When a family chooses cremation, the questions usually start out practical—paperwork, timing, and what happens next. Then a more personal detail surfaces, often quietly: “She had breast implants. Does that change anything?” If you’re asking, you’re not alone. It’s a common part of modern funeral planning, and it deserves a clear, non-alarming answer.
In most cases, breast implants do not create the same safety risk as battery-powered medical devices. But they can affect how a cremation is handled operationally, and they can matter to families who have cremation emissions concerns or who want to make environmentally mindful choices. The most helpful approach is simple: disclose what you know, ask a few direct questions, and let the crematory explain their policy in plain language—before the day of cremation.
Why crematories ask about implants in the first place
Cremation authorization forms often include questions about implants because some devices can be hazardous in the retort. Pacemakers, defibrillators, certain pumps, and radioactive implants can pose safety and environmental issues if they are not removed. For example, New York’s Department of State notes that crematories may require a signed statement that remains do not contain pacemakers or certain medical or radioactive implants, and they may refuse cremation if that statement is not provided. Department of State
Breast implants sit in a different category than “hazardous implants” like devices with batteries or radioactive components. Still, some crematories ask about them because implants can affect what operators see and smell during the process, how the chamber is cleaned afterward, and how they manage their environmental controls. In other words: disclosure is less about “danger” and more about making sure the cremation is handled smoothly and respectfully.
What happens to silicone breast implants during cremation
Families often imagine an implant as a rigid object that stays intact. In reality, the heat of cremation is intense, and materials behave differently under that thermal stress. Modern cremation equipment is designed to complete combustion efficiently, and many systems rely on a primary chamber for the main process and a secondary chamber (often called an afterburner) to further burn off combustion gases and reduce visible smoke and odor. Local rules can set minimum operating requirements for that secondary chamber. For example, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation crematory operator training manual explains that permits and registrations rely on equipment specifications demonstrating the unit is designed to meet requirements such as temperature and exhaust gas retention time.
So what does that mean for silicone implants cremation questions? Silicone is an organic polymer, and in the retort it generally degrades, melts, and combusts as the cremation progresses. If an implant includes metal components (for example, a small port in some expanders), those non-combustible pieces may remain and be handled the way other metals are handled after cremation—separated from cremated remains during processing.
It’s also why you may hear different answers depending on where you call. Some providers routinely cremate with implants in place. Others prefer removal ahead of time—especially if they’ve had experience with residue, odor complaints, or extra cleanup. In a few jurisdictions or facilities, policies can be stricter, and a provider may ask for removal based on their own operational rules rather than a universal requirement. The key point is that “should implants be removed” is often a policy question, not a physics question.
What “removal vs leaving in place” can mean operationally
If a provider recommends removal, it is usually about one of three things. First, the crematory may want to avoid any chance of silicone residue adhering to the chamber or mixing with other byproducts, which can mean more cleaning time. Second, they may be responding to local expectations around odor or smoke—especially in densely populated areas where neighbors are sensitive to any smell. Third, they may be managing uncertainty: if the implant type is unknown, they may default to a cautious approach.
If implants are left in place, many crematories proceed with routine operational adjustments (such as timing, airflow, and fuel management) so the cremation remains steady. Families don’t need to know every technical detail, but you do deserve the reassurance that modern best practices are designed to keep the process controlled and dignified.
Emissions and odor: what’s real, what’s reasonable to ask
It’s completely understandable to worry about emissions—especially if you’re planning for someone who cared deeply about the environment, or if your family is choosing cremation while feeling uneasy about air quality. It helps to know that emissions from cremation come from multiple sources, and many of the biggest concerns are not unique to implants. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s technical documentation on the National Emissions Inventory discusses how human cremation emissions can include pollutants such as mercury, with mercury emissions including contributions from dental amalgam. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
That doesn’t mean implants are irrelevant—it means it’s wise to think of implants as one detail inside a broader emissions picture. The practical questions to ask are about the facility’s controls and compliance. Many crematories use a secondary chamber to further combust gases, which helps minimize smoke and odor. An emissions guidance note from the New South Wales EPA describes the role of a secondary chamber (afterburner) in minimizing smoke, odor, and other air emissions. NSW Environment Protection Authority
When families say cremation emissions concerns, they often mean a few specific fears: visible smoke, noticeable odor, and “what’s being released.” You can’t control every variable, but you can choose a provider who answers clearly and treats your questions respectfully. If a funeral home or crematory seems dismissive, it’s okay to call another provider. Compassion includes transparency.
Environmental questions that are worth asking without feeling “difficult”
Here are a few questions that are brief, reasonable, and easy to document in your planning notes:
- Do you require removal for breast implants, or can they remain in place?
- If implant type is unknown, what is your default policy and why?
