Binding, packing, tucking & padding

Binding

Binding is a do-it-yourself option for changing your appearance so that it matches your gender expression . It involves wearing tight clothing, bandages or compression garments to flatten out the chest.

You might bind to:

Feel more at ease in your body
Feel more comfortable in your clothing
Help others read your gender correctly

Types of binding

There are many different ways to bind. Some binders pull down over your head, while other open and close with zippers or Velcro. It can be helpful to try out different options to see what feels best for your body.

The best method for you depends on your chest size and build. Whichever method you choose should allow you to breathe normally and feel comfortable when resting and moving.

Common binding methods include:

Layering shirts — this option involves wearing a tight-fitting undershirt with a slightly looser shirt on top, and perhaps a third, looser shirt on top of that.
Sports bras — tight-fitting sports bras made with lots of breathable Lycra work well for some people.
Athletic compression shirts — many sports goods stores sell tight-fitting compression shirts made of spandex, Lycra or other stretchy materials. These are breathable and can work well for people with minimal chest tissue.
Neoprene waist and abdominal trimmers or back support devices — neoprene is a thick, rubbery material that is relatively inexpensive and widely available in drug stores and large chain discount stores. It does not breathe very well, but offers effective compression.
Chest binders and medical compression shirts — these look like tank-tops or t-shirts.They are quite effective at flattening a range of chest sizes. This is probably the most popular binding method, though it can be expensive and you may need to order these garments online.
Tape — water-proof medical grade tape that does not wrap around the chest is another popular option because it does not restrict breathing or movement. Some brands are made specifically for binding.

Cleaning

To clean a binder, follow the instructions that came with the garment. Generally speaking, hand washing is best. Avoid using bleach or putting it in the dryer, as this can cause the material to break down and reduce the binder’s effectiveness.

The effects of binding

There’s very little research on the risks of binding. From personal stories, we know that discomfort is common, especially after many hours of compression. The muscles in your back and shoulders might feel sore, and a binder may irritate your skin.

Binding over a long period of time can reduce the elasticity of the skin on your chest. Skin elasticity is one of the factors considered when choosing a chest surgery technique. If you plan on getting chest surgery, reduced skin elasticity can affect your surgical options and outcomes.

Safe binding

You may find that binding contributes to feeling quite warm in the summer months and conditions such as asthma may be made worse by binding.

If you want to try binding, try to follow these tips:

Find a binder that’s the right size — if your binder is too tight, you may have difficulty breathing, experience pain or your skin may wear away in spots. If this is the case, you can alter the binder to fit your body, get a bigger size or try another method.
Choose a binder that’s safe — binding with elastic bandages, duct tape or Saran Wrap is not a safe. These methods can restrict blood flow, make it hard to breathe, cause rashes and bruising and even break ribs.
Choose a breathable material — ideally your binder will be made of breathable material, such as Lycra. Binders made from non-breathable material, can cause sores or rashes on your skin. You can minimize these side-effects by applying body powder to your skin before binding or wearing a thin undershirt made of fabric that wicks away sweat underneath your binder.
Be clean and dry before putting it on — make sure your skin is clean and completely dry before putting on a binder.
If you are using medical tape — wear a nipple guard under medical grade tape, and remove it with a skin-safe adhesive-remover. If you find removal hard, try using protective barrier skin wipes before applying tape.
Limit binder use — avoid binding for more than eight hours a day.
Build strength — learn exercises and stretches to strengthen your back, shoulders, and chest wall to help ease some of the pain caused by binding.
Get help from a practitioner — see a clinician if you experience pain, difficulty breathing, ongoing tingling/numbness, skin rash, or sores.
In hot weather — it can help to drink plenty of water, bind less tightly and for shorter periods of time, and wear a cotton undershirt or body powder to absorb sweat.

