Breast Implants

Breast implants are usually a silicon outer shell filled with either silicon gel or saltwater. 

This may be:

1. As part of the reconstructive surgery after breast cancer surgery.

2. As part of the reconstructive surgery in those who are at high risk of developing hereditary breast cancer due to the presence of an abnormal gene mutation. 

3. In healthy women having implants for breast enlargement and cosmetic reasons.

4. In transgender people, for cosmetic reasons.

Breast implants can be positioned either above or below the chest muscles. It is still important for those with implants to practise breast awareness and self-breast checks regularly. 

Those with breast implants can still have screening mammograms once they reach the age of 50. It may be technically more difficult to see all of the breast as the implant may obscure some breast tissue and it sometimes may be more difficult to interpret the x-rays. Hence it is important to inform the radiographer if you have implants as they may need to take some extra images.

Some women are concerned that the implants may rupture but this only happens very rarely. The benefit of cancer detection outweighs this.