Can TSA see implants?

Inform the TSA officer that you have an artificial knee, hip, other metal implant or a pacemaker, defibrillator or other internal medical device. You should not be screened by a walk-through metal detector if you have an internal medical device such as a pacemaker. Consult with your physician prior to flying.



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Newer airport security body scanners detect all objects between the scanner and the skin, and while they are able to recognize clothing, they are unable to identify silicone breast forms. If you are wearing a prosthesis it could therefore trigger an alarm.

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Dental Implants and Full-Body Scanners Backscatter machines use low-level radiation, similar to the radiation that makes X-Rays possible. Both types of scanners may detect your dental implants. However, the TSA agent reviewing the images is unlikely to flag you.

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Belt buckles, key chains and smartphones may set off sensitive metal detectors at airport security checkpoints. Many commonly used orthopedic implants may also set off the metal detectors. Over 90% of implanted total hip and knee arthroplasty devices will set off airport metal detectors.

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You may have heard about breast implants exploding at high altitudes – this is just a myth! It is completely safe to fly not too long after breast enlargement surgery with silicone breast implants. In fact, many of our breast enlargement patients have been Air Hostesses or Pilots and had no problems at all.

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We suggest you wait 10–14 days before traveling if you have several dental implants or a more complicated procedure. It just means that there are potential problems that can come up and cause disruption, not that you cannot fly.

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Usually, a patient is advised to avoid travel for at least two weeks after breast augmentation. If you have a trip scheduled, you should consult with your breast implant plastic surgeon.

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Inform the TSA officer that you have an artificial knee, hip, other metal implant or a pacemaker, defibrillator or other internal medical device. You should not be screened by a walk-through metal detector if you have an internal medical device such as a pacemaker. Consult with your physician prior to flying.

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Backscatter X-rays are designed to show hidden objects beneath clothing or luggage. They can detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, ranging from guns to foods and plastics.

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Airport security body scanners detect all objects between the scanner and the skin; and whilst they are able to recognise clothing they are unable to identify silicone breast forms. If you are wearing a prosthesis it could therefore trigger an alarm.

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Silicone is an invisible material by radiographic examination. It is non-metallic and is a pure element (#14 on the Periodic Table) of which it is not 'seen' by standard x-ray images. It would be detectable by CT and MRI scans but these are not what the airports use for body scanning.

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In spite of the fact that the scanners can see the density and mass of everything that you have packed, they are not always able to establish what the objects are. In this case, if your luggage contains objects that arouse any suspicions then, the security will take a look through the bag.

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Body scanners are looking for items that could be potential threats; they're not looking at your physical body. The TSOs see “a generic human form—or avatar—to ensure passenger privacy while maintaining security effectiveness,” Langston says. This looks kind of like a gingerbread man or paper doll.

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Full-body scanners are used to detect threatening items and contraband such as weapons, explosives, and drugs under multiple layers of clothing. While there are a few different types of full-body scanners, the most common is the millimeter wave scanner.

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These modalities can detect both inflammatory and destructive changes.

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