Binding resources

How to Bind Your Chest (Folx Health)
I <3 My Chest (Qmunity)
Things to Know About Binding (Trans Care BC)

Packing

Packing is a term used to describe having a non-flesh penis (sometimes referred to as a packer or a prosthetic penis).

Some people view their non-flesh penis as a part of their body and do not consider themselves to be packing. Many folks refer to this part just as their penis rather than as a packer or prosthetic penis. With this in mind, we will use the term non-flesh penis unless it is necessary to use the terms packer or prosthetic penis for clarity.

There are many reasons for having a non-flesh penis:

You might like the way it feels
You might use it during sex
You want to be able to stand to urinate
It might help you be read as your gender, particularly when swimming or using locker rooms

Packing options

These are some packing options. The one you use depends on your preferences:

An affordable, do-it-yourself option is to fill an unlubricated condom with hair gel, tie a knot at the end, and place another condom overtop. Place it in some tight briefs or boxer briefs. This option is less durable than other non-flesh penises and will need to be replaced frequently.

If you want something that more closely resembles a penis that aligns with your gender goals, you can buy a packer in many sex stores or online. They come in various sizes and skin tones, both cut and uncut. Some have testicles, some do not. Some can be used for sexual penetration. Some can be used to stand and urinate. Most of them can be held in place by a jockstrap or harness, and others can be simply placed in tight-fitting underwear.
You can also buy a prosthetic penis, which is made to look and feel like a penis and testicles. It’s designed to be attached to your body with medical adhesive. Some models can be used for sexual penetration and/or urination while standing. Prosthetic penises tend to be quite a bit more expensive than packers.

Cleaning

To clean a non-flesh penis, follow the cleaning instructions that came with the item. Generally, if it is made of silicone, you can wash it with mild antibacterial soap and water, boil it for up to five minutes or put it in the top rack of the dishwasher.

If the item is made of rubber or Cyberskin, you can wash it with antibacterial soap and water. It’s not possible to sterilize an item made of these types of materials because they are too porous. Consider wearing a condom if you are using a rubber or Cyberskin non-flesh penis for sex. This will drastically reduce your risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Packing risks

We could not find any research on the risks associated with non-flesh penises.

Anecdotally, we know some people experience skin irritation from non-flesh penis materials. If you experience irritation, try wearing two pairs of underwear with the penis in between them to protect your skin. It may be useful to wear a non-lubricated condom so the penis does not rub directly against your leg.

Some people have allergic reactions to the medical adhesive used to attach a prosthetic penis to the body. Try applying a small amount of the adhesive to your skin to observe whether you have a negative reaction, before using more to attach your penis.

If you use your non-flesh penis for sex, wear a condom for safety; non-flesh penises can transmit HIV and other STIs from person to person.

Packing resources

For a range of recommended non-flesh penises, see the Presenting as Male section of Hudson’s FTM Resource Guide.

Tucking

Tucking is when a person attempts to hide their penis and testes so they are not visible in tight clothing.

You may tuck for many reasons:

To feel more at ease in your body
To feel more comfortable in your clothing
It may help you be read as your gender.

Tucking options

There are many ways to tuck. The penis always goes between the legs. The testicles and scrotum can go between the legs (option 1) or inside the body (option 2). You can adapt these methods to whatever feels best for your body, or find another way altogether.

Option 1

This is the easiest option.

Step 1: Wrap the penis in tissue or a piece of soft, thin cotton.
Step 2: Tuck your testes and penis between your legs, and, if possible, the buttocks.
Step 3 (optional): Use a long strip of medical or sports tape down the penis and up the buttocks/lower back to keep it secure. Use additional tape as needed.
Step 4: Hold the arrangement in place with tight panties made from materials like firm spandex, Lycra or microfibre.

Option 2

This is the smoothest-looking option. Some people prefer to tuck their testes inside of themselves. The goal here is to gently push the testes into the inguinal canals (the tube at the top of each testicle).

