#bc i started using transtape

[oppositeslut]

I am going to be SO brave tmr guys wish me luck 🙏🏽🤞🏽

[marklikely]

re entering my swimming era (<- owns binding tape now)

[slasher-dasher]

Hi!! I just started reading your stuff (mostly dbd ghostface/Danny Johnson stuff) but may I request kind of a comfort headcanon where reader comes out to Danny/Jed as trans (ftm) and is either getting top surgery or had top surgery already (you can decide which)

(Submitted by @luciferdoesnotexist404)

FTM Reader x Danny Johnson

︶꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦︶

Reader Getting Top Surgery:

Danny is super supportive, and if there's one thing he can do better than killing, it's research. So you'll be in good hands for recovery

Calls you handsome often, it's his go-to compliment for you

Only calls you pretty if it's just you two or if it's a special occasion, he doesn't want to encourage others to use it for you though

Will make sure you're binding/taping safely, especially if he sees you doing either for longer than you should (he has a keen eye)

Also sets timers for you to remember to stretch if you bind! And he'll do them with you!!

Reader Had Top Surgery:

Again, you're in good hands. Danny is very careful when he has to move you from the bed to any room in the apartment

He always makes sure you have what you need/ask for within reach, the last thing he needs is to worry about you ripping any stitches

Gives you free-reign to his closet so you can see how certain shirts/fabrics feel post-surgery, but you do have to put on a fashion show for him, music and poses included

Sometimes he'll trace your surgery scars if he's waiting for you to wake up or if you two are cuddling, they make him smile

Be prepared for Danny to be your personal weighted blanket bc that man will take every chance to lay on your chest once you're healed

Extra - FTM!Danny:

(These are both pre and post surgery hc's)

He lets you see his top scars to show you how they heal, and happily answers any questions you have ("Yes, you can touch them")

If you've had top surgery he will just lift up your shirt every so often to see if you're healing well ("We match!!")

Understands when/if your dysphoria gets to be too much, and is happy to set the day aside to help you in any way he can (he knows you'd do the same)

Gives you his old/spare binders! Danny uses Transtape to avoid rib pain/breathing problems on hunts

He also forgets to take off his binder sometimes, so it was a better option overall-

[sunnywalnut]

For my tboys(and anyone else) that want to try transtape but are in way over your heads:

-get waterproof muscle tape instead. It's basically the same thing but cheaper. And you can get it in bulk on the Big Daddy Bezos Website

-depending on the size of your chest, you'll need enough to cover it and then add an extra two inches or so. The extra length is so that you don't have too much tension

-round out the corners of your tape with scissors. It's okay if it isn't perfect. All you really need is to make sure there isn't any sharp edges that are going to lift when you shower/move

-rid your skin of all oils before applying tape. You can do soap and water and wait for it to dry completely, or just wipe yourself down with rubbing alcohol. I usually do rubbing alcohol. It's faster.

-if you stretch the tape too far, it can and will rip your skin. This usually starts as your skin feeling tight or itchy. This is because your skin is stretching too far. Take the tape off. Try again. Less tension this time.

-you want around 25% of the tape to not be stretched at all. This is your anchor point. Usually somewhere underneath your armpit.

-for the love of the universe, PLEASE cover your nipples. A thin piece of gauze, bandaids, whatever. Just cover them. They're sensitive as fuck and if you get tape on them, you could possibly rip them off, rip out the hair surrounding them, or just have a really uncomfortable time. Trust me. It's not fun. Keep those bad boys safe.

-transtape/muscle tape is generally hypoallergenic, however make sure you look into it anyways. If they don't tell you what's in it, run the other way. Chemical rash is no fucking joke and makes it IMPOSSIBLE to wear your binder afterwards.

-while you can apply tape standing up(and most do) you can also apply it laying down on your back. Some people say this is for people with larger chests bc gravity or whatever, but honestly. I say anyone should do it. Less unneeded tension added, and also you don't have to angle yourself all weird just to work against gravity. Plus this is a win for those of us with back pain. Easier, faster, and much more comfortable. Wins all around.

-you can get muscle tape that is up to 4 inches wide. However. I find the regular 2 inches is fine for me. Just make sure you don't overlap the tape too much. More chance of peeling that way.

-IF YOU SHOWER WITH YOUR TAPE ON, MAKE SURE IT'S JUST WARM. I CANNOT stress this enough. Just because it's WATER proof does not mean it is HEAT proof. And also rubbing on top of the tape is not good. Instead, wash the skin around the tape and try not to rub at the edges. You can always clean the skin underneath after you take the tape off.

-try not to wear tape for longer than 2-3 days and shower/clean thoroughly afterwards. Bacteria still grows underneath, even though it is covered. Pat dry. Your skin may be sensitive from being under glue. That's normal.

-THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR: extremely itchy skin on application site. Redness. Swelling. Tiny "pinpricks" of red(this is your skin beginning to tear). Open sores. Skin breaking open when scratched lightly(again. Tearing). While these all may LOOK like symptoms of an allergic reaction, don't freak out!! You likely just have your tape on too tight. Take it off and give your body time to heal. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT put body tape over open wounds. It is VERY POSSIBLE that it can cause tearing, infections, and other not very good side effects. And please. If your skin itches or starts to tear, remove the tape. I still have scars from when I ignored mine, thinking it was just normal. And that was on my hands.

Sources:

And personal trial and error^^

Be safe!!

[sevarix-blogs]

hey I hope I'm not disturbing you, but I wanted to tell you that I'm officially starting my transition <3

I'm really scared about using binding tape tho, because I'm pretty busty and I might hurt myself if I don't use it correctly 😔 do you have any tips on how to use it safely?

OMG CONGRATS!!! i hope it goes well for you!!

as for the tape, i have never used it myself so i cannot speak from experience, but i found a site that explains how to use it:

make sure you are doing it safely! i always wore cloth binders instead and i could only wear them for a bit bc it was uncomfortable for me. but hopefully the tape works out better for you!

[nothums-from-tj]

In honor of me coming out to my dad tomorrow uhhhhh here’s a playlist to send to a loved one you plan on coming out to (starts with information, then with advice and stories, and then good trans/non-binary representation in media) bc I’m gonna be sending this to him afterwards. Feel free to use this playlist and these resources for your own coming out if you’d like :] it’s a long list so uh scroll to the end for my final point

PFLAG (can help parents find support groups to try to cope bc this is a shift in relationship and it’s ok for them to grieve, or at least find other resources to help them to support you)

HRC Resources (this particular section debunks myths on transgender issues and popular arguments against trans people and transitioning and answering common questions about said issues)

Understanding Gender Identity (article with a long list of definitions, go through and tell them what to start with to understand you and the situation better; there’s a beginning part too, though I feel it’ll be too confusing to start them off there)

Transgender Brain and Gender Identity (article discussing some improvements in transgender research and providing hope for trans people’s future I’d think, it’s a little wordy and an excellent read methinks)

GC2B (for my AFAB friends, this is probably the highest quality chest binder you can get and wearing a thin top under or wearing it inside out should help with any sensory issues, also since it’s made by fellow trans mascs they know how to not hurt our bodies; transitional gear is an excellent way for a loved one to support you if they can afford it; DO NOT go a size too small, don’t even risk it, they don’t work the way bras do)

Transguy Supply (also for AFAB friends, this I mostly trust for packers and packing boxers, and again transitional gear is an excellent way to support you if it can be afforded; do your own research for packing so you and your loved one are on the same page or at least you’d be able to let them know)

Menstrual Boxers (last one for AFAB friends lol, specifically for y’all who menstruate; this is such a dysphoria reliever for me as it feels like men’s underwear and I don’t have to really worry about “protection” for a little while, they also have regular “girl” boxers that can help you find a middle ground of sorts with the person you’re coming out to for a bit, just to ease into it)

Bra Resource (now for my AMAB pals, unfortunately I’m not skilled here as I myself am a trans man so I want to do my best here anyway: here is an article written by a trans woman with her bra experience and has varying other articles that I’m hoping will help you and a loved one out to pick one out for you as, again, transitional gear is an amazing way to support you if they can afford this type of gesture)

Tomboy X (from compression tops to packing boxers to adaptable bras to gaffs, y’all are set to go with just about everything here they do their best to relieve everyone’s dysphoria—def look at the reviews for things for a better judgement)

TransTape (skin-safe “tape” that can be used for packing, binding, and tucking; I think binding with TT is safer than with a binder since it’s not actually compressing, don’t quote me on that though; READ THE INSTRUCTIONS before use, please don’t hurt yourself)

Reminder that while it’s not your responsibility to do all the education for them, it’s important to push them in the right direction, at least to give them reliable sources. Make sure to look at the sites, read the articles, and watch the videos either before your coming out or do this with them so you can pick and choose what you want to narrate in your own experiences. Stay cool and be safe! Feel free to reblog with other sources, tips, anything you want to add!

If it helps at all: they don’t need to fully understand, the goal is that they accept you

(Edit from the next day, 5/5/2023: everything’s good and fine and cool between us and I can only hope y’all have a similar experience <3)

[nothorses]

a question for you and your followers: what is a binder supposed to feel/fit like? I just bought my first one from For Them bc I wanted to support them over a larger brand, and thought I had a decent chance at a good fit because you get fit for one based on your actual measurements. It came in the mail today and there's lots to like about it - not itchy, doesn't give me a rash, I feel like I can breathe in it. But I feel like it doesn't actually compress me much, even though it's fitted to my measurements. I feel a little flatter than a sports bra, but they're still noticeable through my shirt. My partner is cis, and he's got some pretty big moobs, but it looks normal on him because he's quite muscular. I feel like i've got the gym bro moobs now, but none of the muscle in other places that make that moobs rather than boobs. for context I'm between a B and C cup, so I don't have particularly large breasts. Just wondering if my binder should fit tighter, or if this is generally what i should expect from binding.

