Are Infrared Lights Harmful to Breast Implants I.e. Silicone?

Question

Breast implants, i.e. silicone.

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

Infrared energy exists in the invisible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from about 780 nanometers to 3,000 nanometers (near infrared) up to wavelengths of 5,000 to 10,000 nanometers (far infrared). Nd:YAG surgical lasers operate in the near infrared (1064nm) and CO2 lasers at 10,600nm in the far infrared.

	French fry lamps at your local fast food joint utilize broadband infrared bulbs that operate in the visible red and near infrared wavelengths to keep food warm. Quartz rod infrared emitters are used in patio and garage heaters, and work much the same way.

	If enough infrared energy was able to penetrate to the depth of any woman's breast implants (even a very thin woman with virtually no breast tissue of her own), her own tissues would be damaged first (thermal burns). So even if breast skin is exposed to intense enough infrared energy to burn the skin, very little energy gets deep enough to even heat the silicone implants a tiny bit. Nothing to worry about at all!

	And think about it--don't you have silicone oven mitts or silicone spatulas or silicone handles on certain kinds of ovenware that suffer no damage until heated above 600 degrees? That would be some serious infrared exposure; enough to truly cause severe burns to the patient but NO damage to her implants!

John J. Corey, MD · Answer

I don's see how silicone breast implants could be affected by infrared light but at the same time, I don't know of any study that looked at that and really don't have a good reason as to why anyone would do a study like that either!!! So that kind of falls into the category of "Doubt it, but who knows"!!!

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

We are exposed to the full spectrum of radiation every day. infrared radiation is commnl used in warming and heating devices as well as beng emitted by th sun. There is no evidence that it cases any harm.

Are Infrared Lights Harmful to Breast Implants I.e. Silicone?

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Are Infrared Lights Harmful to Breast Implants I.e. Silicone?

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.