Why Do My Implants Feel Cold? The Surprising Science Behind the Sensation

September 30, 2025 •

4 min read

It is a strange but relatively common phenomenon for individuals with implants to report a cold sensation in the area of the device, particularly in colder temperatures. This feeling, while sometimes alarming, is rarely a cause for concern and is often explained by the inherent properties of the implant materials and the body's natural thermal regulation processes.

Quick Summary

The cold sensation reported by some implant patients, including those with breast, orthopedic, or dental devices, is often due to material properties and anatomical changes. In colder environments, non-biological materials can conduct and retain cold more readily than human tissue, or the sensation may be linked to surrounding nerve or tissue health, rather than a problem with the implant itself.

Key Points

Material Properties: Non-biological implant materials, such as silicone or metal, conduct and retain heat differently than living tissue, often feeling colder to the touch in cold environments.
Reduced Insulation: Breast implants, in particular, may feel cold because of reduced insulating fatty tissue and a lack of blood flow in the new breast volume.
Nerve Interactions: Surgical changes can affect how nerves perceive temperature, sometimes causing an altered or heightened cold sensation around the implant.
Dental Implant Sensitivity: A cold feeling near a dental implant is typically due to problems with surrounding tissues, like gum recession or infection (peri-implantitis), and not the implant itself, which has no nerves.
Orthopedic High Conductivity: Metal orthopedic implants have high thermal conductivity, meaning they absorb and lose heat faster than biological tissue, making them feel colder in low temperatures.
Normal Phenomenon: In most cases, experiencing a cold sensation in or around an implant is a harmless and temporary side effect of the device and ambient temperature fluctuations.
Seeking Medical Advice: If the cold sensation is accompanied by persistent pain, swelling, redness, or signs of infection, consult a doctor immediately to rule out complications.

The Anatomy and Physics of Temperature Sensation

Unlike living tissue, which has its own blood supply and complex thermal regulation, implants are non-living materials. This fundamental difference means they behave according to basic physical laws, specifically regarding heat conduction and insulation. The human body is excellent at maintaining a stable core temperature, but implants do not participate in this process directly. They act more like a thermal reservoir, cooling down when exposed to lower ambient temperatures and warming back up more slowly.

Breast Implants: Less Insulation, More Sensation

For those with breast implants, the cold sensation is most frequently reported. The primary cause is a lack of insulating tissue and blood flow. After a breast augmentation or reconstruction, the volume of natural, insulating fatty tissue and glandular tissue may be reduced, and the new implant has no internal blood supply. This leaves the implant's temperature more susceptible to the external environment. This effect is particularly noticeable in cold weather, air-conditioned rooms, or when swimming.

Additionally, the surgical process can affect nerve function. Damage to nerves during surgery can alter how a person perceives temperature, leading to a modified or sometimes intensified cold sensation. Fortunately, nerve irritation is often temporary and resolves with healing. The placement of the implant also plays a key role, with implants placed over the muscle (subglandular) having less natural insulation than those placed under the muscle (submuscular).

Orthopedic Implants: High Thermal Conductivity

Metal implants, such as those used for joint replacements or to fix fractures, have a much higher thermal conductivity than surrounding bone and soft tissue. This means that in a cold environment, the metal conducts heat away from the body more efficiently and can feel significantly colder than the surrounding tissue. In turn, the body responds by increasing blood flow to the area to replenish heat, but the metal can still feel persistently cold.

Joint Replacements: A new hip or knee can feel colder than the rest of the body on a winter day. The metal absorbs the cold, and the joint's proximity to the skin makes the temperature difference more noticeable.
Fracture Plates: Plates and screws used to stabilize bones are located close to the surface and can be particularly susceptible to temperature changes, resulting in a cold or aching sensation.

