Inform the TSA officer that you have an artificial knee, hip, other metal implant or a pacemaker, defibrillator or other internal medical device.
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It's wise but not necessary to have some documentation of your joint replacement. You have a couple of options: TSA notification. The TSA website offers a card that you can fill out, simply adding a description of your joint replacement.
Many commonly used orthopaedic implants may also set off the metal detectors. Over 90% of implanted total hip and knee arthroplasty devices will set off airport metal detectors.
WILL MY JOINT REPLACEMENT SET OFF THE METAL DETECTOR? “Probably. A survey of hip replacement patients revealed that 8 out of 10 of them triggered the metal detector,” says McLeod Orthopedic Specialist Dr. Rodney Alan.
You may be concerned about travelling with your breast prosthesis. It's safe to wear or carry a prosthesis on an aeroplane – the change in altitude and air pressure doesn't affect the prosthesis. Most international airports have full-body scanners, which will detect the prosthesis.
After you send your carry-on and personal items through the scanner, inform the TSA officer that you have a metal implant. Opt to go through the body scanner. Alternatively, you may choose a pat-down. Be patient if the TSA officer asks to use a wand around your artificial joint (Healio).
Other things that accidentally set off body scanners are body piercings and wire supports in undergarments. External tumors might also trigger the machine, but growths inside—such as fibroids—will not. “Perspiration is probably the weirdest thing that can set off the scanners,” Malvini Redden says.