Breast forms, to attach (glue) or not!

[tamarav]

I am starting this post simply as a place for everyone with breast form experience to post their findings, in an effort to help others not make the same mistakes we have made in the past.

Breast forms come in every size and material imaginable but this post is limited to the silicone forms that may be attached via some form of adhesive.

I wear my forms daily to work, they are asymetrical and fairly large but that isn't the point. I glue them on daily and have found what works for me might work for others and I wanted to share those experiences. The picture I attached with this post is of me wearing a halter top with medium sized forms, obviously no bra. (see how I always manage to work a picture of me into everyone of the posts I can...)

For years I used Hollister 7730 medical grade silicone adhesive, a 3.2 ounce can usually lasts me 3 weeks of daily use. Then someone on this forum talked about 3M Super 77 Multipurpose Adhesive, a product found in every large home store, at Wal-Mart, virtually everywhere and the can is 16.75 ounces. I sneered at the mere suggestion that some over the counter spray on glue would do what I wanted it to do.

One other fact that you need to know before I go on, I use Goo Gone to remove my forms daily, no skin irritation, no degradation of the forms, no problems whatsoever after over three years of hard use.

Back to adhesives.
-Hollister 7730 is about $25 to $40 per can depending where you buy it. I usually buy it on eBay and pay about $20 per can with shipping. I generally get 23-25 applications per can. Application time is withing 5 minutes of spraying the adhesive on the forms, after letting them "kick off" a bit so they don't slide. If you wait too long another application of adhesive is needed to revive the first coat.

-3M Super 77 is about $10 per can for the aforementioned 16.75 ounce can. 3M Super 77 lasts around 140 applications for me. Applications time (and I am still experimenting) is within 10 seconds to 15 minutes spraying only the breast forms, which is the same for both products. The adhsesive is just as aggressive as the Hollister and actually seems to hold better, tighter to my skin.

Both clean up easily with Goo Gone. My procedure to remove breast forms after wearing them.
-I place a few sheets of paper towels on the edge of the kitchen sink, I lean over until my chest immediately below the breast forms is against the papertowls holding them in place. I spray Goo Gone onto my chest above the breast forms and let it trickle into the glue. I help it along a bit by spraying and gently prying up an edge of the form to allow the Goo Gone to seep into the glued area.
Once the glue starts to break down, I let gravity drop the forms onto the paper towels while spraying Goo Gone on the freshly exposed glue line.
Never try to pull them off too fast, you will regret the tears and abrasions on your skin for weeks to come.
Once the forms are lying on the paper towels, I take a brush of some sort and spray a bit more Goo Gone onto the freshly exposed surface of the breast form and scrub gently to emulsify the remnants of glue. Then I add Dawn or whatever liquid dish detergent to the flat surface of the form and rub it with my hands until all the Goo Gone is emulsified and has broken down.
Then rinse in warm water and take them into the shower and wash with hair shampoo to get the remains of any chemicals off them. Lay nipple down and let the form dry. I pat them dry with a towel and let them sit, until the next time I wear them. If they are not going to be worn for more than a couple of days I put them back in their shaped box for storage and safety.

None of my forms shows any degradtion of the outer layer at all, in fact they look as good as the day I received them.

Self adhesive breast forms. I have two pair that I have worn many times. Both pair suffer from slippage if I don't wear a bra, and I rarely do. When I get warm and start to "glisten" (remember women don't sweat, they "glisten") the forms will sometimes start a gentle slide down, pretty noticable. that is just my experience, some people wear them with no problems whatsoever.

Other adhesives: CharleneT just suggested a product named Stick it available from a medical supply sales company. I have no experience with this product and cannot comment other than to say the expense is greater than the 3m but less than the Hollister.

OK, thats my $4 worth, anyone else that has more experiences please post so that we all can see what works for others.

Your wordy sis,

Tami

[amber 07]

Hi Tamara

I just started wearing the glue-able forms and I Love them. I had PALS before and they were not attachable, eventhough they gave me a wonderful feelings while wearing them in my bra. The first time I used Hollisters it was wonderful. I could do most everything for 2 days with no bra. The only problem I had was that when I sprayed the forms a bit of it was still wet, HINT:Follow the directions on the can !!! I came away with 2 dime-sized spots that resembled chemical burns. WAIT FOR THE GLUE TO DRY A BIT BEFORE ATTACHING THEM !!! Other than that 1 mishap, I love the way they move, and feel. I'm looking forward to putting them on tonight so my SO and myself can play abit of dress-up. Hugs, Amber

[Marina]

Great idea for a post Tami. Good start on the advice and I'm looking forward to seeing the advice develop.

I searched high and low for 3M super 77 in the UK and concluded that here it's branded as 3M Scotch Weld 77 Multi Purpose Adhesive and comes in a 500ml can which I reckon equates to 16.75 ounces. Goo Gone can be bought here though not everywhere. I finally got some of both.

I'm working towards glueing my forms on. So far, I've tested it by sticking some plastic to my chest and sure enough, no skin reaction and the Goo Gone cleans it up - so far so good.

I'd be interested in hearing more about the best way to use 3M. The instructions say - for normal hold, spray 1 surface and for strong hold, spray both. I'm not sure I've got the timing right though as it seems to stay wet for longer than Hollisters and then doesn't stick so well as I've probably not waited long enough.

Any advice on using 3M particularly (or any glue) would be gratefully received. Hopefully I can add my tuppence soon.

Marina

[Roberta Llyan]

Thank you Tamara. You always offer such wonderful ideas for all of us to use and employ.

[docrobbysherry]

I hope they don't move it! This is great info for everybody.

I can only add the following, because I wear forms for about 2+/- hours at a time:

I don't do glue ons unless I'm wearing bikinis, etc. Have only used Hollisters and still have my first can! I only spray it on the forms. Perspiration has loosened them on several occasions.

I use paint thinner to remove Hollisters from me and the forms. However, I always jump in the shower rite afterwards, and put the silicone forms thru the dishwasher, to get rid of the smell. WARNING: this requires a lot of hard rubbing of your skin. Which could be a problem for u! I recommend Goo Off, or a similar product, as Tamara says, it works much better.

