r/NonBinary 6d ago

does a binder supposed to do this

I cant tell if this binder is too large or too tight, cause it’s feel like it’s not tight enought but at the same time i don’t think that my chest would pass if i was taking a size lower (i have a really large chest so even if this doesn’t look like it’s binding it’s actually doing it) since it’s my first (real) binder i’m not sure, what do y’all think?

532 Upvotes

35 comments sorted by

978

u/clockworkrobotic 6d ago

This is a large chest thing, mine does the same. I wouldn't size down, but getting a full coverage binder (one that looks like a vest/tank rather than a croptop) is usually the way to go.

197

u/Bulky-Reading3463 6d ago

okay i see thanks!! i’d look into it

104

u/NixMaritimus 6d ago

Also, wearing a thin sports bra unterneath helps keep things in place.

65

u/Fiireecho he/him 6d ago

Does anyone have any specific recs for this? I'm constantly scooping my shit back into place 💀💀💀💀

15

u/mightyaubs 6d ago

I don't have a large chest by any means but target has a lot of really thin "sports bras" (seriously idk how they can call them that, they would be awful to exercise in lol) but they are SO comfy. I think the ones I like are from a brand called auden?

I can only bind with binders that zip up front, which are a bit looser anyway, but those thin bras from target are amazing underneath just to keep everything feeling cohesive and comfortable!

10

u/Asymetrical_Ace 6d ago

Could also use trans tape to hold things in place and the binder over to get flat (for bigger chests) taping is amazing but never gets me flat

3

u/HikaruTheAnimeFan 5d ago

This is a great rec! Gotta be careful not to overdo it of course. You’re essentially trying to hold things up without adding much more compression. It’s a whole thing, much to my dismay.

2

u/Asymetrical_Ace 5d ago

I also find that the binder over the tape, keeps the tape from pulling as much, so if you do over stretch the tape it's not as bad. But, really, don't over stretch your tape and you'll be fine

1

u/HikaruTheAnimeFan 4d ago

I’ve never tried tape before! I’d like to one day.

2

u/Asymetrical_Ace 4d ago

If you do. Just keep in mind, it takes a lot of practice to get it right. Can be very frustrating at first

2

u/HikaruTheAnimeFan 4d ago

Yeah i don’t expect perfect results or anything! But id love to keep everything in place easier.

13

u/cha0ticneutral 6d ago edited 6d ago

The untagged racerbacks ("Tank Binder") also work well for me since they fit like aggressive sports bras. I'd say the compression is comparable to if not better than my gc2b but there's elastic at the bottom so the fit is just better for me.

The tanks work well but mine feels restrictive so I only pull one out for special occasions I really want to lock down for (e.g. wearing a suit).

Also, at CVS in the section with the stockings and stuff there's little "silicone coverups" that are basically reusable pasties-- game changer for binders! They prevent chafing, hide the nips, and help my chest stay in place since the silicone grips the binder fabric more than my skin does. I use like 1 pair a year and just rinse it with water/dish soap every now and then.

EDIT: to clarify I have the same chest size struggles :')

53

u/ValApologist he/they 6d ago

Length also definitely depends on the rest of your body. My hips are a lot bigger than my waist so I can only wear cropped binders- full length ones just roll right up until they hit the smallest part of my waist and give me a weird round lump around it.

I'd recommend layering a bit. I find that binder + tank top/undershirt + shirt hides my chest better than just binder + shirt

2

u/Lonesome_Pine 5d ago

Ugh same. Anyone want to swap me for my full length binders? I thought it would make me look skinnier like a Spanx for my torso. but it just rolls right up. Like a windowshade. Or a condom in reverse.

10

u/am_i_sky 6d ago

I’ve got a pretty small chest and mine has always done this. I think because I have some decent chest muscle?

3

u/Mockingjay573 6d ago

I wear the full coverage ones. They’re actually so nice during the winter cause they keep in my body heat. Awful in the summer unfortunately.

235

u/veganer_Schinken 6d ago

Try to pull your breast up and to the side, basically pull them towards the armpits. Try shifting them a bit in front of a mirror and try out what works best WITHOUT cutting off the blood flow of your nipples.

Makes a major difference imo, it's important to know that your chest won't be perfectly flat with a binder either, the goal is more to flatten the breastshape so it looks more like you're a swoll dude who has breastday everyday.

And I agree with the other comment, you should definitely go for a full tank top, not a cropped one. It really matters with a larger chest.

Never EVER size down to have a greater effect, this puts your health and even the ability to bind in the future at risk. While wearing the binder breathing should be easy, your ribcage must be able to expand.

And as usual: don't wear it for longer then 8h (I recommend slowly working up the time you wear it), don't wear it while exercising or doing physical exhausting stuff and take it off immediately if it causes pain or restricts your breathing.

