Diving with Breast Implants

Question:

I am a near 50 year old female advanced diver. I only started diving a couple of years ago and became addicted on my first five. I'm considering having breast plants and am aware that there is the chance of complications occurring from any type of surgery, but was wondering if you could advise of any known problems with diving post breast implant surgery in particular.

Answer:

Once sufficient time has passed after surgery, when the diver has resumed normal activities and there is no danger of infection, she may begin scuba diving. Breast implants do not pose a problem to diving from the standpoint of gas absorption or changes in size and are not a contraindication for participation in recreational scuba diving.

Avoid buoyancy compensators with constrictive chest straps, which can put undue pressure on the seams and contribute to risk of rupture.

Additional Considerations:

Breast implants filled with saline are neutrally buoyant. Silicone implants are heavier than water, however, and they may alter buoyancy and attitude (trim) in the water, particularly if the implants are large. Appropriate training and appropriate adjustment of weights help overcome these difficulties.