- What emissions controls does your crematory use (secondary chamber, filtration, monitoring)?
- Do you operate under a local air-quality permit, and can you explain what it requires in plain language?
- If we have special concerns about odor or emissions, are there scheduling or operational options you recommend?
- How do you handle metal recovery and processing after cremation?
Notice what isn’t on the list: you don’t need to interrogate the staff or ask for engineering-level specifications. You’re simply asking, “What do you do, and what do you need from us?” That is exactly what disclosure is for.
How this connects to urn choices and what happens after the cremation
Implants can feel like the “technical” part of cremation planning, but families often realize the next chapter is emotional: deciding what to do with ashes. This is where options like cremation urns, cremation urns for ashes, and meaningful keepsakes become part of a family’s healing, not just a purchase decision.
If you’re still exploring, Funeral.com’s cremation urns for ashes collection is a helpful place to see the range of styles without forcing a decision. Some families want a traditional urn that becomes a home memorial. Others want something more discreet, or something that allows sharing among siblings.
Keeping ashes at home, and choosing the right size
Keeping ashes at home can be comforting—especially in the first weeks when everything still feels unreal. If that’s your plan (even temporarily), it helps to choose an urn with a stable base, a secure closure, and a placement spot that feels respectful and safe. Funeral.com’s guide on keeping ashes at home walks through practical concerns like visitors, children, pets, and humidity in a way that tends to calm the nervous system rather than add pressure.
If space is limited or you’re dividing ashes, small cremation urns can be a thoughtful fit. Funeral.com’s small cremation urns collection focuses on compact options that still feel “urn-like,” while the keepsake urns collection is designed for smaller portions meant for sharing or personal remembrance.
Cremation jewelry: when closeness matters more than a location
Some grief doesn’t stay in one place. If you’re someone who feels steadier with a tangible reminder close by, cremation jewelry can be a meaningful bridge between daily life and memory. Families often start by browsing cremation jewelry or focusing specifically on cremation necklaces when they want something wearable and private. If you’d like a practical overview of seals, filling, and what to expect long term, Funeral.com’s cremation necklace guide explains the basics in plain language.
Pet urns and “two kinds of grief” in one season
Families don’t always grieve one loss at a time. If your household is also carrying the recent loss of a companion animal, you may find yourself looking for pet urns and pet urns for ashes alongside decisions for a person you love. Funeral.com’s pet urns for ashes collection includes classic styles as well as specialized options like pet figurine cremation urns and pet keepsake cremation urns. There’s no “right” way to memorialize a pet—only the way that best reflects the relationship.
Water burial and biodegradable options
If the person you’re honoring loved the ocean, a lake, or a river, a water burial (often meaning a biodegradable urn or a structured sea-scattering ceremony) can feel deeply fitting. If this is part of your plan, Funeral.com’s guide to water burial urns explains the difference between surface scattering and a dissolving urn that sinks and releases more gradually.
Cost planning: where implants fit, and what families usually pay
Another reason implant questions come up is that families are trying to avoid surprise fees. Some providers may charge for removal of certain devices, especially when specialized handling is needed. Breast implant removal policies vary, so it’s appropriate to ask whether there is any cost difference based on implant type and whether documentation is required.
And because decisions tend to stack up quickly, cost questions often broaden into: how much does cremation cost, and how do urn and memorial choices fit into the total? Funeral.com’s how much does cremation cost guide breaks down the common fees families see and how choices like an urn, keepsakes, and jewelry can change the overall budget without turning the process into a sales conversation.
A steady way to make these decisions in real life
If you’re handling arrangements now, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s clarity. Ask what needs to be disclosed, write down the answers, and don’t hesitate to request the policy in writing if it helps your family feel secure. If you’re planning ahead, consider adding implant details (type if known, approximate date, and whether the family wants removal discussed) to your planning notes. That small act can save your loved ones stress later.
It can also help to remember why cremation is such a common choice today. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025, reflecting how many families are choosing cremation for flexibility, cost, and personal meaning. And the Cremation Association of North America has documented how cremation has grown past 60% with growth rates changing as cremation becomes the norm. Those numbers don’t erase grief—but they do reassure you that you’re navigating a well-established pathway, not an unusual one.
If you want a single place to revisit the “what must be removed” question—jewelry, implants, batteries, and special items—Funeral.com’s guide on what can’t be cremated can help you align expectations with the provider’s process before anything feels rushed.
In the end, the best cremation decisions tend to be the ones that are made slowly enough to feel like care. Disclose what you know about implants, ask about emissions controls if they matter to your family, and then give yourself permission to focus on what matters most: honoring a life, and choosing a memorial—whether that’s an urn at home, a keepsake shared among siblings, a necklace worn close, or a water ceremony—that makes the love feel real.
