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Preservé offers a modern approach for patients who are satisfied with lower breast fullness but seek a refined upper-pole shape.
Preservé is designed to complement your anatomy, using smaller implants, a conservative incision, and a tissue-preserving method. This enhances upper-pole fullness while maintaining breast integrity, resulting in a softer, refined outcome with reduced downtime compared to traditional augmentation.
Dr. Antimarino is one of the few surgeons trained by Motiva in this technique. He is also the only surgeon in Pittsburgh to be invited to a Motiva masterclass in Costa Rica focused on Preservé and new implant technology.
What Is Preservé Breast Augmentation?
Preservé is an advanced breast augmentation technique developed by Motiva for a very specific patient: someone with adequate natural fullness in the lower breast pole but who has lost volume in the upper breast pole due to aging, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight fluctuations.
As Dr. Antimarino explains:
Preservé is the newest technique for women who have sufficient breast volume in the lower part but have lost fullness in the upper pole due to aging, pregnancy, and weight loss. It is performed under IV sedation with smaller implants placed precisely where volume is needed. The downtime is several days, and most patients return to exercise within 1 to 2 weeks.
Preservé focuses on restoring proportion, shape, and upper-pole softness for a graceful, balanced, natural look rather than increasing breast size.
What Is the Motiva Preservé Technique?
The Preservé procedure uses a small cut in the natural crease under the breast. This allows Dr. Antimarino to reach the correct area while maintaining a gentle, careful approach.
Traditional breast augmentation usually means cutting through tissue to make space for the implant. Preservé, on the other hand, uses a special tool called the Motiva Separator to gently create a tunnel through the tissue without disturbing the natural breast structure.
An inflatable balloon gently separates tissue, creating a pocket that matches implant dimensions and preserves surrounding structures.
Preservé is performed exclusively with Motiva SmoothSilk Ergonomix implants. These implants are designed to move naturally with the body, appearing rounder when lying down and assuming a more teardrop-like shape when standing. This dynamic behavior allows the implant to more closely mimic the appearance and feel of natural breast tissue.
Preservé vs. Traditional Breast Augmentation
Traditional breast augmentation is a reliable way to add volume, but it usually means more disruption to the tissue and a longer recovery time.
Preservé uses a gentler and more precise approach.
Preservé uses a tunneling method that gently moves tissue aside instead of cutting through it. This can mean less swelling, a smaller cut, and a quicker recovery. Many patients resume exercise in 1 to 2 weeks.
Preservé works best for people who have enough fullness in the lower part of their breasts and want to restore volume at the top. If you do not have enough lower breast tissue, you may need a standard augmentation with Motiva implants.
During your consultation, Dr. Antimarino will review your anatomy, listen to your goals, and recommend the best option for you.
What Are Motiva Implants?
Preservé is performed exclusively with Motiva implants, a next-generation system designed for softness, movement, durability, and patient-focused innovation.
As Dr. Antimarino shares:
Motiva is innovative and shares our patient-centered drive for new and better technology. The company has addressed the challenges of breast augmentation, positioning itself as a leader in implant technology.
Motiva implants are engineered with advanced shell technology and a cohesive interior gel designed to enhance stability and longevity. Dr. Antimarino explains: Motiva implants use a 4-micron shell fused with interior gel, increasing stability and reducing rupture risk.
The SmoothSilk Ergonomix implants used in Preservé are also designed for placement through a smaller incision than many traditional silicone implants. Their ability to adapt to the body’s position contributes to a soft, natural-looking result that complements the Preservé technique beautifully.
Recovery After Preservé Breast Augmentation
A key advantage of the Preservé technique is its recovery process. Because it limits tissue disruption, many patients experience a shorter initial healing period than with traditional breast augmentation. Recovery following Preservé typically involves clearly defined milestones to help guide you through the healing process:
- Day 1–2: Patients usually return home the same day of surgery. You may feel some tightness or mild discomfort, but pain is generally minimal and managed with oral medication. Light activity around the house is encouraged, with ample rest.
- Days 3–5: Swelling and bruising may peak but usually begin to subside. Most patients are comfortable enough to shower, perform light daily tasks, and move around more freely.
- 1 Week: Many people return to non-strenuous work and social activities. Light walking and gentle movements are encouraged. Discomfort and swelling should continue to decrease.
