Mammography for Women with Breast Implants: Is It Safe?

1. Is Mammography Safe for Women with Breast Implants?

The answer is YES.

Women with breast implants can still and should undergo breast cancer screening via mammography according to their age and risk level.

Many women worry that mammography could rupture their breast implants, cause pain, or damage the implants. In reality, mammography can be safely performed in women with breast implants if conducted at a medical facility with technicians experienced in imaging augmented breasts and using correct techniques.

Important Note: Do not skip breast cancer screening merely out of concern for your implants. The benefits of screening far outweigh the potential risks.

2. How Is Mammography Performed with Breast Implants?

Breast implants can obscure a portion of the breast tissue on standard mammographic images. Therefore, the technologist will utilize a specialized technique known as the Eklund technique (displacement technique) to visualize more breast tissue in patients with implants.

What Is the Eklund Technique?

The principle is straightforward: the technologist gently pushes the breast implant backward against the chest wall while pulling the breast tissue forward to position the tissue lying in front of the implant into the imaging field. As a result, the implant is separated from the breast tissue being examined, allowing for better visualization of the tissue and minimizing direct compression on the implant.

Depending on each case, both implant-included views and implant-displacement views may be required for each breast. Therefore, do not be concerned if you have more images taken compared to someone without implants. This is a standard part of the technique designed to capture more breast tissue.

3. Are There Other Screening Methods?

To evaluate breast tissue, various imaging modalities are available, including ultrasound, mammography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each method has unique purposes and advantages; thus, they complement one another and cannot completely replace each other.

For breast cancer screening, mammography retains its vital role. Women with breast implants should still undergo screening based on their age and risk level, similar to women without implants. Ultrasound and MRI can be utilized as supplementary tools for screening and evaluating breast implants, particularly when implant rupture is suspected.

4. What Should Women with Breast Implants Do Before the Procedure?

• Choose a medical facility with experience in performing mammography for women with breast implants.

• Inform the imaging facility that you have breast implants.

• Provide details regarding your implants, such as the implant type, placement location (subglandular vs. subpectoral), duration since placement, and number of previous procedures.

• If you experience swelling, pain, changes in breast or implant shape/size, or any abnormal symptoms prior to the scan, notify the technologist and physician immediately before the procedure.

5. References

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Breast Implant Adverse Events During Mammography.
• Brown SL, Ferlo Todd J, Luu H-MD. Breast implant adverse events during mammography: reports to the Food and Drug Administration. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2004;13(4):371–378. doi:10.1089/154099904323087042.
• American College of Radiology (ACR). ACR Practice Parameter for the Performance of Screening and Diagnostic Mammography.
• Eklund GW, Busby RC, Miller SH, Job JS. Improved imaging of the augmented breast. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1988;151:469–473.
• Bennett DL, Brown A, Freer PE, et al; Expert Panel on Breast Imaging. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Breast Implant Evaluation: Update 2025. J Am Coll Radiol. 2026;23(4):658–680. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2026.01.013.

The information above is for reference purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please contact your doctor for detailed medical consultation.