[Wenda]

hey babe, good post!
A couple of years ago I got a lot of flack for telling people that I used 3M Super 77 spray. There was also negative reaction regarding the use of turpentine (a completely organic solvent, but with an obnoxious odour) and with low odour Varsol.
Either way, you can apply your forms several times, but eventually they will need to be cleaned. I bought a little porcelain cooking tray that just accomodates the larger forms. I put some solvent into the tray, the place the form in, pushing it down in the center to force out the air and let the solvent into the centre of the form. I use Varsol, but I imagine that Goo Gone would work just as well!
I take the forms out of the solvent after 15 or 20 minutes, and scrape the residual adhesive off with a butter knife. I usually repeat this process a couple of times before I thoroughly wash the forms under the tap with dish soap and warm water and then let them dry. I spray them with Femme spray before I put them back in their boxes. Love my forms! w.:)

[sterling12]

And I took a different route. I've been using Nu-Hope Medical Adhesive, and I'm very happy with it. It comes in a container with a dauber and you simply brush a thin film around the perimeter of your breast forms. Seems to hold well, and I don't have to worry about overspray. The price is very reasonable, way less than Hollister and it seems to last a long, long, time.

The Nu-Hope is often used for attaching Ostomy devices and is intended for use next to the skin. That's my only problem with Super 77. It's not specifically for use on human skin and it may contain certain chemicals and solvents that might cause allergic reactions, or worse. A lot of people have recommended it, but I would be very careful.

Nu-Hope makes their own adhesive remover and I use it for removing The Forms. But your right, I can't find anything better that Goo-B-Gone for cleaning up the residue on The Forms.

I'm familiar with Nu-Hope and I like their prices, but I would imagine any Ostomy Adhesive would also work. You all might want to try it as an alternative. Just about anything would be cheaper than Hollister's!

Peace and Love, Joanie

[kristytv]

well i had experimented with the double sided tape for the forms. well i tore one this morning! i want to cry about it. the tape is supposed to come off but one came off the other form ripped and the tape made little marks on my chest.

[kimberly ann487]

Great post Tami. I would have never thought of this application for Super 77. I have used it in industry for years and it's great stuff. It's non toxic, in my experience anyway I get it all over my hands, and it holds forever.One suggestion I would make would be to spray very lightly on both serfices and let dry for a few miniutes until tacky. Also it's a good idea to lay on your back until firm because the weight of the forms will cause them to slide down otherwise. It cleans up easily ( Dawn dish detergent is good) and if it doesn't harm the forms as you say I would say try it. Good job Tami what a combination beauty and brains !!:D
LOVE KIM:love:

[KayR]

Hi Marina!
Can you tell me where you bought the glue and remover in the UK please? Is it off-the-shelf at B&Q, for example?

Incidentally, WD40 is good for removing Hollisters. Maybe for the other glue we're discussing.

Finally, Thank you Tami for more great advice. Your website is brilliant, and so full of great pictures and advice. If anyone hasn't been there, go!!

[Sally24]

Here's a link to a MSDS for the 3M 77 spray.

http://www.setonresourcecenter.com/msds/Docs/wcd00000/wcd0005c.htm

[DonnaT]

I know two gals who use Duro (http://www.createforless.com/Duro+Adhesive+Spray+All-Purpose+11+oz/pid14678.aspx?SI=72f3d2ba-266b-46fa-a841-73d788fc9afc) which can be found at Wal-Mart and paint stores. They also use Goo Gone (http://www.archivalsuppliers.com/images/Picture%20438.jpg)for clean up.

I am so glad you have had similar results that I have had. Also, "goo gone" will take the glue right off your forms or skin in a hurry. Also if you use a heavier spraying of the forms(I coat them twice), they will stay on longer. Also, I use fairly large forms, size 8 which is like a large C or a small D and they stay on just fine, even with no bra. I wear mine 24/7 and never have I got a rash. Like I said, Ironically my medical patches irritate my skin after just three days and those are supposed to be medical adhesive.


I wouldn't recommend it for expensive forms, but forms like the Amazing Adhesive Bra (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4195954), available at Walmart, which can be reattached up to 50 times, and are inexpensive, would be ideal.

[Sally2005]

I found what works well is to clean the forms with varsol just rubbing with your fingers will remove the glue. I'm using Elmer's spray adhesive (it is cheaper than the others where I live). Spray it on making a couple light coats over the forms. It dries quickly and stays tacky like tape. To reduce the chance of chemical burn or leaching through the skin, I let the forms dry for about 1/2 hour or more so the solvents evaporate. You can actually let them dry for days and reuse them by washing them with soap and water and they remain tacky. You can use them several times between recoating them. To remove them, just slowly peel off. Be very careful, they don't stick on so hard that they are difficult to remove, but take no chance in pulling off any skin, the skin on this part of your body is easy to damage and the result will be redness for a few days and a scar, probably in a circle where the edge for forms were...ouch. Also, I do this part time, not every day so you have to balance the risks and cost. The other thing I do is spray the form through a template like a large screen so that any perspiration has channels to escape between the areas that have glue on them.

[Nicki B]

Forms tend to be fragile - so getting any glue off them that's strong enough to hold them to your chest is likely, sooner or later, to cause damage to the exterior PVC?

Using mineral oil-based solvents to clean off residues will attack most plastics, certainly those used in form outers?

[celeste26]

I use the Breastform store size 10's and I dont go "braless" but I do use the "Stick it" that is offered. I have noticed that the forms will slide when it is hot and the skin is perspiring. The BFS suggested to me that I shouldn't go braless with this product, and I dont.

The connection that is made by using this adhesive is such that I have two thoughts about it. First is nice to get the full form completely on the skin without any gaps that offer rather odd sensations on occasion, on the other hand the adhesive pulls at the skin constantly and it is very appearant to me that there are less that beautiful feelings created by this adhesive.

