Can You Go Through Airport Security with Metal Implants?

Many people end up with orthopedic implants after accidents or artificial joints such as knees and hips after joint replacement surgery. Most of these are made from Titanium and other metals.

It is not surprising that they may then wonder if they will set off the alarms when they walk through metal detectors at airport security. I know I did after my arm surgery.

The Quick Answer: Generally, you can go through airport security if you have metal implants in your body without a problem. But you should be aware that there is a small chance that you may set off the alarm when you pass through particularly sensitive metal detectors. If that happens then you may require a further screening check by TSA officers.

Generally, metal jewelry, particularly gold, does not set off the metal detector alarms and neither do underwired bras but it is not unusual for metal belt buckles, coins or some other types of metal object in pockets to set them off.

However, metal implants are another matter.

Does titanium set off metal detectors?

Most airport metal detectors create an electromagnetic field and this reacts with metals that are or can be magnetic and set off the alarm if they are detected.

Metal detectors will not be set off by titanium implants as it is a non-magnetic metal.

This passenger is asking the TSA, using their Twitter service, on behalf of her mother who was going to be flying with various orthopedic implants including a titanium knee, a metal plate and screws in her arm (just like mine) as well as surgical clips.

My experience of flying with a metal implant

I have first-hand experience of going through airport metal detectors with metal implants. I have lots of metal parts, including a plate, screws and wire, in my right arm due to surgery after a serious injury to my elbow when I was in the police force.

The first time I flew after that I was actually quite disappointed that I didn’t set off the alarm when I went through the airport metal detector.

I have flown many times since then and have never set off any metal detector alarms in any of the numerous countries of the world I have visited since then – so far anyway.

I also have two dental implants and they do not set off the alarms at airports either.

Does surgical steel set off metal detectors?

Surgical steel (stainless steel) can potentially set off metal detector alarms. However, although it contains iron, it is an inert metal with poor electrical/magnetic conductivity (which is why it is used surgically) the probability of that happening is low.

Some of the metal in my arm is surgical steel and I have never set off an alarm.

Will surgical screws set off metal detectors?

Surgical screws will not normally set off the metal detectors at airport security as they are normally made of stainless steel or surgical steel, which is non-magnetic.

As you can see in the x-ray of my arm above, I have many surgical screws and have never set off an alarm.

Do dental implants set off metal detectors?

If you have dental implants then it is very unlikely that you will ever have a problem going through airport security metal detectors and require further security checks by security staff.

The main reason is that most dental implants are made of titanium and increasingly Zirconia. Both are non-magnetic.

I have two dental implants and have never set off any airport metal detector alarms.

What does the TSA say about metal implants?

Surprisingly, there is very little on the Transportation Security Administration website about passing through the airport security checkpoint with medical orthopedic implants but they do state that you should “Inform the TSA officer that you have an artificial knee, hip, other metal implant or a pacemaker, defibrillator or other internal medical devices.”

So before you walk through one of the metal detectors attract the attention of a security agent and inform him/her what type of implant you have and where it is located.

If you do go through and set off an alarm and you have a scar that is easy to show the security agent (perhaps on your arm like I have) then that will probably suffice.

You may be asked to pass through one of the body scanners (advanced imaging technology scanners), also known as millimeter wave scanners (see Wikipedia) or they may just carry out additional screening by manual security checks using a metal detecting wand (hand held metal detectors).

You can choose not to use one of these machines as the TSA state “If you choose to not be screened through the advanced imaging technology or you alarm the walk-through metal detector, you will undergo a pat-down screening instead.”

What if you have a pacemaker?

The TSA states on its website that “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.” Obviously, you should also inform the security agent.

You can also use the TSA Cares service, as stated in the TSA’s reply below, by calling 855-787-2227 to ask any specific questions and get advice when flying with a medical implant.

Surgical implants and metal detector studies

There have been a number of studies carried out on people with implants made of commonly implanted orthopedic materials to see if they set off the alarm on most metal detectors or with a metal detecting wand.

Most studies concluded that, with a few exceptions, orthopedic implants did not set off an alarm when passing through a metal detector.

A few studies (see Detection of orthopaedic implants by airport metal detectors) noted that invariably those with “Richards cannulated screws” set off the alarm.

FAQs

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