Breast Augmentation and Breast Screening

If you have had a breast augmentation, at some point you will no doubt wonder whether your breast implants affect the breast cancer screening programme. Our plastic surgeons are also often – and rightly – asked this question during a first consultation for a breast augmentation. In this blog, we explain which changes you should take into account when having a breast examination after a breast augmentation.

Breast examination after placement of implants

Breast cancer remains one of the most common forms of cancer in women. Having implants placed has no effect on the chance of developing breast cancer. It is therefore always important to have a breast examination carried out regularly by a professional and to do self-examination.

How do breast implants affect breast examination?

Having breast implants placed makes carrying out a breast examination slightly more complicated, but certainly not impossible. We often hear that women think that after silicone gel has been placed, an X-ray is no longer possible. The silicone gel would supposedly block the radiation. However, this is not true.
X-rays have no effect on the implant. Silicone gel is not sensitive to the radiation, and the shell containing the gel is not affected by the radiation. X-ray examination remains possible after a breast augmentation too. These examinations give the specialist valuable insight into any cancer cells that may have developed.

Breast examination after a breast augmentation

If you have not had a breast augmentation, the breast cancer screening programme is set up so that two images per breast are taken during the first examination. At subsequent examinations, only one image per breast is taken.

This changes if you have a breast implant. Then two X-rays per breast are always taken. This is done because part of the breast tissue that lies behind the implant is not clearly visible in the images. By taking two images of your breast, we overcome this problem. So always mention during the breast examination that you have a breast implant. The nurse and doctors can then take this into account.

Other techniques for a breast examination

Is it still not entirely clear after two images have been taken whether any abnormalities are visible in the tissue? Then an ultrasound or an MRI scan is also perfectly possible if you have breast implants. These more extensive examinations are not offered to you free of charge as part of the breast cancer screening programme, but in case of doubt they can provide relevant additional information.

Keep checking

Whether you have breast implants or not, regularly checking your own breasts is and always will be important! If in doubt, you can of course always contact us.