Does the Hollister sting less? I've never tried it. I dont think I will ever get into the Scotch 77 too industrial for me. The only time I ever get a free flowing and "natural" feeling is without the adhesive. (and of course the bra)

[michelle64]

i have never had any luck with glue..so glue is a no go for me...i use amoena bras and just place those babies in the bra and away i go....after talking with my favorite SA last week i was handed the best most lightest forms i have ever seen...price $2500 a piece..SA advised the lighter form will hold up to the glue...i polietly declined...so to each their own..

[docrobbysherry]

Does the Hollister sting less? I've never tried it. I dont think I will ever get into the Scotch 77 too industrial for me. The only time I ever get a free flowing and "natural" feeling is without the adhesive. (and of course the bra)

I've never gotten any negative reaction or burn from Hollisters. U let it dry before puting your forms on. Pulling them off is another matter! U must do it slowly. Then, be careful what u use to remove the glue, so it doesn't burn or sting! I have sensative skin!

[Missy Anne]

Tami,

I have been getting ready to try glue on my 4000's for some time now, and had already gotten Hollister and Super 77 to experiment with.

I was looking for GooGone and discovered they make several different kinds.

Which kind of GooGone do you use?

Thanks

Missy Anne

[Christinedreamer]

Seve3
ral years ago I found a wonderful and safe adhesive remover. It is called LIFT-OFF. It comes in a blue spray can or in a spritz bottle. There are 5 LIFT-OFF products and they all are specialized in what they remove. They are water based and non toxic and safely remove most any adhesive.

In addition, please be aware that all industrial adhesives (3M77 for example) contain solvents that break down surface tension of the items to be glued. These solvents are designed to evaporate but are toxic when in close proximity to open wounds, eyes, mucous membranes etc. and sensitive skin.

Also for those wishing to fly en femme, if you use adhesives of the industrial variety, sniffer machines and dogs will alert to the flammable solvents even thouh you cant smell them anymore.

This is the problem with silicone pumpers. They use industrial silicone with several highly dangerous solvents and just hear the word SILICONE and think all silicone is the same.

For safety sake, you should use only medically approved adhesives.

So try the lift off and be careful about the sticky stuff you use.

just my 2 cents worth (after many years experience with adhesives)

[JessieB]

That is a great post, Tami, but whew, that sure is a lot of work! I do like the braless look and feel on special occasions or for certain outfits, but most of the time I just wear a bra. It's so much easier. And, if you like the braless look without the hassle, use a sheer bra. That said, I do agree that having the breastforms attached feels wonderful -- great for clubbing in a tight top.

[stefcd1]

I picked up a can of the 3M super 77 this morning and try it out when I got home this evening. Like a silly person, I didn't try it out on a small area first but proceeded to spay my forms and attached them to my chest. They didn't really attached very strongly and it looked like I was starting to get an allergic reaction so I just peeled them off oh so slowly. Sure enough my chest was red so it is a good thing I took them off. I wanted so badly to have my forms glued on tonight so I proceeded to attached them with Perma-Type surgical cement which i nomally use. As I sit here typing this they are firmly attachd to my chest inside my bra. I love the feel of forms attached and will have a fun night as they bounce around under my nightgown. Just wanted folks to know you need to be careful with any adhesive.

[Wendi0012]

I have been searching for years on the right adhesive to apply my forms with and after reading your post yesterday went right out searching for the 3m 77 and oh my god this stuff is wonderful!! I envey you being able to dress for work everyday and doing the many things you do I always love to stop and read all your posts you are my true inspiration. By the way you can get all of the aboved metioned stuff right at home depot in the paint section, just ask that's all I did. This day is truly the highlight of my crossdressing years will let you know how my progress goes but once again thank you for such a wonderful post!!

Love Always,
Wendi

[Marina]

KayR
I had to search a bit and I couldn't find either Goo Gone or 3M77 in any "normal" type store. I had to buy online.

I got the 3M glue from East Coast Fiberglass Supplies http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/store/-c-49_253.html


Then I got the Goo Gone from Axminster http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Magic-American-Products-Goo-Gone-376969.htm

Bit annoying to pay the same for postage as for the products in both cases but hopefully I won't use too much of the stuff

Marina

[KayR]

Thanks Marina! I appreciate the effort you took.
Kay

[Amanda0208]

Thanks so much for the info. I have been looking foor this everywhere. Your a godsend
Amanda

[Liz Summers]

What can I do about the chemical burns? It has been over 6 months for me and I stil have some round long red chemical burns. There ugly red marks. What can i do please help!


Hi Tamara

I just started wearing the glue-able forms and I Love them. I had PALS before and they were not attachable, eventhough they gave me a wonderful feelings while wearing them in my bra. The first time I used Hollisters it was wonderful. I could do most everything for 2 days with no bra. The only problem I had was that when I sprayed the forms a bit of it was still wet, HINT:Follow the directions on the can !!! I came away with 2 dime-sized spots that resembled chemical burns. WAIT FOR THE GLUE TO DRY A BIT BEFORE ATTACHING THEM !!! Other than that 1 mishap, I love the way they move, and feel. I'm looking forward to putting them on tonight so my SO and myself can play abit of dress-up. Hugs, Amber

[tamarav]

It appears that some of us are more reactive to the chemicals in the adhesives than others. That was one reason I started this thread, to find out what others had done and hopefully dispell rumors of one thing working and another not working.

One of the concerns I keep hearing is the degradation of the plastic covering on silicone forms. My original triangle forms have been in almost daily use for two years and fairly heavy use for two years before that and have not shown any signs to date of deterioration or the plastic degrading. It could just be that the pair I have are covered with a different type of plastic than others.

I want to thank all of you for including your experimentation with adhesives and the impact. As far as chemical burns, I have never experienced actual chemical burns but have had massive chest skin damage due to impatience on my part, trying to remove the forms too fast. (and I was not using any chemicals to remove the glue residue) Many of the skin tears were visible for over two years until they finally grew out.

