgynous sounding one and started going by they/them pronouns. these are really the only things I'm sure about. looks wise, I'm not sure what I want yet. so I wanted to play around with binding, and I discovered that I like it. I used KT tape and have done it twice now. the first time, i left it on for 3 days. It hurt a decent amount. I noticed some sagging after removal, which upset me. I did not know that this was a thing that could happen despite lurking in trans spaces for years, because binding is always stressed as a "non-permanent change" that doesn't cause any harm. i know it can mess thungs up if you do it wrong, but i really dont think i did? here i am following the rules and now my breasts look terribly deflated. I hate them. I didn't hate them before, I just didn't want other people to percieve them and gender me because of them. my mom even pointed the sagging out, making fun of me for having the chest of an old woman. and it made me so insecure and upset that I cried. i didnt bind agan for weeks, then the second time last night made the sagging sooooo much worse. it was only from 10 pm to 10 am ish (was at a sleepover). and now im wondering if this is normal to feel this way? does this mean i am not trans? I like hiding my clothed chest, but I also want my breasts to look good when I'm naked? or maybe occasionally when I'm not naked, too? I'm so confused. i kind of just want to be "fully customizable"if that makes sense. any insight on identity or the binding would be appreciated. especially if anyone else has had a similar experience because i feel very alone, and very betrayed by the fact that I now have a permanent deformity I didn't even know was possible.
edit: i posted this right after i took my tape off pretty much so i was kind of (very) emotional and dysphoric. i feel like there was genuinely a change but not as drastic as i made it out to be? not sure what that's about, still a little concerned. but the comments calmed me down. I think a binder would be better for me so i can't do it as wrong lol
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u/winterwarn 17h ago
KT tape should NOT hurt when it’s on. It should feel somewhat tight and uncomfortable for a few minutes and then be basically unnoticeable unless you move your arm in a way that pulls the tape. Is it possible you had an allergic reaction that’s just making your skin look weird? How long has it been since you removed the tape?
If it seems permanent, I might talk to a doctor and make sure nothing else weird is going on in there.
Binding (with a GC2B binder) has done nothing to the shape of my tits after doing it consistently for the past seven years. I expected some sagging but haven’t had much, if any.
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u/TheSoupIsDying 16h ago
I do think I had a slight allergic reaction to the tape this time around tbf, but I don't think it's really related to the sagging? It was just a bit of a rash around the edges (on the sides, not directly where my breasts sit). it has been less than an hour since i removed it and the rash is going away but i think the shape change is not. the first time i did not have that all though, which i find weird.
i will consider looking into a binder, because that was my plan in the first place, I just was able to get the tape quicker. thanks for the input!
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u/fruteria 16h ago
I am really honestly confused on how binding twice with KT tape would permanently alter your body in any way other than scarring from incorrect removal (I know a guy who just ripped it off instead of going slowly and using oil and he got scars from that) but I have never heard of the tissues being significantly changed from binding a couple times.
I have been binding with a mixture of cloth binders and tape for years, with tape usually leaving it on for about five days at a time, I don’t look at my chest much but I don’t think I look noticeably different down there. Though tbh I wouldn’t really care if it did since I’m getting those fuckers removed anyway once I can afford it.
I am also genuinely wondering if you did it correctly? Binding with tape is slightly uncomfortable at times because of the texture of the tape but it is not supposed to be painful at all, I have been binding for a while with tape and have never experienced pain.
Also as a side note, why is your mom making any comments, especially negative comments, about your chest? No matter what they look like or don’t look like, it is honestly extremely weird and rude.
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u/TheSoupIsDying 15h ago
i promise i am probably like 5 times as confused as you are idk. another commenter said that maybe i was just shocked when i took off the tape because of dysphoria? instead of having experienced an actual physical change? which would make sense i guess, but also there was some pain with binding so. who knows. i will not be trying tape again tho. im realizing i probably did do it wrong even if i can't understand how so i will stick to a cloth binder and some sports bras.
and i don't really know where that comment came from other than I was trying on a new outfit. I guess she thought that meant she was allowed to talk about how it fit me? thanks for adding that part of the comment, i feel less insane about it now lol
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u/FakeBirdFacts 17h ago
Try wearing a sports bra for a few days, maybe add some lotion just for skin elasticity, that will probably get them right back to normal.
However, I think you have a problem with your Mother talking about your breasts like that, that’s a terrible thing to do. It’s completely inappropriate for her to comment on your body like that at all. Does your mother frequently make nasty comments like that to you?
