Props and Info

BREAST BONDAGE

Important Considerations On Breast Bondage - by vashti
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Also on this topic: Breast Bondage & Safety - by Thomas H.

These comments come to us from a registered nurse highly esteemed in her field, and have been edited to make for easy reading. She will be unable to attend the discussiongroup when we discuss breast bondage, and felt like it was VERY important for you to have this information available to you. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS; it could save your life, or the life of
someone you love.

vashti wrote:
What i wanted to say about breast bondage deals with medical implications. People can accept this or not, it is up to them; but this information is based on cancer research and breast cancer.
There is significant research to indicate that constricting breast tissue leads to vascular compression. This means a shutting down of blood flow to tissues. Breast tissue is different from many tissues in the human body in that it contains a high degree of endocrine tissue, both in males and females. Endocrine tissue carries lymphatic fluid. This is a part of the natural immune system in the body.
When the immune system is endangered or compromised in any way, the body's ability to fight pathogens and disease is compromised. This means it is easier to get sick. As people get older, the body naturally does not have the healing and repair abilities it had when it was younger. Breast cancer is one of the top 5 killers of women in America, so it is a serious consideration.
The Japanese and orientals know this fact. That is why most of the pictures of breast bondage show young models. A woman over the age of 30 increases her chances for breast cancer by 200 percent just by being alive, so it makes sense that if a woman is 30 or older, she needs to be VERY careful on the issue of binding or restricting blood flow to her breast tissues. No one knows how much constriction is safe.
From my own point of view, no Dom or Domme would EVER subject a sub to the risk of a deadly disease intentionally. I have talked to several Doms and Dommes who have told me they do not allow breast bondage in any form to a sub 30 or older, for any reason; and i have talked to some who allow VERY LIMITED breast bondage for short periods of time. Master Regan is well known in the Dallas area for real life Domination, and has been a practicing Dominant for over 25 years. He told me that He will ONLY allow 10 minutes of modified breast bondage in females between the ages of 30 and 40, and NONE for females over age 40. This 10 minutes is in a 24 hour period.
This does not include nipple clamps. We are talking about ropes and such that actually intersect over breast tissue. Nipples are erectile tissue but do not contain endocrine tissue, so this makes
sense to me.
ALSO, people think breast tissue issues are only for women, which is NOT true. The first mastectomy i saw as a student nurse was done on a 29 year old hetrosexual male. Breast cancer is a real threat for men, too; it is just not as common.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, which means parents, grandparents, aunts or siblings, then there is NO SUCH THING as SAFE breast bondage. You are already at risk. When i see
pictures of older women (over 30ish) with their breasts actually purplish from bondage techniques, it makes me feel ill. I think that if we are to use a lifestyle approach to things, then educating our
people to the real and potential risks involved is a High Priority.
It's like safe sex, in a way. No one in this day and age would be thought very smart if they had full sexual penetration by a total stranger voluntarily. Well, breast bondage falls in a similar category. Do it if you like, but know what you are risking and be willing to accept the consequences. And breast cancer is a horrible, long and painful death.
Well, thats about it. * vashti smiles* i can get down off of my soap box now. i think that we as women can experience all of the bondage out little hearts crave without doing things dangerous to
our bodies.

RattleGoddess recommends that if you have concerns or want more information, you use the excellent search engines available to you on the internet. Questions may be addressed to domfriends@hotmail.com.

Anyone who plays with a femsub will eventually get around to playing with her breasts. 'Eventually' usually being within about 5 seconds of when play starts! Breasts just attract play. They are often prominent, convenient, sensitive and a shape that begs for bondage, flagellation, piercing, clamping, handling, kissing, sucking and almost any other aspect of BDSM you can think of. If you are going to play with a woman you are going to play with her breasts and if you are a femsub you are going to have your breasts played with, so let's have a look at breasts ... Down boy!

