Planning to Travel More - how do I pack Breast Forms

[Wendy James]

I am starting to travel more, I do not go out in public fully dressed. I do however wear womens jeans and sometimes tops and always a bra with forms when I am out. What is the best way to pack silicone breast forms for airline travel domestically? Can they be put into checked luggage in a case? How would TSA respond when viewed on the x-ray? If I wore forms through the metal detector (or scanner) how would TSA respond?

[CarlaWestin]

TSA has probably seen more breastforms than the warehouse manager at the Breastform store.
In a box, in a carry on or in a bra. They really don't care.

[alwayshave]

Wends, Check out https://www.amoena.com/us-en/amoena-life/traveling-with-your-silicone-breast-form/ . It is a pretty complete picture. Also see https://bakesforbreastcancer.org/breast-prostheses-and-travel-security/

[Sandi Beech]

The packaging that the forms come in are generally too large to include in a suitcase. I have typically put forms close to the bottom of the case and then I cover them with a fairly large number of old pantyhose and some bras to keep them from moving around too much. You have to be careful about what touches forms for a long time. Dark colors like black can have some color transfer to solid silicone so that is why I protect them with nude or tan colored hose , nothing black.

TSA will sometimes stick a piece of paper in the suitcase saying they inspected things. Not to worry, I have flown many many times with mine. It is not an issue at all. Do not sweat it.

Oh. One other thing. Keep bra hooks and corset hooks away from all forms.

Sandi

[docrobbysherry]

Be sure to pack them. You'll have NO PROBLEMS!:thumbsup:

[Claire M]

I ha e flown with them in my checked bag, in my carryon and on my chest in a bra. Never had any problems. My carryon containing my forms got pulled once. Turns out they were more interested in my large bag of trail mix than my forms!! Take 'em along and have fun!!

[Karren H]

I always packed my forms in my checked luggage and never had an issue. Except my luggage was always over weight. The additional cost of taking multiple outfits and all your shoes! Lol. Almost like a tax on crossdressing! Glad I do not need to wear forms anymore.

[Sometimes Steffi]

My personal experience.

I use a Rubbermaid container to carry my breast forms. My breast forms are 38C, so I don't need a very large container.

Last time I flew with them, I took them in my carryon bag. I expected an inspection because the X-Ray machines of the time had difficulty distinguishing between silicone breast forms and C4. I was pulled aside for a private inspection. You have the right to demand a private inspection. If the TSA agent is "unaware" of that right, ask for a supervisor. Breast forms are considered "medically necessary equipment" and must be permitted, possibly after inspection. After all, many women use silicone breast forms after mastectomy surgery.

BTW. TSA inspected my breast forms in a private room and it was a non issue. I did however ask to re-pack my bag in the private room after the inspection so as not to expose my secret to everyone walking by.

[Suzie Petersen]

Over the last few weeks, I have traveled with silicone breast forms in my checked in luggage, in my carry on luggage, and while wearing them in my bra while dressed completely as a woman, going through TSA ID check and through airport passenger and carry-on security scan. Absolutely no issues, no questions about it, and no concern on my part at all. It has been a total non-issue and I will have no concerns doing it again.

If you don't travel dressed, then just pack the forms in your checked in luggage and forget about them. Nobody is going to ask you anything about it, and if your bag for whatever reason is checked, you will not be there to get nervous about the check. They are not interested in your breast forms! If you have them in your carry-on luggage, and the bag for whatever reason is pulled for a manual check, you will be standing there with it. If that would embarrass you, just leave the forms in the checked in bag.

Only thing to worry about, is to not damage the forms in your suitcase. Wrap them in a dress or something, and don't put them right next to your 6" stiletto heels, that's just asking for a puncture. Other than that, please fasten your seat belt and enjoy the flight.

[bridget thronton]

TSA pulled my carry on with breast forms - they simply opened it and confirmed visually they were breast forms 2 minutes tops

[Andrea Renea]

Packed mine in my carry on. I went through the Ft Lauderdale
airport TSA. My bag got kick out for inspection. The TSA agent asked
who bag is this. I said mine, he said what do you have in it? I said
breast forms. He opened it looked in and zipped it up and said have
a safe flight.

It is safe to pack in your checked bag or wear them. Forms are a medical
device. Sometimes underwire bras set off the machine. My wife has
been patted down a few times.

I've worn mine wearing a bra one time when I was TSA pre-checked.
I walked through a metal detector. No issue.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Wendy :hugs:, The safest place is in your BRA, >Orchid**O:daydreaming:O**

[Wendy James]

Thanks for all the good advice, it will be very helpful and I hope to use it in a few weeks when I get some time away

[Cheryl T]

If worried just put them in your carry on. It gets x-rayed. Unless you have something that looks suspicious they won't open it and look. Besides, who cares, they are just silicone forms. You could be transporting them to your mother.
Unless you are fully dressed I wouldn't wear them.

[Genifer Teal]

I had a bit of a conundrum back in the day. I used to glue them on all the time and only clean the glue off every few times. So now I needed to protect the glue surface when I pack them. The best way I found was to put them face-to-face with a CD case in between to protect the glue. Then I wrapped the whole thing in probably an article of clothing to protect them. I thought this was a pretty good idea.And I can't recall it not working well.
Also, when it was my thing, I used to carry around martini glasses for drinking at the hotel room. I found they fit perfectly inside A CD stack those big plastic cylinders that you'd get a hundred cds in or fifty or whatever. Then I just taped something over the bottom.