I now use Goo Gone in its thin yellow form religiously and have not a mark on my chest. I do use about a quart of Goo Gone per 3 months and about 2-3 cans of Hollisters. Now that I am trying the 3M product the Hollisters has been shelved for awhile.

As another addition to the alterntives, I have used toupee adhesive "Topsol" no-Tape Silicone bonding agent from Vapon of West Caldwell, NJ with limited success. While it may hold a light weight toupee in place it does not appear to be designed to hold a weighted object against a vertical surface. It held initially for about 20 minutes and then started a slide south. I had to remove them and use traditional adhesive to continue.


Keep those cards and letters coming folks, the more information we have the better decisions we can make.

Your sis,

Tami

[KayR]

I have a pair of Breastform Store triangular forms, the Gold quality ones. The backs are made from a tough but flexible plastic material which takes spray glue such as Hollisters, and the excellent double-sided adhesive patches that BFS also sells. I've had no trouble with peeling the old patches off, although I experimented with using a couple of chicken fillets and the patches at one point. When it came to peel them off, I tore the back of one of the fillets in 2 places, rendering them useless. BFS also sells adhesive refresher wipes. Although not nearly as strong as the patches, they provide enough tackiness to keep your boobs in place under a strapless, fitted dress for example. If I use Hollisters - and I think its very expensive - more than £20.00 here in the UK - I use WD40 to clean the backs of my forms. As long as you wash the forms thoroughly (I use washing-up liquid), they are as good as new after each clean.

[deja true]

Gosh girls..I'd be very, very careful about using any adhesive that's not made specifically for medical use.

Even if you do not have an allergic or burn reaction the first time that doesn't mean it won't happen, eventually.

We can easily develop allergies from repeated use of materials that are not intended to be so close to our skin. I know many med folks, nurses and emt's who have developed allergies to latex, from having worn them for such a long time...and latex is a natural product!

Also, even trace amounts of industrial solvents will be absorbed throught the skin, especially the thin skin of the chest and sensitive skin of the nipples, and possibly affect us badly in years ahead due to a toxic buildup...

Importantly for some, industrial chemicals are also very likely to damage reproductive organs and sperm health...

Be careful, my dear ones. It'll be hard explaining to your lawyer how you got that toxic chemical related disease in later years when you get around to suing 3M.

[Marina]

Hope I'm not stating the obvious here and I'm no expert - so please correct me if anything I say is wrong - but this is my understanding having worked a fair bit with all sorts of glues.

These are all types of contact adhesives meaning they stick immediately on contact. These glues give off lots of fumes as they react with air and dry - hence the strong smell - and it's vital these fumes are allowed to escape to the atmosphere. It's also why many of these glues have a big flame warning as the fumes in some glues can be quite flammable.

If you don't let the fumes escape and put the 2 surfaces together too early, the fumes can't escape. 2 things then happen. They don't stick properly, and, as the fumes get trapped next to your skin they can then cause heat, nasty reactions etc. including chemical burns. So it's vital for both effectiveness and safety that you get the timing right. I'd suggest people do like I do - try a bit on your skin first, then if it's OK, try glueing something to your skin next and leave it for as long as you think necessary (a few days maybe). Only when you're happy you know what you're doing, commit to having the full form attached. It took me a few goes of waiting too long so the glue was completely dry so no good, or not long enough so it was still a bit wet and didn't bond properly either. It should be sticky to touch but not actually come off the surface on to your finger as then it's still too wet.

Hollisters must have some sort of special mechanism where it doesn't produce nasty fumes or reactions - hence the high price probably. But I found it not just expensive but a real pain to clean up. Hopefully this forum will educate us all in how to use what's right for us cheaply and safely.

The other thing that is important with all glues is surface preparation. The main reason glues don't perform as well as the adverts say is if the surfaces are not prepared correctly i.e.not clean. Sweat, oil and everything else plays havoc with glue and more will appear through pores as soon as you clean them. So getting the skin around these pores thoroughly clean beforehand for the glue to stick to is paramount. Obviously don't scrub too hard or use harsh detergents or you'll have irritated skin before you start.

I'm going to carefully try the 3M 77 this weekend. I'll go cautiously and have a bucket of Goo Gone ready in case I have to get them off at the first sign of trouble. I'll let you know how it goes.

Marina

[IMkrystal]

I recently purchased my first silicone Breast enhancers. I am a natural size B but want to increase to a size D. This is my first attempt, having used cloth bean bags before.

Your cleaning and adhesive information is excellent and I will be going to Home Depot to purchase this adhesive. Where can you buy "glue gone?"

I have been told that theatrical makeup can be used to blend the breast forms to your skin tone. What is your opinion Ms. Tamarav?:daydreaming:

One more question are there breast forms, other then enhancers, that can be worn over you breast?

[CD Susan]

The first time I used Hollister 7730 I had a very bad chemical reaction. I will not use this again. I have used It Stays with no problems. I think the 3M Super 77 is worth trying for the cost savings.

[UASIANGAL]

A few of you had said it's hard to find 3M glue. This product is usually available in all arts and Craft supply stores and I also can find them in stationery stores everywhere. Hope that helps!

[Carroll]

In the US, check Sears for the 3M adhisive and Target for the Goo Gone spray bottle

[CharleneT]

Hey, missed this thread at first.

GREAT idea for a discussion.

The reason for my recommendation of the "ItStays" adhesive is because the maker of my forms recommended it to me. I asked because they said the adhesive that was on the forms would wear out after 20 uses or so. "ItStays" is designed for sticking things to your skin and so has no bad solvents etc... Now it is worth noting that Super 77 probably works better. When I go out dancing for example, I have to use a bra because the combination of lots of movement and sweat will cause the "ItStays" to loosen. The one time I did that the forms didn't fall off... but they did slide down a ways south.... (boy was I embarrassed when I noticed it, although I do not think anyone else had - yet!).

I tend to believe in using only "just enough" of that sort of thing. If I can use a for sure safe product and it will work for what I need, then great! Now, probably I'll try out the Super 77 for dancing :) :) Might get that chance for some outfits where bras do not work so well.