Dental Implants: Indirect Sensation

Unlike breast and orthopedic implants, a dental implant itself cannot feel temperature. The titanium post placed into the jawbone has no nerve endings. Therefore, if a person feels a cold sensation, it is coming from the surrounding oral structures. Common culprits include:

Gum Recession: When gum tissue pulls back, it can expose the sensitive root surface of an adjacent natural tooth, causing sensitivity to cold.
Peri-implantitis: This is an infection of the gum and bone around the implant. It can cause inflammation and discomfort that may be perceived as cold sensitivity.
Trapped Debris: Food particles or bacteria lodged around the implant can irritate the surrounding tissue, leading to sensitivity.
Nerve Damage: While rare, nerve damage from a poorly placed implant can cause abnormal sensations like tingling or burning that might be mistaken for cold.

Comparison of Implant Cold Sensation


Feature	Breast Implants	Orthopedic Implants	Dental Implants
Material	Silicone or saline shell	Metal alloys (titanium, cobalt-chrome)	Titanium or zirconia
Mechanism of Cold Sensation	Inefficient thermal regulation due to non-biological material; less insulating tissue and blood flow.	High thermal conductivity of metal; absorbs and dissipates heat more quickly than tissue.	Sensation is indirect; felt in surrounding nerves or tissue, not the implant itself.
Associated Symptoms	Tenderness, firmness in cold weather.	Pain or stiffness in the affected joint or bone.	Gum pain, sensitivity in adjacent teeth, tingling, or burning.
Timing of Sensation	Can occur anytime, especially in cold environments.	Can occur anytime, especially in cold environments.	Can occur anytime, often linked to oral hygiene or underlying issues.

Management and When to See a Doctor

For most implant recipients, the cold sensation is a benign and temporary phenomenon. Simple strategies can help manage the discomfort:

Dress Warmly: Wear extra layers, thermal bras, or scarves to protect the implant area from cold air exposure.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Limit prolonged exposure to cold weather, very cold pools, or hot tubs, which can exacerbate the sensation.
Ensure Proper Oral Hygiene: For dental implants, meticulous brushing and flossing can prevent infections and reduce sensitivity.

While most cases are harmless, it is important to contact your doctor if the cold sensation is accompanied by other worrying symptoms, such as persistent pain, swelling, redness, fever, or signs of infection. This is especially crucial for dental implant issues, as peri-implantitis requires prompt treatment.

Conclusion

The feeling of coldness in an implant is a real and common experience that is typically not a sign of a serious problem. It arises from the non-living nature of implant materials reacting to temperature changes differently than the body's natural tissues. For breast implants, it is a matter of insulation and nerve response. For orthopedic hardware, it is about thermal conductivity. For dental implants, the cold feeling is often an indication of an issue with the surrounding gums, teeth, or nerves rather than the implant itself. By understanding the specific reasons for your implant type and taking simple precautions, you can manage the sensation effectively. If discomfort persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, seeking medical advice is always the best course of action.

For more information on patient experiences and medical advice regarding implants, resources such as WomanLab provide valuable insights from other individuals dealing with similar concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is physically impossible for breast implants to freeze inside your body, even in extremely cold weather. The human body's core temperature is well above the freezing point of both saline and silicone, and the body's natural temperature regulation prevents this from happening.

Yes, it is very common and normal. This is because implants are not living tissue and lack the blood flow and fat insulation of natural breasts, making their temperature more susceptible to ambient conditions, such as cold weather or air conditioning.

Metal orthopedic implants feel cold because they have a higher thermal conductivity than surrounding human tissue. They absorb and transfer heat away from the body more quickly, making them feel colder during low ambient temperatures.

The dental implant itself, made of titanium, has no nerves and cannot feel cold. The sensation is typically caused by an issue with the surrounding tissue, such as gum recession, an infection like peri-implantitis, or sensitivity in an adjacent tooth.

Protecting the area from cold is the best way to prevent the sensation. For breast implants, wear extra layers of clothing or a thermal bra. For orthopedic implants, keep the area bundled up in cold weather.

You should contact your doctor if the cold sensation is accompanied by persistent pain, swelling, redness, heat, fever, or signs of infection. For dental implants, increasing sensitivity or throbbing pain should be evaluated by your dentist.

For breast implants, yes. Implants placed over the muscle have less natural insulation and are more likely to feel cooler to the touch compared to implants placed under the pectoral muscle, which are more protected from external temperature changes.