Breast bondage is very popular among Dom/mes who play with femsubs. It isn't all that unpopular with the femsubs either! Being tied makes the breasts even more prominent and sensitive but it isn't easy. Although breasts vary greatly in size and shape generally rope will slide off unless it is wound very tightly and/or kept close to the chest wall. Fastened tightly there the breasts can be lifted, stretched tied together or pulled apart. However, rather than being made prominent breasts are sometimes tied down to the chest. In this case the ropes are often pulled tightly over the nipples to increase the effect. For enhancement bondage a fairly thin rope works better, for restriction choose a thicker gauge. After a while the breasts will swell and their colour will darken. Once breasts are securely fastened in enhancement bondage other attention almost inevitably follows.
Breasts can take quite tight bondage without damage but the normal rules apply. Have a pair of paramedic shears or other safe cutting instrument ready in case you can't release your knots and don't leave the bondage on for more than about half an hour. Yes, we know lots of people who leave their subs in tight bondage for hours but it isn't good practice and, like driving your car too close to walls most times you get away with it, eventually you will lose a bumper!
Flogging, caning, whipping and slapping breasts are all safe and effective, in moderation. Even when done lightly you can make some pretty patterns on the flesh. Any of the instruments can be used but canes, floggers and light paddles seem to be favourites. With a flogger or whip you can make good use of wrap by standing behind a sub who's arms are tied above their head and curling the tails around their ribs so that the tips catch the breast and nipple. Using wrap like this is fine, it is only when the wrap is unintended that you should get in some target practise. Whipping from behind like this is even more erotic if there is a full length mirror in front of the sub so that the sub can see their Dom/me and what is about to happen and the Dom/me can watch the strike, the sub's reaction and the development of the marks.

Heavy caning or whipping can leave knots of scar tissue which, possibly, may increase the chances of breast cancer. It isn't proven but the chances are high enough that we don't recommend it. Check with your sub, of course before using any instrument hard enough that it will leave marks in an area more likely to be visible than some. The breasts are close enough to the face that an inaccurately aimed whip or flogger tail can go astray, please be careful. Also note that the breasts of women with implants should never be subjected to any form of CP.
Piercing is another breast play favourite. Play piercing in which needles are inserted just below and through the skin and then sometimes decorated with coloured cotton, is an art form. Deep piercing, in which needles are pushed right into the breast or through the nipple can be extremely painful and bloody in fact quite heavy S&M. Permanent piercings are usually through the nipple.

Piercing can be very painful but the main danger comes from the risk of infection. You are unlikely to do any serious damage unless you are stupid enough to push a long needle directly towards the chest and a piercing that is not kept open by a bar will heal fairly quickly. But with any piercing strict hygiene precautions and infection control is a MUST. Passing the needle through a flame will not do, you need to use sterile instruments and proper needles. Hypodermic or acupuncture needles are preferable. They are available in various sizes in sterile containers from specialist suppliers
One step down from piercing but almost as intense is clamping. Having a clamp applied to a breast can be almost as painful as having one attached to your car wheel! Because of their large surface, however, breasts are often decorated with whole packets of brightly coloured clothes pegs. Concentric circles starting on the areolae, spirals, radiating lines, lines marching across the breast and nipples like a regiment of biting soldier ants, the breasts are a veritable canvas on which the Dom/me can express their artistic talent. Then they can express their unerring accuracy by knocking them off one by one with a crop :) Because breasts are quite tough they are also a great site for playing with 'zippers'. Zippers are a series of pegs connected by a cord. By pulling up on one or both ends of the cord you 'unzip' the line of pegs, snapping them off in slow or rapid succession according to your preference. Slowly from each end finishing with snatching off one either side of and one on the nipple works well.

Much the same precautions apply to clamps as apply to bondage because both cut off the blood supply. Just don't leave them on too long. Besides, you will probably enjoy the fun and reaction of them coming off.
Wax play gives yet another chance for Dom/mes to indulge in living art. White or coloured wax dripped slowly but inexorably down the breast towards the nipple or initially spaced but with increasing frquency until it is like burning rain from several candles can be intense and intensely erotic. You can paint patterns or build sculptures on the sub's nipple and all where with just a glance down they can delight in your creative talent! Incidentally, flogging does a wonderful job of removing wax from skin and gives the sub lots to clear up afterwards :)

Candles, especially coloured candles, melt at differing temperatures. Test the ones you will use on your sub by dripping the wax onto your forearm and adjust the height of the drop until you reach the right temperature. Remember that a rapid build up of wax on the same point seals in the heat and may cause a more serious burn than you intended.
BONDAGE SAFETY

(guilty^, special thanks to pluu, T. & Icehawk for their contributions & comments
and very special thanks to Eryn for editing the text into really good English / Touwtjes.tk)

There might be a more recent version of this article at: http://www.guiltied.com/cc

Introduction

Bondage can be a dangerous activity. Neither the human body nor ropes are completely predictable and as such, the combination of the two comes with certain inherent risks that are never completely avoidable. While there is always a chance that injury may occur, there are ways to minimize the risks. There are many texts on bondage and often they disagree on many issues. This article presents my views on bondage safety based on what I’ve read, learned and experienced first hand. Still, what may be entirely safe with one person may cause injury in someone else and in no way do I suggest that bondage will be safe even if you follow all the guidelines set forth in this text.