As many above have said, please be careful about using products not designed for human skin, such as Super 77. Test it out before you use it to go out. That way, if you are going to have an adverse reaction, you can just clean up and move onto another product. You will also find that the overspray from Super 77 can make a mess, so be careful near your clothes etc...

[Marina]

I finally tried the 3M super 77 this weekend with good results. Sprayed a little on my chest and a little on the forms. Waited until it still felt sticky but didn't come off on my finger when touched i.e. no strings of glue. I put them on on Friday at 6pm and they were still stuck firm and feeling good when I went to bed on Saturday night. By Sunday morning, they were a little ragged and coming away at the edges. I've only used Hollister once before and the 3M was as good if not better. No burns, ichyness etc. but when I took them off the skin was a little red but that's hardly surprising when something pulls on your skin for 40 hours. They're size 9 (40DD) so I guess it'd work even better with average size boobs - I'm thinking a size 7 or so might look and act better, maybe next purchase.

As per Tami's technique, I used about half a small bottle of Goo Gone which took about 10 minutes to soak through and the forms to fully fall off. Bit of advice - do one at a time as when one is half off or more, it pulls harder on the remaining glued skin so you want to hold it with 1 hand and work the goo gone with the other - a bit difficult to do 2 at a time.

I then lay on a towel and put more goo gone on my chest and rubbed it round and round to disolve the glue left on my chest - took another few minutes. My forms look like brand new after a wash in Goo Gone then washing up liquid - better than they did before. Then I hopped in the shower and a good scrub and I was all clean.

Another bit of advice - The goo gone combines with the glue to make a runny but still slightly oily sticky runny substance. I sat in my big shower and removed the forms, but I left the shower for half an hour or so before I showered and the substance had dried out leaving a sticky flim on the shower floor. No big problem to clean up with a pad and cleaner but it would have been even easier if done straight away. And I wouldn't want it to get on a carpet.

Several hours later, the redness on my chest is virtually gone, it's not itchy or sore and I think it'll be totally invisible by the morning. So don't go 40 hours and take them off just before you need to show your chest to an unknowing person but generally the side effects seem no problem.

All in all, my breasts felt great, the 3M & Goo Gone works as well as the Hollisters did (the one time I used it) and it was a hell of a lot cheaper and much easier to clean up. Pretty successful and something I look forward to doing again.

Thanks to all on this forum for helping me find and use these products - another great reason for being here
Marina

[Cristi]

Before using this product on your skin, I would certainly read the MSDS (Material safety data sheet) linked in another post above. In particular, these sections:

Route of Entry: Skin YES
Route of Entry: Ingestion YES
Route of Entry: Inhalation YES
Health Hazards - Acute and Chronic [EYES] EYE IRRITATION, REDNESS, SWELLING, PAIN, TEARING, HAZY VISION [SKIN] MILD SKIN IRRITATION, REDNESS, SWELLING, ITCHING [INHAL] HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, DROWSINESS, INCOORDINATION, SLOWED REACTION TIME, SLURRED SPEECH, DIGGINESS, AND UNCONSCIOUSNESS [INGEST] NOT LIKELY A ROUTE OF EXPOSURE

AVOID PROLONGED OR REPEATED SKIN CONTACT

Emergency/First Aid Procedures [EYES] FLUSH W/ WATER FOR 15 MINUTES [SKIN] WASH W/ SOAP AND WATER, REMOVE CONTAMINATED CLOTHING, LAUNDER BEFORE REUSE [INHAL] REMOVE TO FRESH AIR [INGEST] DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING, NEVER GIVE ANYTHING TO AN UNCONSCIOUS PERSON

Basically, they are pretty much saying outright that this is NOT a product that should come in contact with your skin at all, much less for hours at a time!

Not all issues are as obvious as rashes and skin burns... I'd hate to use this product for a year to stick breast forms on, then pay the price later in life with cancer or some other chemical induced health problem.

skin contact is a GOOD way to transfer chemicals into your body (look at nicotine patches). Please don't take a chance with some industrial chemical that has never been tested for this purpose.

[Rita Knight]

Hi Everyone,
Joanie is the only one who says she uses my glue, Nu-Hope Adhesive. I tried Hollister and it would not hold for long on me. I have also used Smith & Nephew with the same results.
To clean my forms, I use De-Solv-it and it can be found here: http://www.orange-sol.com/household/index.html

Some other things. I have several silicone forms from Glamour Boutique. If you shave your chest, shave the day before you attach your forms. If you do it the same day, you can get some nasty burns. Apply rubbing alcohol on your chest before putting the forms on. This helps keep them attached.

[~Seana~]

What an awesome thread!

Fo myself i have used non-selfattachable forms and holister adhesive. It works, but I screwed up and didnt order the adhesive remover, which means after a year of occasional use there was a full can's worth of adhesive stuck to the back side of the forms, giving it a leathery texture. I'd spot cleaned a couple times as a test with various things but nothing seemed to work to remove it, though I was able to remove extra adhesive with some effort from my body with nailpolish remover.
On a whim today I tried something different. Liquid wrench by Gunk. Sprayed some on and let it sit. As these were older forms I am replacing shortly anyway, and werent top quality to begin with ( $60 off ebay) I wasnt all that concerned with damaging the breast forms, I just wanted to see if that would work.

Well it worked. Extremely well. I had to spray the forms and let sit about a half hour with the liquid wrench each but this made the yeas worth of hollister adhesive a sticky gooey mess that I was then able to remove with a cloth, soap and water ( with a fair bit of effort granted, but NOTHING seemed to take the adhesive off before) . I now have two spotlessly clean forms drying off in their original boxes.I washed with sunlight dish soap before putting away removing any residue from the liquid wrench in the process.

NOw I'd like to try the 3m77 adhesive, and having a walmart next door will look for it there, but it would help if someone had a picture of what I'm looking for. I'd tried a few adhesives before I got the Hollisters most of which were failures.Also what department would one look for the 3m adhesive in? I'm not sure it's sold in canada, but if it is I'd like to give it a try, the hollisters was easily $40 after shipping.

