Do silicone implants obscure mammograms?
Cecilia Brennecke, M.D.: X-rays cannot penetrate silicone, so silicone implants do limit our ability to see. This is also true for women who have not had cancer but who have had breast augmentation surgery. But if the implant is placed behind the pectoral muscle, our visibility is not limited. So it is beneficial to have the implant placement behind the area where breast tissue would be.
