Chest binding

Chest binding, also known as breast binding, is the flattening and hiding of breasts with constrictive materials such as cloth strips or purpose-built undergarments. Binders may also be used as alternatives to bras or for reasons of propriety.

People who bind include women, trans men, non-binary persons, and men with gynecomastia.

Complications

Breast binding is known to create a number of health risks, including difficulty breathing, backache, skin rashes, and deformity of the ribs.

To minimise complications, some limit their binding use for no longer than eight hours. Binding for extended periods of time can lead to rashes or yeast infections under the breasts, back or chest pain, shortness of breath, overheating, or, rarely, fractured ribs. Additionally, some unconventional binding materials, such as duct tape or athletic bandages, are known to increase an individual's risk for negative health outcomes such as shortness of breath, musculoskeletal damage, and skin damage. Unsafe binding may lead to permanent deformation of the breasts, scarring, and lung constriction, and long-term binding may adversely affect the outcome of a future mastectomy.

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