Amanda

[Marina]

Amanda,
Google 3M super 77 and you'll find lots of pictures of it.

As for the health hazards mentioned by Cristi-
Yes I agree you should be careful with getting anything on your skin but - the more serious effects mentioned are for if you get it in your eyes or inhale it, which I certainly won't do. The effects listed from skin contact of mild skin irritation redness etc. don't sound too horrible and that's if you happen get a reaction to it - which doesn't mean you will. Lost of people work with lots of potentially hazardous substances and they aren't allergic to them. Unless you use serious amounts of stuff, you're unlikely to develop allergies to it. More hazardous substances have much more scary warnings and the ones listed for skin look like standard warnings that companies these days put on just about anything. Look at cement for example - if you believed what that says on the data sheet, you'd avoid it like the plague.

As I said previously, if you use anything at all on your skin (medical or industrial), go slow, try small patches first then bigger ones for longer, and in an environment where you can get it off fast.

Marina

[docrobbysherry]

but when I have, I've used Hollister's. Not having anything else on hand, I've used paint thinner to remove it from both my forms and me. I always jump in the shower immediately, to wash off the thinner. I hate that smell! I can't recommend thinner.

But, just wanted to say, in a pinch it will work!

[Sally2005]

I ran out of the Elmer's adhesive I've been successuly using. So I thought I would give the Super 77 a try, but me being me, I also saw the Hightack 76 and it had more volume so I thought I could get more use out of it than the 77. Also, I've got a car headliner that is coming loose so that influenced my decision, it looked like it would hold better... :-)

So what I discovered, unlike the Elmer's which has a wide even spray the 76 sprays on in a stream like 'silly string' and I have to even it out with a foam brush. The second difference is the glue dries quickly from sticky to tacky and then dry/non tacky in minutes. The Elmer's remains tacky for days like tape does.

In my first attempt, I let the glue dry for 10 minutes and the forms would not stick to my chest. Secondly, I let it dry for a couple minutes with some tackyness left and they stick on pretty good, but under their own weight they slowly detach. On the third try, I put them on almost immediatly. They stick better, but still not as good as the Elmers. On the positive side, they hold on, but come off without leaving any residue and seems to be less chance to damage the skin by removing them too quickly.

In summary:
Elmers
reusable with one application of adhesive
very thin, even spray, watch for overspray (easy to make the floor sticky)
strong hold, remove slowly
needs time to dry ( min 1/2 hour), but stays tacky
high odor when spraying
cheap

76
one use, must apply quickly
uneven spray, not much overspray
good hold, easy to remove
low odor
more expensive

77
haven't done it yet...maybe someone else can fill in the details

[BobbieCD1944]

There have been some times when I've had my forms glued on for a day or two. When removed, not quite had time to clean them. Then get an unexpected invitation to a party or event. Not having time to clean them, I'd just spray another coating of Hollisters. Never really been a problem, they stick fine.

I did buy and test the 3M Super 77. Other than the chemical smell, it worked fine. Cleaning the forms was no real problem either.

Given my occasional need to re-attach the forms before cleaning them, I'm curious if there are any problems with spraying the Hollister over the 3M, or 3m over the Hollister? Possible chemical reaction?

[Annesah]

Thanks All! But I'm sticking to my own tits! "A Naturale" Just can't beat the real deal!

[linnea]

Thank you, Tami. This is great advice. I have used adhesive with my forms, but when I get around to trying it, I will have some excellent information to help me.

[Maria2222]

Just Kidding. :D:D:D:D:D
Actually this kind of worry is why I never dared try to glue on my forms before. How would I explain my breasts to the wife or to the people at the emergency room? After reading the great thread Tami started and all the excellent advice I gave it a shot. I used 3M77 and Goof Off.
After a pretrial, I sprayed some cheaper forms I'd gotten at Ebay and voilla. It works. The only glitch was the glue remover stung a bit. Next time I think I'll let the glue off gas for 10 minutes before I apply the foms to my chest.
It really felt good to have the forms glued on. It was like they were a natural part of me. I'll do it all the time now. It doesn't take as much time to do as you would think either.
A couple of suggestions. Wiping down your skin with rubbing alcohol first would probably promote better adhesion, and an old tooth brush (used gently) does a good job of cleaning the remover and glue off your forms.
A question. How do you keep the glue spray nozzle from clogging up between uses?

[Sally2005]

To keep the spray tip clean, after you use the glue turn the can upside down and spray it until only air exits the nozzle. Same deal as spray paint.
-
After trying the high tack 76, I have to say I don't recommend it because the glue dries too quickly before the tackyness is gone. The only method that works for me is to spray the form and immediately with the ht 76 press it to my chest and then remove. Wait for the glue to dry and then replace the forms. This method works similar to contact cement. Doing this, gases escape first but there is some glue that is contacting your body while the solvents are still active, but do the forms ever stick well! They are stuck and you can't remove them without using a solvent. Paint thinner like varsol works well to remove them (use a paper towel soaked in solvents and rub underneath from side to side until they come loose). Btw, this is using the breastform store supersoft forms with re-enforced back.

...obvious issue for a quickchange though. I prefer the Elmer's glue which gives me stick and peel without using solvents to take them off.

[Cheryl T]

I originally used an inexpensive set of forms with the Hollister's spray adhesive. I unfortunately got lax with the removal of the residue from the forms and it had a negative effect on them prompting me to purchase new ones.
Biting the proverbial bullet I broke down and parted with a few Ben Franklins and bought the Amoena Contact 351 forms from the Breastform Store.

Best money I have spent!!

Granted I don't go braless (at 42C I don't think that's practical anyway for me), but the ease of use and cleaning, plus the feel far out weighs that loss for me.
They come with a cleaning kit which includes a soft brush and mild cleanser. Warm water and a few scrubs and voila, let them air dry and they are good as new.
Just clean my skin with an alcohol wipe, position and press in place. Slip on my favorite bra and off I go. No waiting, no muss, no fuss.
Removal is a gentle peel. I was amazed at just how stuck they became with a long day's wear and a little body heat. They warm to body temperature quickly, are incredibly soft and have wonderful movement. They feel like me and are as close to real as I can get without implants or hormones (wish, wish...).