It is very important that all participants are aware of the potential for injury. I recommend everyone read as many texts on bondage safety as possible. Also, I recommend reading international mailing lists (such as AdultRopeArt and ShibariNetwork) where safety issues as well as both major and minor accidents are discussed in an open and honest way.

The below applies to "normal" bondage. For suspension, there are more and sometimes different rules, the most important one being not to do it if you're not very sure about what you are doing. That might be the best recommendation in general anyway -- know what you are doing and don't go too fast.

Remember, you are responsible for your own actions so use your head and when necessary, get medical advice.

Do's and don'ts before bondage

Before bondage, do determine the mental and physical condition of your partner (and yourself). Simply asking if they are healthy or have any medical problems isn’t sufficient. Ask specifically about relevant medical conditions like back or spinal problems, neck problems, shoulder problems, heart or circulation problems, breathing problems, fainting, epilepsy, diabetes, breast implants^[1], etc. Please note this list is certainly not complete so ask if your partner knows of any other relevant issues. If you'll be using hemp rope, you may want to check for hemp allergy as well. If your partner does have medical conditions that could be affected, determine and discuss the possible consequences and when necessary get professional medical advice.

Do warm up your muscles before a scene. ((There is a reason both amateur and professional athletes warm up prior to playing.)) Stretching exercises are a good idea -- use "Makko Ho"exercises for example.

Do consider using a safeword. However, don't fully trust the safe word to be adequate as it doesn't provide information on exactly what has gone wrong. When a specific rope doesn't feel good, it is better to just say so than to say "orange". A safe word is an emergency break and many submissives find it difficult to use their safe word as stopping a scene by using one is not fun by definition.

As bondage is a dangerous activity, don't play unless you’re focused and alert. Alcohol and other drugs, physical tiredness and lack of sleep usually prevent you from being focused and alert.

Don't let yourself be tied by a partner you don't trust.

Hardware

Rope: Make sure you use rope that is suitable for the kind of bondage you want to do and check your ropes regularly especially when using natural fibre ropes (See my article on rope for more information on rope materials. During a scene,(especially when untying), make sure not to pull the ropes over the skin too fast -- rougher material and synthetic ropes can cause serious abrasions. When in doubt, keep your hand between the rope and your partner’s skin, and you will know if you pull too fast.

Knife or scissors: Always keep a knife or good pair of EMT scissors at hand. It is very likely that you will never have to use it -- untying is almost always safer -- but there is always a chance that a rope has to come off immediately. Many web sites recommend bandage scissors because they don't have a sharp point. However, many bandage scissors will not cut through rope well. So if you go for scissors, make sure you get decent EMT shears. Another option is a sailmaker’s knife (picture on the left). Either way, make sure that the knife or scissors can cut your rope. Use your emergency knife or scissors to cut your ropes at the desired lengths so that you know it cuts through your rope easily enough. Even better is trying to cut a piece of your rope under tension. If you have to cut your partner loose, make sure to support him or her where necessary.
Another alternative is a "rescue hook" (picture on the right) used in moutaineering to cut ropes in emergency situations. They're made to cut ropes close to the body. They're sharp, but have no sharp point. Besides, they are perfect for venues where knifes are not allowed, as no-one can seriously consider a rescue hook a "weapon".
Panic snaps: : If you're planning on tying your partner to any fixed object or with hands above the head, you may want to use panic snaps (picture on the left). Panic snaps can be easily opened even when under tension so even if you partner faints and his or her full body weight places tension on the ropes, you can get your partner loose without cutting the rope. The picture on the right shows a panic snap that can be opened by pushing the bolt up (the pin will then fall down, releasing the rope). Please support your partner as necessary when opening the snap!

Water and food. Always keep some water at hand. Playing is not much fun if you go thirsty and when your partner is tied up, you shouldn't leave the room to get some. Some food can be useful too -- preferably a light snack or some glucose tablets. Also, water can be useful in an emergency if you're planning to use candles.

