Thank you for writing to SSIS! We are excited to announce that SSIS is now offering Spectrum brand binders as a part of our new gender-affirming products initiative. 

Binders are one way to safely flatten the appearance of your chest. While bras push the breasts up and out to give support, binders flatten them by spreading them evenly and compressing the tissue. Binders are generally put on over the head and have a thick front panel, designed to compress chest tissue. When wearing a binder, nipples should not be pointed downwards, but out the same way they would be if they were not in a binder. When receiving a new binder, wear it for just a few hours at first and gradually increase the period of wear over time to break it in.

Some suggestions for safer binding practices: 

Wearing a binder for more than eight hours at a time can increase serious risks of damaging rib cage and lungs.

Stretching regularly after binding can help with muscle pain and posture.

Wearing binders to sleep can cause irreversible damage to the rib cage and lungs.

Wearing binders while exercising can cause rib cage and lung damage. If you must bind while exercising, it’s best to go up one size.

If you ever feel pain, remove the binder immediately

Double binding will not provide extra compression and significantly increases risk for musculoskeletal injuries

Binder Care: 

Wash your binder regularly! This can help with bacterial growth and skin irritation from long-term use. 

Hand-wash your binder and air-dry! Washing machines and dryers can warp and shrink binders. If you must use a washing machine, wash on cold and use a delicates bag. 

Have more questions? Come to the SSIS office! If you’d feel most comfortable discussing this with a trans or gender-nonconforming member, we offer TGNC hours on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or you’re welcome to text us at (586-ASK-SSIS) to schedule an after-hours appointment.