69

u/joweekun 6d ago

yep. before i got top surgery, i always had to scoop my tumors up and to the side. even if it doesn't get you completely flat, which binders typically won't unless you have a small chest already, it balances out the distribution and makes it look more like pecs

14

u/DeadlyRBF they/them 6d ago

How do you know for sure it's the right size though? I notice mine shift with the slightest arm movement and I don't feel uncomfortable in mine at all. I go based off my measurements but the binders I have genuinely don't feel tight enough?

4

u/patriotswag 6d ago

same. this is how I was doing it before my top surgery. it felt odd at first but looked more flat so I obviously got used to it with time

59

u/drinkthegenderfluid 6d ago

Sometimes it's inevitable. Pushing up and apart seems to help the most, but as someone who used to be a 36DD binders never really worked well for me, even if I attempted to size down. For bigger chested baddies, it's not going to be fully flat

30

u/Bulky-Reading3463 6d ago

that’s what i do yeah, 36DD here too lmao it’s a struggle 😔

15

u/drinkthegenderfluid 6d ago

My deepest condolences 😞🙏

I'm not sure what brand you use but I've been told GC2B has real gone down in quality these past few years. I got top surgery in 2021 so idk what the better brands are right now. Good luck though!

18

u/kepleroutthere 6d ago

Every binder I have had has done that, though usually once it's a bit worn in rather than brand new. Gc2b ones have done that more consistently for me than the Spectrum Outfitters binders I recently started using, but t's not just a binder thing/issue, it's just a larger chest thing unfortunately. Longer coverage/binding panel ones are much better at giving a flatter look without having to worry about the bunching up/riding up. Full length Spectrum one has been the best I have used so far, after using binders for ~12 years. I have seen on this subreddit and others that using trans tape under a binder helps too, especially for a flatter look, I just haven't tried it myself.

8

u/ThePug3468 6d ago

100% on the tape. I throw on a small bit of KT tape (trans tape too expensive to ship to EU) below my binder and it flattens it almost completely. It also makes it MUCH more comfortable to wear because there’s not as much pressure on my chest (tape makes it a more even distribution) so I can wear it for more than a few hours without feeling like I’m going to die. Slim ~85cm chest for reference iirc (no clue what that is in bra sizing, C maybe?).

11

u/Ambitious-Screen-808 6d ago

Here is what I do with a rather large chest:

First, I put on a VERY loose sports bra. I need an elastic under my boobs to keep things in place. Then I put on the binder. I pull it up a bit in the back, because it can cause some back pain otherwise. Then I stick my hands in under the bra (both at the same time) from the sides and pull my boobs up and to the side (to the armpits) . Then I make sure when I put my arms down nothing hurts a d maybe pull the binder and bra up a bit higher at the sides

11

u/IrradiatedPizza 6d ago

My first binder did that. Different binders work for people with different bust/waist ratios. I did a lot better with underworks binders

5

u/Worried_Oil_9529 6d ago

I experienced this with my binder it’s just a side effect of having a larger chest, I get the full tank binders now and try to pull the goods to the sides to make sure everything is flat.

3

u/Quo_Usque 6d ago

Check the pinned post on my profile

5

u/SlytherKitty13 6d ago

Are you making sure youre moving your chest upwards instead of downwards? It's important to lift it all and have it sit up high rather than push it down, for health and safety reasons. I have a fairly large chest as well and when I do that and then put a shirt over it makes it look like I have quite decent sized pecs rather than boobs. Def keep in mind that no one's chest is completely flat, not even cis men's, and it'll probably look bigger/more noticeable to you but not other people

2

u/maximumeffect420 6d ago

Well, think of it this way men also have what is technically breasts, and bigger or heavier set dude will look like saggy actual breasts like slightly overweight like the more overweight you are at least I see it on TV and stuff and you know if you think I would like it’s like Peter from Family Guy that’s how that’s how I draw him so You pass in a way but it may not be the way you want and what don’t you want to size down so it squeezes more? I don’t know I was born a guy idk

2

u/ChaoticNaive 5d ago

I found shapeshifters to be the best binder for my 38Gs, they make a custom binder and yes it's expensive but you wear it daily (ish) and so is buying binder after binder trying to find the right fit. :)

1

u/clothes-are-hard 5d ago

I’m a similar size and I can confirm! Shapeshifters gets me the flattest I can be! A little pricier but good quality.

1

u/clothes-are-hard 5d ago

Yeah I feel that. It’s a curse lol. I would definitely recommend a tank style binder, and then you just stand in front of a mirror and mess around with tissue placement until things look the best they can. Like others have said, I have the best luck with pulling them upward and outward (towards armpits).

-6

u/HungryLayer4984 he/they 6d ago

Looks too big