It's harder to tell when a binder is too big vs. too small, but in my experience:

Your binder might be too small if...

The compression panel (non-stretchy fabric in the front) is either not long enough, or only barely long enough to cover your chest (i.e. breasts poke out underneath).

The compression panel feels overly scratchy (esp. if you do not have a history of sensitive skin).

You notice how snug/tight your binder is throughout the day (it feels unnatural or even uncomfortable).

You can't take a full, complete breath- your lungs won't expand past a certain point.

You can't cough easily with it on.

Your ribs are sore/ache when you wear your binder, or even after you take it off.

Your ribs feel stiff even after the binder comes off.

After wearing your binder consistently for a while, your lung capacity is impacted even when the binder is off.

Your binder might be too large if...

The binder moves around on it's own (riding up, twisting, etc.).

The binder doesn't feel (comfortably) snug on you, even when you're actively paying attention to the feeling.

Your binder is probably appropriately-sized if...

You can forget it's on most of the time.

When you do notice the binder, it's not because it feels uncomfortable or tight.

You're able to take full, deep breaths with it on.

You can cough with it on.

When you remove the binder, any feelings of stiffness are gone within a couple of minutes.

After consistent/regular use, your body feels the same with it off as it did before you started wearing your binder: your lung capacity and rib movement are the same.

Notice that I'm not referring to how well it binds here; binders work differently for everyone, particularly if you have a larger or denser chest. Fit is determined by comfort/feel first.

You might try a size down, or a more trusted company first (gc2b has sizing specialists who can help you get a correct fit for free!), to figure out whether it's a binder size issue or just an incompatibility with compression binders- but if a binder feels too tight, stop wearing it immediately.

Transtape might also be an option if compression binders end up not working for you (folks with larger chests do also tend to run into problems with tape, but this is more dependent on shape as well), or you might even combine methods (after you ensure both the tape and the binder are correctly and safely fit/applied, and that neither alone works well enough for you- and with extreme caution.)

[yrbutchgf]

id just like to post abt this here bc i remember answering asks about this before-- i started looking into whether kt tape is actually safe for binding, and it looks like it's up in the air. little if any real medical attention has been given to it, and the only claims to its safety that ive seen have been from individual bloggers or from the transtape website, which doesn't inspire confidence knowing that apparently the creator of transtape has no medical background. this isn't a prescriptive post saying not to use kt tape to bind, but the apparent ambiguity regarding physical complications is enough to make me drop it and start looking into better sports bras and/or binders again, im sorry to say

[transgenderteensurvivalguide]

I can't bind because of a collarbone injury (tried the two bras method and was almost crying in pain about half an hour later because of the pressure in the bad shoulder), so, do you have tips to live with the dysphoria my chest causes in the everyday life? :(

Lee says:

First, I’d also recommend the obvious-- see a doctor about your injury if you haven’t already! If there’s any treatment that you can do that’ll help you recover quicker, find a diagnosis to explain the injury if these types of things are common occurrences for you, or even help you manage the pain during the recovery whether it’s OTC medication or otherwise, it might be worth inquiring about.

(Another obvious note: if you have to take medication to manage the pain, you shouldn’t take even more meds so you can bind without feeling what your body is telling you about the injury! Some folks do ignore the pain and push through it and continue to bind, and that scene doesn’t end happy.)

This post describes a padded undershirt to help make your chest less noticeable by filling out the other areas. It doesn’t really have any instructions on how to make one, but the concept is a good one for someone who is good at sewing or DIY projects (like many cosplayers are) so if you think you have the time to trial and error experiment with it, that might be an option.

We don’t usually like to recommend KT or TransTape binding for several reasons, primarily the issues many people report when removing the tape even when they do it properly; I’ve seen a lot of pictures of skin irritations ranging from rashes to boils as a result. I only mention it because sometimes you can avoid most of the collarbone pressure you may be experiencing from a binder depending on where you place the tape-- but of course, you should be aware of the side effects that may result.

We also have a Clothing to wear to help disguise chest post, and wearing shirts cut in certain styles, layering or wearing a sweatshirt, and avoiding certain patterns or using other patterns can make a small difference but even a small difference is better than nothing.

I’d also recommend my personal method for coping with dysphoria: planning for the future. This isn’t an obvious one, but for me, knowing I’m taking steps toward the thing that’ll solve my dysphoria makes it easier to bear in the meantime. Like starting to save money for top surgery, for example. So start to research insurance plans, or surgeons, or consider getting a part time job. 