The original forms would begin to feel uncomfortable after about 8 hours, but these I've worn for over 16, and actually hated to have to remove them for bed (it's not good to sleep with them on...they might rupture).

Just my $10....considering gas prices and all these days... :battingeyelashes:

[tamarav]

Two things:
First, ingredients in the 3M 77 glue, label indicates that all dry ingredients "are listed as indirect food contact additives when used in food packaging with minimal opportunity for exposure". Not sure of the whole definition but when I talked to a neighbor who is a chemist that works on food stuffs, additives. He stated that the contents shouldn't hurt you if you let the high ends of the aerosol evaporate first, usually about 3 minutes.

Secondly: while looking at 3M 77 in the store a woman was holding a can of i Intertape AC50 and saw me reading the label on the 77. She said that it was a good substitue for the 3m 77 and cheaper too. I bought a can and took it home to experiment. DON'T USE IT FOR BREAST FORMS. It is entirely different and has a high VOC content. I ordered the MSDS and found that it is not good on human skin at all, too many ingredients that aren't good fo us, or any living thing.

i Intertape AC50 is readily available at low lot prices on eBay but it is not for use with breast forms. Scratch this one off your list if it was on their.

I notice a lot of reservations on many people's part about using adhesive to adhere breast forms. I started using the hollister when advised by the manufacturer of the forms. I ventured out and read what I could find on other adhesives when I couldn't get Hollisters quickly, I failed to order in time. For a completely feminine feeling, attaching the breast forms is second to none. It is the most realistic thing next to your own real breasts. That is the reason I use adhesive and will continue to do so.

Plus, you can't wear a skimpy halter top wearing a bra, every nuance shows so you have to very careful with the placement of the forms to make sure you can cover all of the forms. Picture attached (snuck another one in didn't I?)

Your sis,

Tami

[susiej]

Ladies,

I just started a new thread about my experiences using TrueKare self-adhesive forms. It's at:

http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84915

Hugs,
Susie

[kellylynn_31]

Hate to bring a post back from so far in the past but the adhesive works great.

Finally remembered to get some while at the store and tried it this morning. No irritation mess fuss or muss.

Even went braless for a while and everything stayed in place and wiggled like real.

Thanks tons for the great advice.

Kelly

[tamarav]

Update on 3M Super 77:
I have now used this adhesive about 75 times and the only down side that I find so far is that if you don't let the high ends evaporate for enough time, it could cause your nipples to be very cold. Possibly even irritate them.

I first noticed this on an 80 degree day, getting dressed and felt very cold. Then I realized it was just my breasts that were cold, I had put the forms on after maybe waiting only 5 minutes. The adhesive was still very wet and had not fully kicked.

I have now waited as long as an hour after initially spraying them to put them on with no change in the holding power. In fact, they seem to hold longer than the 7730 Hollister and the clean up is just as easy.

Your sis,

Tami

[SusanLaine]

Tami...I love the thread and advice!

I use Amonea forms and my most recent ones have a velcro back so I use either a cloth cover or I buy the Amonea Active Supports which are nothing more than a Velcro piece shaped like the form with really sticky tape on the back.

Basically, you use their special wipes that come with the supports - it's like an alcohol wipe with glue in it and very strong. Wiped own your skin, peel off the label on the form and stick it in place. They the form just Velcro's on.

I've worn these all day without issue and no bra is required. However:

- The supports are meant to be worn long term so when you remove them your skin will be red for a while although it's not painful at all.
- The supports come in different styles, thin active, thicker and so on but they're pricey at about $28 for 5 supports
- They hold even large heavy forms like mine perfectly well but they don't keep the forms so tight to the skin that the seem isn't noticeable like I imagine glued-on forms could be.

While we're on the subject...I noticed at SCC last year that everyone was wearing large nipples with their forms. I love this look but after a while, even I was worn out of seeing so many (1000s) of huge protruding nips - I never thought I'd say that.:-)
When my wife came down one night for dinner, she mentioned that too many girls went overboard with their nipples and it was obvious. On retrospect, I agree and now I wear no fake nipples or very inconspicuous ones.

[Paulette]

Tami, I just tried the 3M super 77 and the goo gone method taking your advice about letting the glue air off the solvents before attaching them. I let them sit for about 30 minutes after spraying them and then attached them and wore a bra for about 30 minutes to make sure that they adheared properly. Took the bra off and was able to go bra less with confidence for the first time. I have been using Hollister after a while but they would slip (hell they fell off) once I took off my bra. No fun to wear your nightie with a bra or with out forms to lounge around the house. I am going to a pool party Saturday night and I really need to be able to go bra less and still have my forms on so my swim suit will look good.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with all of us on this forum. Every bit of advice I have recieved from you has work just like yu said it would. Using your instructions I fitted a wig for my size 7 5/8 inch hat size.

Sis your the best

Big Northern Calif. hugs

[Josey]

Tami your advise was fantastic! Without it and sugestions by others I would have never tried it. However, I tried sleeping with them on but felt breasts pulling on my skin causing me to remove them in order to get some restfull sleep. Am I alone in this situation? Any ideas or suggestions?

[tamarav]

IMPORTANT 3m 77 DISCLAIMER:

Although I am a user of this product and to date I have not suffered any noticable ill effects from it, the potential for long-term impact is there. Careful reading of the MSDS for this product by a number of members on this forum have brought forward data that could cause us to re-think our constant use of this product.

I relayed my cold and tingling breast feeling just yesterday and was informed of potential skin absorption damage to the liver and other organs within a short time thereafter. This product may be too good to be true and may need to be used with an eye towards long term potential damage to our bodies. Never mind that it could impact critical thinking, something we could all be accused of losing long ago...

