Preservé Breast Augmentation
Preservé™ breast augmentation is a less invasive implant technique that gently stretches breast tissue instead of cutting it. Because the chest muscle stays untouched, many first-time patients recover faster and more comfortably.
You have thought about breast augmentation for years. What holds many women back is recovery: time off work, help with the kids, and weeks of limited activity. Preservé was designed with that tradeoff in mind. At Elle Aesthetic Arts in Ashburn, Dr. Larry Lickstein, MD, FACS, now offers Preservé to women across Loudoun County and Northern Virginia.
Dr. Lickstein is a board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon and one of about 300 surgeons nationwide trained in Preservé. Our Ellevated Aesthetics approach means a custom-tailored plan built around your anatomy and goals. That includes a clear recommendation on whether Preservé or another technique fits you best.
What Is Preservé Breast Augmentation by Motiva?
Preservé by Motiva®, often called Motiva Preservé, is a surgical technique rather than a type of implant. It pairs specialized instruments with Motiva breast implants. The goal is to protect natural structures that traditional augmentation can disrupt:
- Your chest muscle, which stays in place and untouched
- The internal ligaments that give your breast its shape and support
- The nerve pathways that carry sensation to the nipple
Preservé has been performed outside the United States for years and arrived here recently. Surgeons must complete dedicated hands-on training before they can offer it.
How Does Preservé Make Room for an Implant Without Cutting?
Preservé makes room for your implant with gentle pressure instead of cutting. No scalpel, scissors, or cautery is used to create the implant pocket. Dr. Lickstein works through a short incision tucked where the underside of your breast meets your chest.
Personalized measurements: Dr. Lickstein measures your breasts to select an implant sized to your anatomy.
A gentle pathway: A specialized instrument separates the tissue layers by rotating, not cutting, with ultrasound guidance.
Balloon shaping: A small balloon gently expands the space to match the exact dimensions of your implant.
Implant placement: Your implant rests in a natural space within the breast, held in place by your own support ligaments.
Implants are often positioned to add fullness to the upper and inner breast, the area that shapes cleavage. Preservé is an outpatient procedure. Dr. Lickstein will review your anesthesia plan with you during your consultation.
Should I Choose Preservé or Traditional Breast Augmentation?
Both approaches create beautiful, natural-looking results in the right patient. Dr. Lickstein performs Preservé and traditional breast augmentation, so his recommendation starts with your goals rather than a single technique.
| Preservé | Traditional Augmentation | |
|---|---|---|
| Key strength | A faster, gentler return to daily life | The greatest flexibility in size, shape, and placement |
| Implant placement | Within the breast, leaving the chest muscle untouched | Above or partly beneath the muscle, chosen for your anatomy |
| Implant size | Subtle, proportionate fullness | Full range, from subtle to more pronounced |
| Incision | Short incision under the breast | Placed to suit your anatomy and goals |
| Best suited for | First-time patients with little sagging | First-time patients, lifts, and implant exchanges |
Because Preservé leaves the muscle alone, your implants will not move when you flex your chest. Traditional augmentation, in turn, can achieve goals Preservé cannot.
If you want a larger size, traditional augmentation may serve you better. If you have implants now, breast implant exchange is the right starting point.
Who Is Preservé Breast Augmentation Best For?
Preservé tends to suit women who:
- Have busy schedules with limited time for recovery
- Are having breast augmentation for the first time
- Want natural, proportionate volume rather than a large size increase
- Have firm skin and enough natural breast tissue to cushion an implant
- Have little to no breast sagging
How Soon Can I Get Back to Work and Family After Preservé?
With no muscle involved, patients often describe tightness and mild soreness rather than a deep ache. Many women return to light daily activity within a few days. Many patients need only Tylenol® and Advil® during recovery, rather than prescription pain medication.
Dr. Lickstein describes the ideal Preservé patient this way: “She has always wanted breast augmentation, but she cannot take weeks off work or miss school pickup. Preservé gives her a path that fits her life.”
A typical recovery looks like this:
- Day of surgery: You go home the same day in a supportive garment, with a driver.
- First few days: Light daily activity as you feel comfortable.
- First week: Many patients return to desk work.
- Following weeks: A gradual return to exercise once Dr. Lickstein clears you.
- First few months: Swelling fades and your implants soften and settle into place.
Preservé is still surgery. Bruising, swelling, temporary sensation changes, and some asymmetry are normal while you heal. Any implant procedure carries risks such as bleeding, infection, revision, and capsular contracture (tightening scar tissue).
Why Choose Dr. Lickstein for Preservé Breast Augmentation?
A new technique is only as good as the surgeon deciding when to use it. Dr. Lickstein holds board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery and completed fellowship training. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of ASPS and ASAPS. He trained at Princeton University and Harvard Medical School and served on the faculty of Cleveland Clinic Florida.
As the founder of Elle Aesthetic Arts, Dr. Lickstein has placed thousands of breast implants over his years in practice. His experience spans both reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery. That range helps him match each patient with the technique that will serve her best.
His work has earned recognition that includes:
- Best Breast Augmentation Surgeon, DC Magazine (2023 and 2024)
- One of America’s Top 150 Breast Augmentation Surgeons, Newsweek (2022)
- Top Doctor, Washingtonian Magazine (2022, 2023, and 2026)
- Top Plastic Surgeon, Northern Virginia Magazine (2018 through 2024, 2026, and 2027)
- America’s Top Doctors, U.S. News & World Report and Castle Connolly (2004 through 2026)
Dr. Lickstein and his elite team build every plan around your goals and anatomy, with an artistic eye for proportion.
What Else Do Patients Ask About Preservé Breast Augmentation?
What affects the cost of Preservé breast augmentation?
Your price reflects your implants, the specialized instruments Preservé requires, surgical facility, anesthesia, and any procedures you add to your surgery. You will receive an itemized quote at your consultation. Preservé is a cosmetic procedure, so health insurance does not cover it. We offer financing options to help you plan.
Can I get a breast lift with Preservé?
In some cases. Preservé can include a lift for first-time patients with mild sagging. If your sagging is moderate or significant, breast augmentation with lift may offer a more predictable result.
How long do Preservé implants last?
No implant is designed to last forever, and the FDA notes that implant lifespan varies from person to person. Encouragingly, five-year clinical data on Motiva implants shows low rates of rupture. Dr. Lickstein will set up a follow-up schedule to monitor your implants over time.
Will I be able to breastfeed after Preservé?
Because Preservé stretches tissue rather than dividing it, your milk glands and ducts are designed to stay in place. Many women nurse successfully after breast augmentation. Still, no surgeon can promise future breastfeeding, so share your family plans with Dr. Lickstein at your consultation.
Is Preservé Breast Augmentation Right for You?
The answer starts with an exam. Dr. Lickstein will evaluate your anatomy and listen to your goals. Then he will recommend Preservé or traditional augmentation, whichever fits you best. Women from Ashburn, Loudoun County, and across Northern Virginia (NOVA) can meet with him in person or virtually.
1 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Summary of safety and effectiveness data: Motiva SmoothSilk Round and SmoothSilk Round Ergonomix silicone gel-filled breast implants (PMA P230005). September 26, 2024. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf23/P230005B.pdf
2 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Risks and complications of breast implants. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/risks-and-complications-breast-implants
3 Glicksman C, Wolfe A, McGuire P. The study of the safety and effectiveness of Motiva SmoothSilk silicone gel-filled breast implants in patients undergoing primary and revisional breast augmentation: 5-year clinical data. Aesthet Surg J. Published online November 20, 2025. doi:10.1093/asj/sjaf245. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41266083/