Mammograms with Breast Implants
Breast Cancer Awareness Month · October · Smiley Aesthetics Cosmetic Surgery Center · Reviewed by Dr. Noah Ehinger, M.D. · October 2026
Mammograms with breast implants are still recommended. Having implants doesn't mean you can skip your screening. Here's how screening works with implants, what to tell your imaging center, and the separate implant check-ups you may need.
Every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds us how much early detection matters. Many of our breast augmentation patients at the Smiley Aesthetics Cosmetic Surgery Center in Nashville ask the same questions: Can I still get a mammogram? Will it hurt my implants? Will the radiologist be able to see everything?
The short answers are yes, rarely, and mostly — as long as your imaging team knows your implants are there.
- 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime
- 321,910 new invasive breast cancer cases expected in U.S. women in 2026
- 42,140 U.S. women expected to die from breast cancer in 2026
- 4M+ breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. today
Source: American Cancer Society, Key Statistics for Breast Cancer (2026 estimates)
Why early detection matters
Breast cancer is far more treatable when it's found before it spreads. National cancer data show that when breast cancer is caught while it's still confined to the breast, five-year relative survival is essentially the same as for women without cancer. Once it has spread to distant organs, that number drops to about one in three.
| Stage at diagnosis | Where the cancer is | Share of cases |
|---|---|---|
| Localized | Only in the breast | 64% |
| Regional | Nearby lymph nodes | 27% |
| Distant | Spread to other organs | 6% |
Source: National Cancer Institute, SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer (U.S. women diagnosed 2016–2022). "Relative survival" compares women with breast cancer to women in the general population; 100% means survival equal to the general population, not that no one died. Stage unknown (2% of cases) not shown.
Mammograms are how most of those early, localized cancers are found — often before a lump can be felt.
When should you start mammograms?
Major medical organizations don't all agree on exactly when to start or how often to go. For women at average risk: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (April 2024) recommends a mammogram every 2 years from ages 40–74. The American Cancer Society says women can choose to start yearly screening at 40–44, should screen every year from 45–54, and can then switch to every 2 years or continue yearly while in good health. The American College of Radiology recommends yearly screening starting at 40. Women at higher risk (for example, BRCA gene changes or chest radiation before age 30) may need to start earlier and add breast MRI.
The best plan is the one you and your doctor agree on based on your personal and family history. What matters most: having breast implants does not move you off the schedule. The American Cancer Society says women with implants should keep getting regular screening mammograms. The only exception is someone who had all of her breast tissue removed with a bilateral mastectomy before getting implants.
How a mammogram works when you have implants
Both saline and silicone implants block X-rays, so they can hide some of the breast tissue in front of or behind them. To see around the implant, the technologist takes extra pictures called implant displacement views (you may also hear them called "Eklund views"). The implant is gently pushed back against the chest wall and the breast tissue is pulled forward over it, so only breast tissue is compressed.
More pictures, better look
A typical screening mammogram takes two pictures of each breast (4 total). With implants, the American Cancer Society says to expect four more: standard views plus four implant displacement views (8 total).
Source: American Cancer Society, Mammograms with Breast Implants (revised July 2026).
Does implant placement matter?
Yes. According to the American Cancer Society, displacement views are easier when implants sit under the chest muscle. They're harder to do, and can be uncomfortable, if firm scar tissue (called capsular contracture) has formed around the implants. That's one more reason to share your surgical details with your imaging center.
Can a mammogram rupture my implant?
It's very rare, but it can happen. The American Cancer Society notes that "very rarely, the mammogram process can rupture an implant," which is exactly why the facility needs to know about your implants before the exam begins.
Do implants raise my risk of breast cancer?
According to Mayo Clinic, studies suggest people with breast implants are not at higher risk of developing breast cancer. There are two rare cancers linked to implants. They develop in the tissue around the implant, not in the breast tissue itself. They're covered below.
Before your mammogram
- Tell the scheduler you have implants when you book, so the facility can plan for the extra views.
- Tell the technologist again before the exam starts. The ACS and the FDA both stress this step.
- Know your implant details: saline or silicone, placement (over or under the muscle), and the year of surgery. Your implant device card has most of this.
- Mention any changes you've noticed: new lumps, swelling, pain, or a change in the shape or feel of either breast.
Thinking about breast augmentation?
If you're at an age where screening is recommended for you, bring it up at your consultation. Being current on your mammogram before surgery gives you and your care team a clear picture of your breast health going in, and a baseline to compare with later. Dr. Ehinger will review your history and tell you whether you need imaging before your procedure.
Mammograms vs. implant check-ups: two different jobs
A mammogram screens your breast tissue for cancer. It isn't designed to check the implant itself. Silicone implants can rupture "silently," with no symptoms, so the FDA recommends a separate screening schedule for silicone implant patients: an MRI or ultrasound first at 5–6 years after surgery, then every 2–3 years, whether or not you have symptoms.
Source: FDA 2020 breast implant labeling recommendations, as summarized by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This schedule applies to silicone implants. Per the FDA, a saline rupture is usually noticeable because the implant deflates.
The FDA also reminds patients that breast implants are not lifetime devices. The longer you have them, the more likely complications become. Routine follow-up with your plastic surgeon is part of long-term implant care.
A rare implant-related cancer: BIA-ALCL
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is not breast cancer. It's a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, that can develop in the scar tissue and fluid around an implant. The FDA reports that it occurs more often with textured implants than smooth ones.
Of 1,380 unique medical device reports worldwide through June 30, 2024: textured 1,010 (73%), unknown 330 (24%), smooth 40 (3%).
Source: FDA, Medical Device Reports of BIA-ALCL. The FDA notes these are voluntary reports and can't be used to calculate how often BIA-ALCL occurs. 64 deaths were reported in the same period. ASPS estimates incidence at 1 in 3,817 to 1 in 30,000 patients with textured implants.
The FDA advises watching for persistent swelling or pain, or other changes in the area around your implant. Mayo Clinic also lists an even rarer cancer, breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC), that can form in the capsule around the implant. If you notice new swelling, a lump, or a change in one breast, call our cosmetic surgery office. Don't wait for your next routine visit.
The bottom line
- Keep your mammogram schedule. Implants don't replace or delay breast cancer screening.
- Always say "I have implants" when you book and again before the exam.
- Expect extra pictures. Displacement views help the radiologist see more of your breast tissue.
- Silicone implants need their own check-ups. MRI or ultrasound starting 5–6 years after surgery, then every 2–3 years.
- Know your body. Report new swelling, lumps, pain, or shape changes promptly.
Questions about your implants or your screening plan? Our team at Smiley Aesthetics Cosmetic Surgery Center is here to help this October and every month. Contact our Nashville cosmetic surgery center to schedule a consultation or post-op check with Dr. Noah Ehinger.
Sources
- American Cancer Society — Key Statistics for Breast Cancer
- National Cancer Institute SEER — Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — Breast Cancer: Screening (2024)
- American Cancer Society — Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer
- Breastcancer.org — Mammogram Screening Guidelines (ACR summary)
- American College of Physicians — 2026 Screening Guidance
- American Cancer Society — Mammograms with Breast Implants
- FDA — What to Know About Breast Implants
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Breast Implant Safety
- FDA — Medical Device Reports of BIA-ALCL
- Mayo Clinic — Breast implants and cancer: Any connection?
This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about the screening plan that's right for you.