[Sometimes Steffi]

If worried just put them in your carry on. It gets x-rayed. Unless you have something that looks suspicious they won't open it and look. Besides, who cares, they are just silicone forms. You could be transporting them to your mother.

It will look suspicious. some X-Ray machines can't tell the difference between breast forms and C4. If you don't know what C4 is, Google it. You should expect that they will be inspected.

They may ask you about them. Transporting them for your mom is a good cover story, but don't act sketchy or subversive. That is likely to get an even more extensive search.

[Robyn n TN]

I have had them check my carryon if I had forms in there. Usually that is only if I have them in my swimsuits but they just look at them and go on.. nothing big. I have never had them get flagged if I am wearing them but I am always fully dressed and presenting as Robyn

[ColleenA]

In September, I started a thread called "How do you fly pretty?" I was planning a trip in late October and wanted help/guidance on how to prepare for it. Wendy, I know you are only asking about packing forms, but the gals shared a lot of good information about traveling en femme and/or with clothes and accessories in your carry-on.

Here, I want to add something about wearing forms in response to comments from others.
On my outbound trip two weeks ago, I went through the TSA inspection in drab, then changed to Colleen in a private/family bathroom before boarding the plane. I had packed my forms in my checked bag, so I wore a padded bra that basically gave me small B cups.

Traveling as Colleen went so well that I decided, for the return, to get dressed - including my C cup forms, but with a bra that was not underwire - before even going to the airport. I am happy to say that almost everything on my return flight ran as smoothly as any trip I've ever taken, from dropping off my rental car and shuttling to the airport through disembarking back home. The only moment that was different came after I went through the body scan. I was approached by a female TSA agent who asked if she could pat down my body. I agreed, but all she checked were my breasts. I didn't understand why until I read Steffi's comments here about C4. On the other thread, someone mentioned something about plastic explosive in passing, but otherwise I had not been informed how that could raise flags for the TSA.

I can confirm what others say here - the TSA agents have seen this all before and don't care as long as you're not otherwise sending up any red flags by behaving suspiciously.

[Sometimes Steffi]

I agree. TSA has seen it all before. And they have written policies to support gong through security with forms. As I mentioned before, some GGs travel wearing forms. In addition to TSA policy, you are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I understand that you can go through security en femme, even with a male ID. Just act if it's normal.

But, don't be surreptitious about it. That's not a way to make friends.

I was on travel doing work for the FAA at (actually in) the Denver airport tower. I got caught going through TSA security with a pair of 7" scissors that I needed for my work. My scissors got intercepted by TSA. Nothing I said convinced TSA to bypass security with my scissors. I showed them my FAA badge. I was with half a dozen colleagues with FAA badges. TSA got to keep my scissors.

[StephanieCLT]

I travel a lot with breast forms. I carry-on about 100% of the time. I've got a little soft "bag" that I use for my breast forms, and since they regularly alarm, I pull them out of my carry-on so they go through the scanner separately. That keeps the TSA agent from plowing through the rest of my bag with heels, dresses, lingerie, etc. Sometimes, they make it through the scanner fine. Other times, they get pulled for a quick peek. And sometimes, they get the swab. So far though, I've never had any issues getting past Security and having to go check my bag.

[Wendy James]

Thanks for all of the good advice. I am going to use it as I booked a trip to New Mexico for some R&R. I go out there all the time and this will be the first time that I plan to take 2 sets of clothing. Just the planning and prep is making the trip that much more exciting

[Heather1]

Wendy,
My wife and I just flew to Vegas and Back. I took the bottom part of the box with the plastic that holds the forms for the breast forms, put the forms in their place, put them on the bottom of the luggage, and packed all Heather's clothes on and around them. TSA never opened the luggage, when they do, they put a special tag on the luggage. we checked our large luggage's, No Problems.

[abby054]

I have gone through TSA checkpoints in many cities with breastforms in my carryon. The inspector calls out my bag nearly every time. We go off to the side. He opens the bag, glances at my forms, closes the bag, and wishes me a good day. It is all done in less than two minutes with no fanfare.

I too put my forms into my checked bag for a few flights early in the era of TSA. I feared being outed. Then rough baggage handling burst a form, destroying it. Expensive mistake. After that, I always have my forms in my carryon. So far, the inspectors have been discrete about forms. My fears of being outed were groundless.

I wish I could say that about the rest of my property and my body. TSA goons have committed every crime against my body up to and including multiple sexual assault. It is my personal preference to always go through TSA in drab. I found out the hard way to never, never, never get into a private room alone with TSA inspectors. If they force the private room, I insist on having a uniformed police officer present. I have contemplated going en femme, not because I would like to fly pretty, but simply to reduce the assaults. But that would not be fair or kind to my sisters here who want to fly pretty.

[Sometimes Steffi]

I'm really sorry to hear about your sexual assaults, but a sexual assault is a sexual assault even "under the color of law". I hope you reported TSA.

When I was taken to a private room for screening, there were two TSA officers, I assume to prevent any funny business.

[Wendy James]

All the advice was great. I packed 2 sets of forms in Tupperware and put a note on the outside of the container that they were breast forms and please handle with care. No problems at all. I was glad had them.