Therefore I am posting this notice that any user should think about or limit the use of this product to minimize health risks. Members who smoke may really be at risk due to the highly flammable fumes that are released when the product is applied. Just something to think about or research on your own.

Now checking auctions for Hollister 7730.....

Your tainted sis,

Tami

[Brina Halloween]

I think I read almost every response in the thread and went through he first two pages of a search. This appears to be an appropriate place to post.

I have self-adhesive forms that you are supposed to just clean and let dry. They do not like to stay stuck to my skin, even just walking around the house.

2 questions:
1. Will using alcohol to clean my skin first help adhesion? or any other tips?
2. Can you still use glue or self-adhesive tape with these forms.

I just bought a top that I think bra-less would look best. The strapless bras that I've bought are either loose or too tight so far and hide the forms nipple shape.

Brina

[tamarav]

I also have some self-adhesive forms, they were never designed for bra-less wear. They have a great adhesive to hold them in place under a light fitting bra but the adhesive is not designed for bra less wear. You can add your own adhesive to them and they act just like the others, they will stick very well and hold but they require you to use the same removal technique as the others, with Goo Gone or a similar product.

Just another update on 3M 77. Yesterday was fairly warm around here, about 86 degrees. I used 3M 77 and was working on a person's face applying permanent makeup when I felt the left breast form gently release from the chest wall. I was leaning over my work table and the form stayed in place because the top I was wearing was fairly tight, but nevertheless, this form had come loose. I gently pressed it back into place and it held until my client left. I pulled up my top and took a look, the form fell completely off. Sweat had loosened the bond and it released. The other one was still attached but not by much.

I had not really cleaned the chest wall with alcohol or anything else and assumed the adhesive would hold in the heat, it didn't. I believe Hollister would have held, it has in the same conditions before.

So if you anticipate perspiration using Hollister's might be a better idea.

Gnerally wiping down the chest with alcohol before attaching any adhesive coated breast form helps the adhesion.

Now I know better. This is the top I was wearing yesterday.
69653
69654

Tami

[Sally2005]

I recently used the 76 adhesive in very hot humid weather. I have been finding that the glue dries almost instantly after it is sprayed and application to the forms alone is not sticking very well. What is working... (really well) I wore them for about 36 hours and went bike riding in the hot humid weather braless (using the bike jersey built in support)

1. Mark the outline of your forms on your chest
2. Spray forms, let dry.
3. Spray some adhesive in a pile on paper. Use some paper towel to dab the adhesive before it dries and wipe your chest where the forms will go. This results in a very thin layer of adhesive on your skin and it dries almost as fast as you can apply it.
4. Wait a while until all surfaces are dry.
5. Apply forms, just like contact cement they will stick and can't be removed without using a solvent (like paint thinner).
6. To remove use a paper towel soaked in thinner and wipe around the edges with gentle lifting.
7. Give yourself about 1 day for the redness due to pulling on skin to go away...be very careful you don't damage your skin expecially easy to do on the edges of the forms.

Other than potential health risks and no ability to quickly undress... doing this for a full day or so is quite the experience.

[Empress Lainie]

I have the silicone triangular breast forms, my "ex-plants".
The fit into a 44D bra nicely.

I have been leery of gluing because I have very sensitive skin, from being a redhead.

I go dancing a lot, with lots of movement, since I usually discodance by myself, and have been dancing continually for up to 5 hours with my explants in my bra and never had any problem.

The have small nipple protrusions that actually show thru my

JMS bra and my red lace and satin bra. But I also have two loose nipples that came with them. I sometimes would put them in the right place on the forms inside the bra, but was always worried they would slip to a wrong place.

In response to a question I asked I was told about using double sided tape to affix them to the forms. I have done it a few times.

But lately I have just been going out in a tanktop with no bra, and have surprisingly to me been told I am sexy by two different women I didn't even know. I also have more dance partners come to me braless than with my 44D's. I haven't figured that one out.

I am 73 most people take me for 40's, and I have never had anyone male or female come to dance with me that was over 30. A huge mystery to me.

I only had the confidence in my natural boobs to do this about 3 months ago for the first time. Oh yeah, my own nipples are always hard and showing.

[jennifer ann]

I use the smae method as Sally had explained with use of super 77 and hollisters. I have had close to the same results with using both products. I have only had them release once while dancing but my bra held them in place. goo gone 2 gel works best for clean up and it smells alot better since its made with citurus. Oh by the way they use super 77 on the hooters girls while on the runway to hold some materials in place.

[Staciej]

great info as i have multiple scrossis have to be carefull of everythang would love go straplesss :)) Only advantage ive found in a nice price is this (http://www.exsilshop.eu/index1.html )its like wearing a peek a boo bra.( down side is got perky and dont make bra's big enough to hide the outer color (at time din't have nude just red and black) no glue just velcro and done no slipage of any sort just cant go straplss as even nude has shoulder straps.:(

[Monica Santos]

Hi all,

I have been using Hollister for several years and often had skin irritation as a result. I started using Skin-Prep by Nephew about a year ago and seems to work great. Slight redness, but dissapears the next day. Adhesion of the silicon breast form is not a real issue. The only real drawback is the residue the skin-prep leaves. I use baby oil on a wash cloth to remove the sticky residue on my chest. Works great!

However, maybe the problem to my skin irritation has been the "pulling off" of the breast form. I'll have to try the Goo Gone method you described.

Thanks soo much for starting this thread. Probably the best one yet!

Monica

[BobbieCD1944]

I've tried 4 adhesives. While the 3M is inexpensive and works well, I've decided not to use it because of the unknown possible chemical reactions to skin. The It Stays roll on will not hold my size 8 Transform triangles. I bought a bottle of Nu- Hope adhesive yesterday. Applied a layer to my forms, let dry for 5 minutes and attached them. I slept with them on last night. They have now been attached for a little more than 24 hours. The adhesive seems to me holding well. Hollisters has always been my first choice, but pricey at anywhere from $26.00 to $35.00 depending on which medical supply store I happen to use. The Nu-Hope was about $14.00. So, I'm hoping the Nu-hope will work for several days.