Sailmakers knife Panic snap Rescuehook

Circulation and nerves

You always want to be careful to prevent injury during play and there has to be good communication between the Top and bottom. The bottom must understand that if something feels like "bad pain" ((you might want to differentiate between “bad” pain and not bad pain)) it usually is. Say so! It won’t necessarily mean that you have to be completely untied, but the Top will have to solve the problem, possibly by shifting some ropes. Always paying attention also implies that you can't leave a tied up bottom alone, not even for just a moment. Well, ok, with some bondages a moment might be possible, but in that case at least stay within hearing range and make sure that you can be back within a few seconds.

The Top must constantly assure there's no problems with their partner’s circulation or nerves. The first part is fairly well-known -- bondage should never be so tight that fresh blood supply is cut off to any part of the body. The one or two finger rule is a handy memory aid ... bondage usually is too tight if you can’t easily slip one or two between the ropes and the skin. It is true that most body parts can do without blood for a reasonable time without being damaged, but be very careful with genitals, breasts^[2] and the brain. None-the-less, cutting off the blood supply won't increase the bondage fun so it's wiser and safer to avoid.

If body parts like hands, ankles or feet become colder during a session, or change colour, that can indicate a circulation problem. You can always do a capillary refill test. Press at one of the bottom’s fingernails and see how long it takes before the original colour returns. If it takes more than a few seconds or longer than usual, circulation may be impaired. Tying at elbow or hollow of the knee is often asking for problems.

Unfortunately, less known is that nerve problems can occur during a bondage session. They can happen without warning so, in addition to checking the bottom’s circulation, check that there’s no loss of sensation, no tingling nor numbness, and that movement is still possible. This is called a CSM Test for circulation, sensation and movement. But even that test does not provide a 100% guarantee. For instance, finger movement is partly controlled by muscles in the arm that are well above any possible wrist tie^[3]. Thus, even if you are an experienced rope Top, it is important to get to know the bottom’s body sensativaties and to slowly increase the time you let your bottom remain tied up.

While the risk of nerve problems is greater in suspension scenarios, it can also occur during regular bondage. In the upper arm, several nerves run close to the surface of the skin and nerve problems can occur with takate-kote style bondage -- an arm/chest harness with ropes over the upper arms. Damage to these nerves can lead to loss of sensation and movement in the wrist, hand or fingers. Also, problems can occur when the femoral nerve in the waist/upper leg area gets compressed during bondage positions that bend the bottom forward, causing loss of sensation at the knee^[4]. Fortunately, nerve damage is often temporary. If a problem does occur and hasn't gone away in a few days, please go see a doctor.

Breathing
Some ties can cause breathing problems. A gag in combination with bondage, can worsen this problem, or quicken its occurance. This doesn't necessarily mean a rope has been misplaced though. The bondage position itself can sometimes cause breathing problems, (for instance a hog-tie). This is known as Positional Asphyxia and sometimes can cause death. (This is another good reason not to leave your bottom alone, and to continually keep an eye on him or her!) A misplaced rope -- at the diaphragm for instance -- can also cause breathing problems as can a rope around the neck or across the throat like with some hojojutsu bondages or a military hogtie. Those can also restrict blood flow to the brain. Don't do them unless you know very well what you're doing!

Fainting

One of the more common emergencies during bondage is fainting. Sometimes it occurs after a long, intense session ... sometimes after a few minutes. There is a lot of speculation on the internet as to the reason fainting occurs. Factors can include having the hands tied over the head, a too-cold or too-warm environment, having had too much or too little food, and dehydration. Another possible factor could be from having locked knee joints when standing which you can try to prevent by bending your legs a little when you have to stand for a long time. But in many cases, the reason remains unknown

Fainting need not be dangerous as usually your partner will recover quickly. Lay your partner gently on the floor and remove all ropes. If your partner doesn't recover almost immediately, call for medical assistance. If your partner faints regularly, a medical check up might be smart. What's important is to be prepared when something like fainting can happen. Make sure you know what to do and keep your knife or scissors close at hand. Use panic snaps if you like. Also, make sure that your partner doesn't get hurt during the actual fainting (While fainting might not be that dangerous, hitting your head against something sharp definitely is).