- 2 Weeks: Exercise such as walking, stationary cycling, or simple stretching may be resumed, pending Dr. Antimarino’s guidance. Most restrictions on arm movement are lifted.
- 3–4 Weeks: Swelling continues to improve, and patients notice their breasts softening and settling. Most daily activities, including driving and non-impact exercise, are safe to resume.
- 6 Weeks: The majority of patients can return to their full workout routines, including weight training or running, unless advised otherwise by Dr. Antimarino. Results will become even more natural-looking over time.
These general milestones offer an overview, but your recovery may vary. Dr. Antimarino will provide personalized instructions and check in with you throughout the healing process to ensure a smooth recovery.
Most patients resume light activities within days and exercise in 1 to 2 weeks, following Dr. Antimarino’s guidance. The short recovery time is great for people with busy lives or who cannot take much time off.
Is Preservé Breast Augmentation Minimally Invasive?
Yes, Preservé is considered a less invasive approach to breast augmentation.
The procedure uses a smaller incision, avoids cutting natural breast tissue, and uses IV sedation instead of general anesthesia. With IV sedation, you will receive relaxing medication through an IV, so you are deeply relaxed and sleepy but still breathing on your own without a breathing tube. Most patients remember little or nothing from the procedure and typically wake up feeling comfortable and less groggy than after general anesthesia. This means less disruption, less swelling, and a faster recovery.
For the right candidates, Preservé is a careful, precise approach to breast augmentation. It is designed to maintain your natural look while restoring lost fullness.
Am I a Candidate for Preservé by Motiva?
Preservé is a good choice for people who have fullness in the lower part of their breasts but have lost volume at the top because of pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging, or weight changes.
Preservé is ideal for restoring upper-pole fullness, improving shape, and achieving a natural look without a dramatic increase in size.
If you want more overall breast volume or do not have enough lower breast tissue, traditional augmentation with Motiva implants may be a better choice.
Talk to Dr. Antimarino to see if Preservé is right for your body and your goals. He will suggest the best option for you.
Why Choose Bellissimo for Preservé Breast Augmentation?
Getting great results means understanding your anatomy, the right proportions, implant technology, and what you want to achieve.
Dr. Antimarino has over 25 years of experience performing breast augmentations and actively stays up to date on new techniques and technology. He is the only plastic surgeon in this area who was personally invited to a Motiva master’s class on breast augmentation in Costa Rica, where the Preservé technique and the latest implant innovations were presented firsthand.
His combination of extensive surgical experience and direct Motiva training means that when Dr. Antimarino recommends Preservé, it is based on a deep understanding of patient selection, implant behavior, anatomy, and aesthetics.
Bellissimo Plastic Surgery provides personalized, honest, and high-quality breast surgery care.
After explant surgery, patients can expect swelling, soreness, and a recovery period of a few weeks. The final shape of the breast depends on factors such as skin elasticity and whether a lift is performed at the same time. For some patients, a lift can help restore a more youthful contour after the implants are removed.
Breast implant revision is not a single procedure but a category of customized options. Dr. Antimarino tailors each surgical plan based on the issue being addressed, the patient’s anatomy, and their aesthetic goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Preservé Breast Augmentation
What is Preservé breast augmentation?
What is the difference between Preservé and traditional breast augmentation?
What is the Motiva Preservé technique?
Is Preservé breast augmentation minimally invasive?
How long is the recovery after Preservé breast augmentation?
What size implants are used with Preservé?
Do Motiva Ergonomix implants look natural?
Am I a candidate for Preservé by Motiva?
Why choose Dr. Antimarino for Preservé breast augmentation?
Schedule a Preservé Breast Augmentation Consultation in Pittsburgh
Preservé by Motiva is a meaningful step forward in breast augmentation for the right patient — one who wants to restore upper-pole fullness while preserving their natural breast tissue, muscle, and nipple sensation. With a smaller incision, a tunneling method that protects the natural breast structures, and a recovery measured in days rather than weeks, it represents a genuinely different approach.
Patients throughout the greater Pittsburgh area trust Dr. Antimarino and the Bellissimo Plastic Surgery team for personalized, expert breast surgery grounded in elegance, precision, and natural-looking results.
To learn whether Preservé is the right option for your goals, schedule a complimentary consultation at Bellissimo Plastic Surgery.
844.496.6647