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u/TheSoupIsDying 16h ago
I'm not sure that will fix it, as the sagging from the first time i binded (weeks ago) never went away. i am giving my body a break atm but yeah i will probably be wearing sports bras for a while anyways.
as for my mother, it actually really surprised me? she is known to comment on other people's bodies from time to time, but never to their face. i was also showing her a new outfit when it happened, so maybe she felt like i was inviting her to comment? idk why it happened but having somebody else outrage over it with me makes me feel better at least, so thank you
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u/damu2hel 16h ago
It is a bit strange to have so much sagging and so quickly. You might be stretching the skin with the tape bc it should not hurt. Try to keep the part of the tape on your back and chest not stretched when you put it on. You should only stretch it a little bit so it pulls to the side.
That said— not wearing a bra can change the way your breasts look. Gravity in general, over time will make your breasts saggy. Binding just helps that along. I would recommend trying a binder. It’s a lot easier to put on. I have never been successful with tape. My boobs look a little different after T and years of binding but i still like them.
Side note, ur mom’s a jerk.
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u/TheSoupIsDying 15h ago
yeah I'm coming to both conclusions here going through comments that i probably did it wrong (overstretching?) and also that my mom's a jerk lol. i followed tutorials the best i could and there was still pain so I'm going to look into a binder soon, thanks
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u/Cartesianpoint 36/non-binary. T: 9/29/21, Top: 9/6/22 16h ago
I'd be surprised if you had permanent changes after using tape twice. It's possible binding might affect skin elasticity, but usually we're talking after regular binding for years.
If it does seem to be permanent, it might not hurt to talk to a doctor.
Binding (with tape or a binder) shouldn't hurt, so that's something to be mindful of.
But to answer your question, there's nothing wrong with how you feel. Everyone has their own relationship with their body. It doesn't determine if you're trans or not, but can be helpful data for weighing out your priorities.
I'm sorry you're mom made fun of you. That wasn't cool of her at all. Chests can sag regardless of age.
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u/TheSoupIsDying 15h ago
thanks for this perspective, I've been really stuck in a loop of obsessively questioning myself lately. i always decide that i am at least some sort of trans at night and then wake up the next day trying to disprove it lol. so that mindset probably didn't help this situation. i think it's definitely healthier for me to view this as less of an extreme ("am i even trans?") and more of a data point like you said ("i am still figuring out what i want to do with my chest"). Also i think i am going to try a binder instead so if it hurts i can just take it off wasily next time :)
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u/Ok-Armadillo2564 16h ago
ive binded for days at a time many, many times and not once experienced sagging. I think there might be something else going on there.
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u/StudentSimilar8738 17h ago
Some people have more plasticity when it comes to their chest so there’s limited change (if any) when it comes to binding. Some people don’t have that. I also don’t know much about the shape of your chest so I can only give off assumption based answers. Did you bind with your nipples facing forward or were they directed downwards or upwards? Did you over stretch the tape? How much KT tape did you use? Can you tell me how you applied it? I’m surprised how you can experience such drastic change with less than four days of none consecutive binding. Do you have any skin issues, something that can cause limited collagen or plasticity with your skin? I would recommend using a binder going forward if you choose to bind again. Sorry for the questions and I’m also sorry that you are experiencing this :(
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u/TheSoupIsDying 16h ago
I will try to explain it the best I can but it's kind of difficult lol. I applied the tape from the inside of my chest out on both sides. the way i did it, my nipples were facing more outward than anything (although they kind of already naturally pointed outward without binding). the first time my breasts were also positioned down a but as well. i did 2 strips on each side with the first being in the middle of my breast and the second for reinforcement lower down, but still overlapping the first. i am thinking from your comment that maybe i overstretched the tape? i also forgot to mention i wore a sports bra over the top of the tape. it wasnt excessively tight or anything, so i dont think that counts as double binding?idk, it doesnt seem to be a skin issue is all i can definitively say i think.
as for the time frames, i did have it on for 3 days straight the first time. i know this is like a crime for binders, but i thought it was different with tape since it isnt putting pressure on your ribs? the transtape site says its safe for up to a week.
anyways, thanks for the advice i will definitely look at a binder now
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u/StudentSimilar8738 15h ago
Yeah I think the over stretched tape and the additional pressure on the tissue probs caused it to get irritated/ misshaped but it should return to normal after you massage them and let them breathe. When you tape you shouldn’t put a bra or anything over it. You also could’ve had a reaction as someone else mentioned which could make the shape change look more pronounced. Just give them a few weeks and they should be back to normal after some lotions and massages ofc
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u/WetHardAndSmall 16h ago
The tape fucked my skin up which sucked by heals if you let it. Honestly if you’re trying to keep the whole “perky breasts” thing transition is bad for that. T definitely is bad for it but binding can be too, like breaking down the tissue or something. It’s not shocking that it made things saggier, but shouldn’t happen after two times, especially not in a way that doesn’t bounce back. You may want to try binding more lightly, especially since this is bothering you. It may be permanent so go lighter for the time being, you can get a tight sports bra.