Step 1: Wrap the penis in tissue or a piece of soft, thin cotton.
Step 2: There is an opening to the inguinal canal at the base of each testicle. The opening has about the same diameter as a finger, though it can stretch. Using two or three fingers, gently lift each testicle up into the scrotum and through the corresponding inguinal ring.
Tips on this step
- Go slowly and trust your body. This process can take time. You can do one testicle at a time or both at the same time. Some people find it helpful to get in a tub of cold water before tucking.
- You should not feel overly uncomfortable. Take a break between tucking attempts. If you feel faint, nauseous, or in pain, consider whether or not to keep trying after a break, or stop until another time when you would like to try again.
Step 3: Once the testes are tucked, some people tuck the scrotum as well. Others wrap the scrotum around the penis and secure it there with tape. Consider using medical tape; it’s safer than duct tape because it breathes better and is easier to remove. After taping, keep a hand firmly over the base of your genitals to prevent anything from slipping back out.
Step 4: Next, pull back the penis between your legs and hold everything in place with tight panties, tape or a gaff . If you plan to use tape, shave your pubic hair first; this may make removing the tape more comfortable. If you have difficulty removing the tape, try soaking the area in warm water.

The effects of tucking

We were unable to find any research on the risks associated with tucking.

Anecdotally, some people have reported pulling or tearing sensitive tissues in their genital region during tucking. These issues confirm the importance of going slowly and listening to your body. Medical supply stores carry medical adhesive removers which may be helpful for removing tape buildup and residue. If you have concerns about the safety of tucking, talk to a health care professional.

Safe tucking

Here are some tips to tuck safely:

If you are new to tucking, start by tucking for shorter periods of time. Give yourself lots of time to practice. It’s hard to learn a new skill when you feel rushed or stressed.
Try switching between different ways of tucking.
You may find that tucking gets easier with practice or after being on hormones for awhile.
After untucking, check for irritated skin, sores or rashes. Allow skin to heal before using products on it again.
Stay hydrated. Avoiding drinking and peeing can lead to health problems.
Use body powder in warm creases (such as thighs, buttocks, and genital skin) to prevent skin chaffing and infection.
Tucking regularly can affect fertility. Some people consider banking sperm or limiting how often they tuck gonads inside the body.

See a health care practitioner if you experience:

Aching, tingling or numbness that continues even when you are not tucking
Blood in urine or orgasmic fluid
A feeling of inflammation or infection inside the genitals
Skin rash or sores
Pain with urination
Pain in the bladder or lower back

Tucking resources

Download the Things to Know About Tucking handout from Trans Care BC.

Padding

Padding involves using undergarments to create the appearance of larger breasts, hips or buttocks.

There are many reasons for padding:

It can help you feel more comfortable in your body
It helps you be read as your authentic gender
It can improve the way your clothing fits

Compared to surgical options for creating larger breasts, hips and buttocks, padding is cheap and painless. It’s also a much safer alternative to using silicone injections. Injecting silicone into the buttocks or face has a high rate of serious complications including severe scarring, injuries to the brain or spinal cord, pulmonary disease, breathing disorders and even death.

There are plenty of padding products available, including:

Padded panties — these are especially useful for making your hips look wider and your buttocks more full.
Padded bras — these undergarments may be preferable if you have some breast growth but want your breasts to appear larger.
Breast forms — these are made of soft silicone gel and either adhere to your body or are placed in your bra. They are available in different shapes, sizes and skin colours. Some breast forms have nipples and some do not.
Bras with pockets — these are also referred to as mastectomy bras. They are designed to accommodate breast forms.

Cleaning

To clean padded panties, bras and breast forms, follow the instructions that came with the item. Generally, hand-wash bras and panties or use the gentle cycle of the washing machine and hang to dry.

Sweat can cause breast forms to break down, so it’s a good idea to wash them with warm water and soap after use.

Padding resources

Read information about padding and forms at I <3 My Chest (Qmunity).