When Things Go Wrong

The first time pluu fainted, I was scared shitless. I was very glad I wasn't the one who had tied her, and that a very experienced rigger was nearby. When it happened again later, I was more prepared, but it was still scary. Fortunately, we quickly continued tying. Also when pluu got (temporary, thank heaven) nerve damage, that was really scary. It's no fun for the bottom, but as a Top you can feel quite guilty (no pun intended). Keep talking, and be aware that accidents can happen to anyone.

Further reading
Some resources on bondage safety:

Jimi Tatu - "Never assume" at his tutorial site
Jimi Tatu - "Safety with Rope" at his AdultRopeArt website
Jay Wiseman - Regarding Circulation, e-mail on AdultRopeArt@yahoogroups.com (te vinden in de files afdeling van onze yahoogroup)
Jay Wiseman - Erotic Bondage Handbook
Hans Meyer - Shibari Fumo Ryo
Susan Wright - "Healthy Breast Bondage" at Jimi Tatu's AdultRopeArt website

Mailinglists on rope bondage, where safety is discussed frequently:

AdultRopeArt
ShibariNetwork

Notes

[1] See Jimi Tatu - "Safety with Rope" at AdultRopart
[2] See Susan Wright - "Healthy Breast Bondage" at Jimi Tatu's AdultRopeArt website
[3] See: Jay Wiseman - Erotic Bondage Handbook, p.83
[4] We've got some experience with this. After a long session with a ebi-style bondage, pluu experienced some loss of sensation in her knee for a few days.
--------------------------------------------
Breast Bondage and health.. Please any information

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Topic:

Topic author: sex_desire
Subject: Breast Bondage and health.. Please any information
Posted on: 2004-02-14 07:59:43
Message:

I'm talking with a potential new Dom, and I like him very much, but he has expressed a desire for breast bondage, a new activity for me. I'm worried about the long term effects of it. Can they be permanently damaged from the abuse? I like my breasts the way they are, and I'm not interested in having to wear a bra all the time so they have their shape. What are the long term effects?[size=4][/size=4]

Replies:

Topic author: midwestern_cowgirl
Replied on: 2004-02-14 09:24:50
Message:

Somwhere i read that huge amounts of breast bondage for extended periods of time can leave something. i cant remember if its scar tissue, or fiber pockets or something. Basically it leaves hard lumps. i dont know how much truth there is to this. i think i read it in the Wiseman book maybe.
--
--------- jessica-------------
If the person you are talking to, doesnt appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear--Winnie the Pooh

Topic author: ArdenLeighton
Replied on: 2004-02-14 11:43:13
Message:

Two things,
I have heard that there is a connection between breast bondage and breast cancer...but I don't know for sure if it's true.
Second, it's not healthy. Anything that reduces circulation as breast bondage does is not healthy. There can be terrible long term effects with circulation loss. Any doctor will tell you that.

Topic author: nightdaughter
Replied on: 2004-02-14 12:44:53
Message:

Well I don't know what lasting effects breast bondage can have, save for tissue damage over long periods of time. Though I do know that "light" breast bondage in and of itself is not harmful in any shape or form as there is only the appearance that makes you think its more then it really is.
The form of light breast bondage, I have done to myself many times, since the appearance it creates is interesting and does not at all cut off circulation anymore then wearing a standard bra does.
--
ND
"Being submissive may have put chains on my body, but it has removed my soul from bondage!" - the loving dominant
"A Good Master is hard to find, A good Friend even harder, but both? Defiantly worth looking and waiting for." - Nyx Wolfwalker
http://www.slaveregister.com/certificate/558317
Edited by - nightdaughter on 2004-02-14 12:47:05

Topic author: Intriguing_Sweetness
Replied on: 2004-02-14 15:29:20
Message:

Light breast bondage is fine, and quite a sexy feel I found. I have heard gruesome stories of women having breasts bound and then suspended from them.. which is extremely dangerous and rips the tissue away from the chest wall... One of the rope work sites I used to go to had a section on breast health, I will try and find it.
oh.. and gravity will have its way on your breasts eventually, damn thing that it is! *sigh*
http://www.ds-arts.com/RopeArt/mainrope.html scroll down the menu on the left till you see breast safety. I think its a great site and will give you some ideas you can try on your own to see if it's for you.
~Intriguing~

Topic author: sex_desire
Replied on: 2004-02-15 09:18:15
Message:

thank you very much to everyone..

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