Preservé Technique Breast Augmentation

The Preservé technique is ideal for many women seeking breast augmentation, though the best way to determine candidacy is through a personal consultation. Generally, you may be an excellent candidate if you:

Ideal Candidates:

• Desire natural-looking results: You want breasts that look and feel natural, with subtle enhancement rather than an obviously augmented appearance
• Have minimal to moderate sagging: The technique works best for women with good skin elasticity and breast tissue quality
• Want faster recovery: You need to return to daily activities quickly and cannot take extended time off work
• Are concerned about animation deformity: You’re active or exercise regularly and want to avoid implant distortion during muscle flexion
• Prefer smaller incisions: You want to minimize visible scarring
• Value long-term results: You’re looking for results that will age naturally over time

Additional Considerations:
You should be in good overall health, a non-smoker (or willing to quit before and after surgery), and have realistic expectations about outcomes.

Who May Need Alternative Options:
Women with significant breast sagging may benefit from combining the Preservé technique with a breast lift, or may be better suited for traditional methods. During your consultation at Augusta Plastic Surgery, we’ll assess your unique anatomy and goals to recommend the best approach for you.

The Preservé technique differs from traditional breast augmentation in several significant ways:

Placement Location:
Traditional methods typically place implants either submuscular (under the pectoral muscle) or subglandular (above the muscle). The Preservé technique uses subfascial placement—positioning the implant beneath the fascia but above the muscle. This preserves your natural muscle function while providing excellent support.

Surgical Approach:

• Incision size: Preservé uses 2-3cm incisions vs. 4-5cm with traditional methods
• Dissection technique: Blunt dissection instead of electrocautery creates a virtually bloodless surgical field
• Tissue preservation: Cooper’s ligaments and natural support structures remain intact

Recovery Differences:

• Traditional: 1-2 weeks before returning to work; 6-8 weeks for full activity
• Preservé: Most patients return to work in 1-2 days; 4-6 weeks for full activity

Long-Term Results:
Because the Preservé technique preserves your natural breast support structures, you can expect more natural movement, no animation deformity (implant distortion when flexing), and potentially longer-lasting results compared to traditional methods.

Cooper’s ligaments are fibrous connective tissue structures that run from the chest wall through the breast tissue to the skin. Named after Sir Astley Cooper, the surgeon who first described them, these ligaments act as a natural internal support system—essentially the “scaffolding” that maintains your breast shape and position.

Why Cooper’s Ligaments Matter:

• Natural support: They provide structural integrity and help maintain breast shape over time
• Prevent sagging: Intact ligaments help resist the effects of gravity and aging
• Natural movement: They allow breasts to move naturally while maintaining their position

Traditional vs. Preservé Approach:
Traditional breast augmentation techniques often damage or sever these ligaments during pocket creation. This can lead to:

• Increased risk of bottoming out (implants dropping too low)
• Accelerated sagging over time
• Less natural breast movement

The Preservé technique specifically preserves Cooper’s ligaments through careful blunt dissection, maintaining your breast’s natural support system. This preservation is one of the key reasons why Preservé patients experience more natural-looking, longer-lasting results with reduced risk of implant malposition.

One of the most significant advantages of the Preservé technique is its remarkably fast recovery compared to traditional breast augmentation. Here’s what you can expect:

Days 1-2: Immediate Recovery

• Most patients experience minimal discomfort—often described as muscle soreness rather than pain
• Many patients return to desk work and light daily activities within 1-2 days
• You can shower the day after surgery
• Bruising is typically minimal due to the bloodless dissection technique

Weeks 1-2: Early Healing

• Swelling begins to subside
• Most patients feel comfortable driving within a few days (once off pain medication)
• Light walking and normal daily activities are encouraged
• You’ll wear a supportive surgical bra as directed

Weeks 2-4: Progressive Activity

• Gradual return to more physical activities
• Lower body exercises can typically resume
• Continue avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous upper body activity

Week 6 and Beyond: Full Recovery

• Most patients can resume all normal activities, including exercise
• Final results begin to settle and take shape
• Follow-up appointments ensure optimal healing

Why Recovery is Faster:
The Preservé technique’s faster recovery is directly related to its tissue-preserving approach—smaller incisions, no muscle disruption, preservation of Cooper’s ligaments, and the bloodless surgical field all contribute to less trauma and quicker healing.

The Preservé technique is a revolutionary breast augmentation approach that represents the most significant advancement in the field in over two decades. Developed by leading plastic surgeons, this innovative method preserves your natural breast anatomy while achieving beautiful, natural-looking results.

Key features of the Preservé technique include:

• Subfascial placement: Implants are positioned beneath the fascia but above the muscle, preserving natural breast tissue and function
• Smaller incisions: Just 2-3cm compared to 4-5cm with traditional methods
• No electrocautery: Blunt dissection creates a virtually bloodless surgical field
• Preserved ligaments: Cooper’s ligaments remain intact for long-term natural results
• Faster recovery: Most patients return to work in just 1-2 days
• No animation deformity: Your implants won’t move unnaturally when flexing chest muscles

The Preservé technique is exclusively performed using sixth-generation Motiva implants with SmoothSilk surface technology, providing the safest and most natural-feeling results available today.

The Preservé technique exclusively uses sixth-generation Motiva implants, which represent the most advanced breast implant technology available today. These implants are specifically designed to complement the tissue-preserving approach of the Preservé method.

Key Features of Motiva Implants:

SmoothSilk Surface Technology:

• Nano-textured surface that promotes tissue integration
• Lowest reported rates of capsular contracture
• Virtually eliminates the risk of BIA-ALCL (a rare lymphoma associated with textured implants)

Ergonomix Design:

• Adapts naturally to your body position—round when lying down, teardrop-shaped when standing
• Mimics natural breast movement
• No risk of implant rotation issues seen with traditional shaped implants

ProgressiveGel Ultima:

• Advanced silicone gel that moves and feels like natural breast tissue
• Maintains shape while providing natural softness
• Superior cohesiveness for long-term safety

BluSeal Technology:

• Barrier layer that prevents silicone gel bleed
• Additional layer of safety and protection

Why Motiva with Preservé:
The combination of the Preservé technique’s tissue-preserving approach with Motiva’s advanced technology delivers results that are exceptionally natural in both appearance and feel. These implants can be inserted through the small 2-3cm incisions used in the Preservé technique while providing optimal long-term outcomes.