Preservé Breast Augmentation
A Different Approach to Breast Augmentation
Smaller incisions. A minimally invasive approach. Faster recovery. And, the possibility of avoiding anesthesia. These are just some of the advantages that set Preservé apart.
Preservé by Motiva is a refined breast augmentation technique that changes how the implant pocket is created, not just what implant goes in. Rather than lifting or cutting into the pectoral muscle to make room for the implant, Preservé uses a specialized system to gently separate and expand the breast’s own tissue layers, creating a precise pocket above the muscle. The result is a procedure built around disturbing less of your natural anatomy — while still delivering the fuller, more balanced breast shape many women are looking for.
Preservé is performed exclusively with Motiva’s Ergonomix implants, which are engineered to move and settle more like natural breast tissue. Together, the technique and the implant are designed to work with your body’s existing structure rather than against it.
At Finn Plastic Surgery, Dr. Elkins-Williams, our double board certified plastic surgeon, offers Preservé as an option for patients who are candidates for a muscle-sparing approach and who want to understand every technique available to them before deciding on their breast augmentation plan.
How Preservé Differs from Traditional Augmentation
In a traditional submuscular breast augmentation, the surgeon lifts a portion of the chest muscle to place the implant partially beneath it. This is a well-established technique with a long track record — but it does mean the muscle itself is involved in the surgery and needs time to recover.
Preservé takes a different path. Using a guided separator and a controlled expansion balloon, Dr. Elkins-Williams creates the implant pocket by gently working between the tissue layers above the muscle, rather than lifting the muscle itself. This approach has benefits in two time frames:
- Early on, there is less post-operative tightness across the chest, and less swelling. Patients are cleared to everyday activities within 24-48 hours after surgery. Pain medication is typically unnecessary, and full exercise is allowed within 4 weeks.
- Later on, because the body’s natural breast ligaments have been preserved, the implant is less likely to become displaced over time.
The key difference in Preservé is the technique of placing the implant – one that is all about tissue preservation rather than broader dissection.
Who Is a Candidate for Preservé?
In general, good candidates tend to have:
- Enough of their own breast tissue to comfortably support and camouflage an above-the-muscle implant
- Realistic goals around a moderate, proportional size increase rather than a dramatic jump in volume
- An interest in a muscle-sparing recovery and are prioritizing that trade-off in how they choose their technique
Patients who want a very large implant, who have very little natural breast tissue, or who are also correcting significant sagging may be better suited to a different technique — Dr. Elkins-Williams will walk you through your other options if Preservé isn’t the ideal match for your anatomy.
Preservé is for primary augmentations, and not for revision breast surgery.
What Happens at Your Preservé Consultation
Your consultation will start much like any augmentation consultation: a conversation about your goals, a review of your health history, and a physical exam to assess your existing breast tissue, skin quality, and chest wall anatomy. From there, Dr. Elkins-Williams will specifically evaluate whether your tissue characteristics make you a good candidate for the tissue-sparing Preservé approach versus a traditional technique.
Using our Crisalix 3D imaging system, you’ll be able to see simulated outcomes at different implant sizes. By the end of the visit, you should have a clear picture of whether Preservé is right for you — and if it’s not, exactly why, along with what we would recommend instead.
Preparing for Surgery
If you move forward with Preservé, your pre-operative appointment will cover the same ground as any augmentation — reviewing consent forms, confirming your implant selection, and going over medications and supplements to pause beforehand (blood thinners, aspirin, NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen, and supplements such as Vitamin E and fish oil should be stopped roughly two weeks prior). Your pre-op nurse will give you a complete list specific to your health history.
Recovery After Preservé
Because Preservé avoids lifting or cutting the pectoral muscle, many patients describe their early recovery as noticeably more comfortable than what they’d expected from a traditional augmentation. That said, this is still a surgical procedure, and individual recovery varies.
What you can generally expect:
- A soft post-operative bra with no drains
- The ability to resume light daily activities and short walks within the first day or two
- Reduced early tightness across the chest compared to submuscular placement, since the muscle wasn’t disturbed
- A gradual return to exercise, with full strength training and upper-body activity reintroduced under Dr. Elkins-Williams’s guidance after about 4 weeks
- Swelling settling over the following weeks as your results continue to refine
We’ll give you a personalized recovery timeline at your pre-op appointment, since implant size, tissue characteristics, and your own healing pace all factor in.
Is Preservé Right for You?
The best way to know is by having a conversation with Dr. Elkins-Williams. At your consultation, Dr. Elkins-Williams will assess your anatomy in person and give you a straightforward recommendation — whether that’s Preservé, traditional submuscular augmentation, or another approach entirely.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will I still need anesthesia? Not necessarily. Preservé can sometimes be performed under local anesthesia in the right circumstances. Preservé is still a surgical procedure, and all of our patients have appropriate monitoring with an Anesthetist throughout their case. Dr. Elkins-Williams will discuss the anesthesia plan that’s right for you at your consultation, based on your health history and comfort level.
How is Preservé different from a standard breast augmentation? The core difference is where the implant sits and how the pocket is created. A traditional submuscular augmentation places the implant partially under the chest muscle. Preservé creates the implant pocket above the muscle using a tissue-expansion system, so the muscle itself isn’t lifted or cut into. This is done in a minimally invasive way, utilizing smaller incisions.
Can I get a significant size increase with Preservé? Preservé is generally best suited to moderate, proportional size increases, since it relies on your own tissue to cover and support the implant. If you’re hoping for a more dramatic size change, Dr. Elkins-Williams can discuss whether a traditional technique might better meet your goals.
Does Preservé affect nipple sensation? Because Preservé is designed to avoid disrupting the chest muscle and surrounding structures, there is less risk of sensory changes than with traditional breast augmentation. Every patient’s anatomy and healing process is different, so no technique can guarantee sensation outcomes.
How soon can I return to exercise after Preservé? Because the pectoral muscle isn’t lifted or cut, many patients feel ready to resume light activity sooner than they might expect. We typically allow resumption of normal daily activities within 48 hours, and full unrestricted exercise within 4 weeks.
Is Preservé right for someone who has had a previous breast augmentation? No. Preservé is for primary augmentations, and primary augmentations with certain types of mastopexy (breast lift).
Is Preservé more expensive than traditional breast augmentation? Yes. Because of the advanced training and techniques, along with specialized equipment needed for the procedure, Preservé does carry a price premium. You’ll be given an exact quote, along with pricing for a traditional breast augmentation if you like, at your consultation.