Some folks find it harder to think about something like surgery if it feels like it’s really far away and it makes them more dysphoric, but I personally am a goal-motivated person and planning how to get to my goal in a semi-obsessive way is pretty much the main thing that keeps me going when I’m struggling. So even if I wasn’t able to bind when my sensory issues were bugging me, knowing that I was still getting closer to surgery by saving money helped me feel a little better. 

Whether you find distraction and activity lists more helpful, or radical acceptance, or planning for the future, you may want to look into getting some professional help on developing additional coping skills that work for you if those things aren’t enough for you to get by and you feel like you’re starting to tip into depression. Dysphoria that isn’t managed often causes new and exciting additional mental health issues, so it’s best to stay on top of it. That doesn’t mean your only choice is to “eliminate” it right away and nothing else can help; like you said, you have to find a way to live with it, for the time being.

So coping with chest dysphoria isn’t only finding ways to physically hide and minimize your chest. Coping skills can be all sorts of things, like healthy exercise, coloring, hanging out with a friend, and any stuff that is good for your mental health in general.

Our Dysphoria page has a Dysphoria Tips Masterpost and we have a Mental health page- hopefully there’s some tips in there that you find helpful! I’ll link you to those pages instead of reinventing the wheel here.

Followers, any tips on living with the chest dysphoria in everyday life when binding or surgery isn’t currently a possibility?

Followers say:

intelligent-space-gay said: I’ve heard about male corsets that flatten the chest that might help bc of the lack of pressure on the shoulders, might be worth having a look into

studentdinosaur said: Altering other parts of your expression can help. Before I had top surgery I couldn't bind because of asthma, so what I did to help was change my wardrobe a bit. Like wearing men's underwear or using "men's" soaps and such

[fatmasc]

Hey I know someone’s probably already asked you this but 1. How do you not hate your body (not saying you should, I’m asking for advice for me), and 2. Do you have recommendations for binders and have you tried trans tape and other alternatives? I just came out as nonbinary :) thanks!

Hi! Learning to not hate my body took years and years of faking it. Seriously.

It actually started with seeing the first plus size model I had ever seen. She was absolutely beautiful and I realized hey, people with my body type can be attractive! (I put a LOT of value on my attractiveness back then). That lead to body neutrality for me, even if I didnt realize it. I stopped actively hating my body and started trying to appreciate things it did for me, like how I could swim well or give my sister piggy back rides. After a few years of that I began trying to really like how I look. Most of it was fake, bc even images of skinny ppl would give me a bit of a relapse. It wasnt until 2018 where I really realized hey! I'm a beautiful person and the standards of beauty cant take that from me

Not hating ur body is an *active process*. A lot of the time you may not think about it, but consistently telling yourself "I have a good body, my body does good things for me, others' perceptions of my body do not make me less of value" is an important part of it

As for your second question: I have tried stuff similar to TransTape (cant rlly afford to try TransTape itself especially since i wasnt sure how it would work) but i personally wasnt a fan. I've seem some ppl rave about it, even bigger ppl w larger chests, but it's a very steep learning curve to use it right. My favorite binder for plus size ppl is Shapeshifters (@shapeshiftersinc) bc they do all custom sizing. I bought my first binder from them recently after wearing gc2b for years and shapeshifters is far more comfortable for me bc it's made exactly for me. Plus you can choose lots of fun colors!! Its a little pricey, but bc everything is custom and made to order I think it is more than worth it. Definitely a great investment if u can save up for it

[horce-divorce]

i just had the BEST run w transtape i've had so far. been like 9 or 10 months that i've been using it and usually the sensory aspect would start to get to me after about 12-24hrs. idk what was different this time (water helped I think?) but after I got past the 2nd night the next 2 were sooo easy.

and im so glad i didn't ever give up on this stuff bc let me tell u what. being able to be shirtless on the beach, in the sand and the water... that was worth everything. every moment of discomfort and uncertainty and itching, every time i only wore it for 12hrs just to get used to it. my god. that was amazing.

v sad it's peeling now but this shit is unbelievable, truly. and extra grateful for it since I cant wear a binder anymore due to the MALS, and I think the tape helps my slippy ribs/costochondritis tbh??? i get less chest/rib pain when i'm wearing it, esp during and after sleep. so that's neat

anyway i <3 transtape thank you for my fuckign LIFE

[nothorses]

when using transtape, i understand it is necessary to cover the nipple, but is it also necessary to cover the whole aureola?? i am not currently using transtape but im curious about this bc i might get it but i want to understand some stuff first

Unless you have areolas on the larger side of things, it's probably a little difficult to cover only the nipple and miss the areola. I'd say play it by ear, though; start with their standard nipple covers, and if you experience any irritation, try a larger size.