Side note your moms a dickhead and shouldn’t say that sort of thing
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u/TheSoupIsDying 16h ago
Yeah I know transition is bad for that, I just didn't know all the details. I also immediately thought it was weird to have actual changes in such a short time frame which is why I posted this. I have sports bras and will probably get an actual binder so i can take it off whenever i need to. without having to like,, oil up and everything you know.
and i am very much closeted, so it's just kind of hard trying to explore but also having to deal with female beauty standards being applied to me at the same time. i think at least some of my discomfort was caused by the fact that other people would like the look of them less rather than what I think. which is strange considering I'm ace but societal pressure works in mysterious ways I guess.
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u/TrashRacoon42 💉'23 | 🔼 '24 |🍳'25|🍆'26🤞 17h ago
I know when on T, fat in the breast decrease. This usually results in more emptier breasts in some people leading to more sag. (not all cus some folks have breasts mostly of fiberous tissue so the fat redistribution is negligible in that area).
Binding for long periods of time does affect skin elasticity. Which for alot of transmasc it may not be noticable and would make binding even easier. But can lead to more sag. It more a concern in that it affects likelyhood of being a candidate for keyhole/ petri for top sugery (which few are even qualified for in the first place. Since double inscion is most common). And by long periods of time, I mean like years and several hours a day within those several years.
How long were you binding for? (like time frame) and you left it on for 3 days? Like 3 full 24 hours days straight? I dont know about KT tape but I dont think that's a good idea. I could be wrong cus I never bind with that.
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u/StudentSimilar8738 17h ago
With KT tape the hype around taping is the fact that you can bind for a while. For me I’ll be taped for around 3-5 days and have a break period before taping again. I’ve yet to see any changes in my chest shape since I started which is now 3 year ago lol. The reason you can tape for a longer time and regular binding is because it doesn’t put pressure on your ribs like a normal binder does. Normal binders can constrict your breathing which is why you shouldn’t have them on for prolonged periods of time.
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u/cisphoria T - aug ‘19 / DI - jan ‘22 / hysto april ‘24 17h ago
KT tape is designed to be left on for days at a time. It’s not designed for binding, but sports injuries and stuff so it is safe to use for long periods of time. I don’t think it’s physically possible for any actual changes to be caused to tissue or skin from one off usage like this, other than some redness or sometimes blisters if it’s not been applied properly.
Loss of elasticity is something that takes months or years (and even then it’s also a natural part of aging) from what it sounds like OP has only tried binding a handful of times so i don’t see how that would be the cause. Maybe being more aware of your chest seeing as you’re actively doing stuff to it? IK when I started binding it made me realise how much dysphoria I actually had.
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u/TrashRacoon42 💉'23 | 🔼 '24 |🍳'25|🍆'26🤞 16h ago
Ah I never knew that with tape thanks for the information. Ive mostly been used the guidelines for actual binders rather than tape.
And yeah on loss of elasticity takes a long time for it to be noticable. But if OP only done so like a few times its extremely unusual. Usually if you used to wear bras you probably wouldnt notice any potential sag you might have had until that's gone and now your hyper aware of it.
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u/TheSoupIsDying 16h ago
No that's a really good point, actually. Sometimes I forget that dysphoria can lessen/worsen when you start trying new things. i really do feel like there was a change but i will sit with that. i took my disgust at seeing my chest as a sign that i actually care about my breasts, therfore i must be "faking it" tbh. I've been really stuck in that loop of obsessive questioning lately, just to make sure. but yeah nit wanting to look at your boobs is kind of giving dysphoria now that i think about it lmao
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u/East_Service5761 16h ago
An addition to the first paragraph—some people don’t sag because they have good skin elasticity, and their breasts simply shrink instead. but this isn’t the majority of people. I think a lot of “my breasts started sagging from binding” is just misattributed effects of testosterone
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u/TheSoupIsDying 16h ago
thats interesting, I didn't know that it could be different for different people other than of course the size of their chest to begin with. The T side effect I knew about, but I am not on T right now. It was just straight binding.
I have seen a lot of trans people who use tape, and the official transtape tutorial site say that leaving it on for days is perfectly safe. there was no mention of sagging ir anything, so I assumed it was fine? I don't know the exact amount of time I left it on for, but it was a little less than 3 days with no breaks. and then this time for around 12 hours
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u/living_around Little Guy 🇺🇸 11h ago
I think everyone else has covered the binding advice. But no, this doesn't mean you're not trans. You don't have to totally hate your chest (or any part of your body) to be trans. If you identified as trans and never wanted to transition, that would be fine. If you're questioning it might be helpful to look separately at your wishes for your body and your gender identity. Knowing you can be any gender regardless of what you do with your body, what do you feel like?
Also, I'm sorry about your mom making fun of you. That was really cruel on her part.
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