Your gift is 100% tax deductible.
Mammograms with Breast Implants
If you have breast tissue, you should get regular screening mammograms. However, it’s important to tell the technologist about implants or prior breast surgeries before you go to your appointment so that the right pictures can be done.
Do all women with breast implants need mammograms?
If you have breast implants, you should still get regular screening mammograms as recommended unless you had your breast tissue removed with a bilateral mastectomy before getting the implants.
See Mammograms After Breast Surgery for more information about getting mammograms after a mastectomy.
Should I tell the mammogram technologist I have implants?
It’s best to mention you have breast implants when you make the appointment to have your mammogram done. This way you can find out whether the facility has experience doing mammograms in women with breast implants.
If not already noted, it’s important to tell the technologist doing your mammogram that you have implants before your mammogram starts.
What to expect when getting a mammogram with implants
You should be aware that both silicone and saline implants can make it hard for the doctor to see the breast tissue that is in line with them on the mammogram.
To help the doctor see as much breast tissue as possible, women with implants have 4 extra pictures done (2 on each breast), as well as the 4 standard pictures taken during a screening mammogram.
In these extra pictures, called implant displacement (ID) views, the implant is pushed back against the chest wall, and the breast is pulled forward over it and then compressed. This allows better imaging of the front part of each breast so the doctor can get a better look at the breast tissue.
ID views are harder to do and can be uncomfortable if areas of scar tissue called contractures have formed around the implants. ID views are easier if the implants were placed underneath (behind) the chest muscles.
Can mammograms rupture breast implants??
Very rarely, the mammogram process can rupture an implant. This is another important reason to make sure the mammography facility knows you have implants.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the 黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the 黑料大湿Posts Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Eklund GW, Busby RC, Miller SH, Job JS. Improved imaging of the augmented breast. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1988;151(3):469-473.
Elmore JG, Lee CI. Screening for breast cancer: Strategies and recommendations. UpToDate. 2026. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/screening-for-breast-cancer-strategies-and-recommendations on April 13, 2026.
Nahabedian M. Implant-based breast reconstruction and augmentation. UpToDate. 2026. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/implant-based-breast-reconstruction-and-augmentation on April 13, 2026.
Last Revised: July 23, 2026
黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the 黑料大湿Posts Cancer Society.
