Breast augmentation has evolved dramatically — not just in implant technology, but in surgical philosophy. For years, the conversation centered on size. Today, the most meaningful advances are about how surgery is performed: less disruption, faster recovery, and results that look and feel like they were always yours. The Preservé® technique represents exactly that kind of evolution.
What Is the Preservé® Technique for Breast Augmentation?
The Preservé® technique is a breast augmentation approach specifically designed to preserve the circum-mammary ligament — the natural support structure that surrounds the breast and anchors it to the chest wall. In traditional breast augmentation, this ligament is typically disrupted to create the implant pocket. Preservé is built around protecting it.
By maintaining this anatomical structure, the implant sits within the patient’s existing breast framework rather than replacing it. The result is an enhancement that respects and refines the breast’s natural shape, rather than fundamentally altering it.
Preservé is performed exclusively using Motiva SmoothSilk® Ergonomix® implants — ergonomic, anatomically shaped implants designed to move naturally with the body. Maximum implant size is 315cc. For the right patient, these are features, not limitations.
A Different Philosophy of Breast Augmentation
The most common thing I hear from women considering breast augmentation is this:
“I don’t want bigger breasts. I want my breasts to look like a better version of themselves.”
Traditional breast augmentation is excellent at creating volume and fullness — and it remains the right choice for many patients. But it was never specifically designed for the woman who wants a subtle, elegant refinement of what she already has. Preservé was.
What excites me most as a surgeon is that Preservé expands the range of options we can offer. Plastic surgery should never be one-size-fits-all. The more techniques we have, the more precisely
we can match the procedure to the person — and that is always better for the patient.
Key Benefits of the Preservé® Technique
Faster Recovery — Back to Full Activity in Two Weeks
Most Preservé patients return to full, unrestricted activity within approximately two weeks after surgery. Because the circum-mammary ligament is preserved and less tissue disruption occurs during the procedure, recovery is significantly shorter than traditional breast augmentation, which typically requires four weeks before unrestricted activity can resume. For busy professionals, active mothers, and fitness enthusiasts, this is a meaningful difference.
No General Anesthesia Required
Preservé is typically performed using IV sedation combined with local anesthesia — not general anesthesia. This allows patients to avoid the deeper physiological effects of full sedation while remaining completely comfortable throughout the procedure. Whether driven by personal preference, recovery concerns, or a desire for the most minimally invasive experience possible, this is a genuine advancement in how breast augmentation can be performed.
A Smaller, Discreet Incision
The Preservé technique requires an incision of approximately 3 centimeters — smaller than what is typically needed for traditional breast augmentation — placed discreetly within the inframammary fold beneath the breast.
Natural-Looking, Natural-Feeling Results
Because the implant remains within the patient’s own breast architecture, results maintain the individual characteristics of her natural breast. Patients consistently describe the outcome as their breast looking elevated, fuller, and more shapely — while still unmistakably their own.
Who Is the Best Candidate for Preservé®?
The ideal Preservé candidate is a woman who wants to improve the shape and fullness of her breasts without dramatically increasing size, and who values a natural result, faster recovery, and the option to avoid general anesthesia.
In my practice, the best candidates tend to share these goals:
- Want refinement and shape improvement more than significant volume increase
- Prefer a natural-looking, proportionate result Want to maintain their existing breast architecture
- Are motivated by a shorter, more comfortable recovery
- Wish to avoid general anesthesia when possible
- Understand that implant size is intentionally conservative (up to 315cc)
Preservé is not the right choice for every patient. Women seeking substantial volume increases, dramatic upper-pole fullness, or significant cleavage enhancement are often better served by traditional breast augmentation. The goal is always to match the right procedure to the right patient.
Preservé® vs. Traditional Breast Augmentation
| Preservé® | Traditional | |
| Primary goal | Shape refinement | Volume increase |
| Anesthesia | IV sedation + local | General anesthesia |
| Return to full activity | ~2 weeks | ~4 weeks |
| Incision size | ~3 cm | Typically larger |
| Implant options | Motiva Ergonomix® only, up to 315cc | Wide range |
| Best for | Natural enhancement | Significant size change |
Schedule a Preservé® Consultation at Clareo Plastic Surgery
The best way to know whether Preservé is right for you is a personalized consultation. We will review your anatomy, discuss your goals, and give you an honest assessment of which approach will most likely achieve the result you’re looking for.
To schedule, call our office directly, complete our online contact form, or request a virtual consultation to connect from home first.
Ready to explore the Preservé® technique? Contact Clareo Plastic Surgery today to schedule your confidential consultation.
Dr. Michael Tantillo is a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Clareo Plastic Surgery. He is one of a select group of surgeons trained and certified in the Preservé® technique.
