Connie —

The Catholic Church teaches that we have a duty to preserve our bodily and functional integrity.

"The functional integrity of the person may be sacrificed to preserve the life or health of the person when no other morally permissible means is available."

Ethical and Religious Directives, #29

Breast implants often destroy the nursing function of the female breast, and would thus be immoral. If there were a type of implant which would not destroy the mammary function, then it would be permissible, as long as it was not done out of vanity or to incite lust.

An implant would be moral, for instance, when a woman has lost a breast because of cancer or an accident, and thus has already lost mammary function and is using the implant to remedy disfigurement.

Mary Ann

Hi, Connie —

Thank you for your question.

The Church has not ruled on this specifically but one should consider the underlying reason for the implants. If it is for the sake of vanity or insecurity, then those issues need to be dealt with.

Vanity is a form of sinful pride. Insecurity, although seemingly opposite, is still related to vanity and changing one's body to feel better about oneself can lead to a vicious cycle.

That said, implants are sometimes used, not as enhancements, but in cases where breasts have been surgically removed to remove cancer. In those cases, they serve to correct a deformity which was brought about because of illness.

I hope this helps,

John D.