An Advanced Breast Augmentation Technique for Natural-Looking Results and a Faster Recovery
Breast augmentation has fundamentally changed. Preservé™ by Motiva® is a minimally invasive breast augmentation technique that enhances breast volume while preserving the breast’s natural support structures and leaving the pectoral muscle completely intact.
The result: a faster, more comfortable recovery, beautifully natural-looking results, and none of the trade-offs that have historically come with going under the muscle.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Danielle Andry is proud to offer Preservé™ by Motiva® breast augmentation in Houston. She is one of a select group of surgeons in Texas and the Southeast currently trained in the Preservé™ technique, giving patients access to this innovative approach under the care of a surgeon with specialized expertise in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery.
What Is Preservé™ by Motiva®?
Preservé™ by Motiva® is a modern, low-volume breast augmentation approach that combines a specialized, tissue-preserving surgical technique with Motiva SmoothSilk® Ergonomix® implants. Unlike traditional submuscular augmentation, Preservé™ allows the implant to be nested within the breast’s natural tissue layers, what surgeons call the intralamellar plane, rather than simply resting in a surgically created pocket beneath the chest muscle.
This is what gives Preservé™ its recovery advantage, its natural movement, and its long-term stability.
How is Preservé™ Different From Traditional Breast Augmentation?
Key differences between Preservé™ tissue-preserving breast augmentation and traditional breast augmentation include:
- The muscle is never touched: Traditional submuscular augmentation requires cutting or elevating the pectoral muscle. Preservé™ places the implant in the intralamellar plane above the muscle. Chest muscle integrity is completely preserved.
- 2.5 cm incisions: Dr. Andry performs every Preservé™ procedure through a 2.5 cm incision placed discreetly in the inframammary fold. This is among the smallest incisions available for breast augmentation, and it heals with minimal visible scarring.
- Often performed without general anesthesia: Most Preservé™ procedures use IV sedation with local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia. For many patients, this is a meaningful advantage in terms of recovery comfort, anesthetic exposure, and how they feel in the hours immediately after surgery.
- No animation deformity: Because the pectoral muscle is never disturbed, implants stay in place when you move, flex, or exercise. This is particularly important for athletes, CrossFit participants, competitive bodybuilders, and any woman with an active lifestyle.
- Natural results from day one: Preservé™ patients don’t wait months for implants to “soften and settle.” Because there is no muscle to heal or adjust around, results look and feel natural immediately.
- Long-term stability within natural support structures: The implant is positioned within the breast’s own ligamentous support network. This reduces implant movement over time and supports better long-term position.
- Fastest recovery available: Less surgical trauma means faster healing. Most Preservé™ patients are up and moving within 24 hours, back to daily life within a week, and returning to exercise within two to four weeks.
Benefits of Preservation Breast Augmentation Surgery
With Preservé™, patients achieve fuller, more proportionate breasts and benefit from:
- A faster, more comfortable recovery
- Smaller, more discreet scars
- Earlier return to work and regular routines
- Natural-looking breast shape and movement, even during exercise
- Improved long-term implant stability
- Preservation of nipple sensation and chest muscle function
- Same-day discharge, home the day of surgery
How Preservé™ Breast Augmentation Surgery Is Performed
Your preservation breast augmentation procedure will be performed at an accredited surgical facility in Houston. Total surgery time is typically about one hour, though this may vary based on your individual anatomy and whether a breast lift is combined.
Anesthesia
Most Preservé™ procedures are performed using IV sedation with local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia. This is one of the distinct advantages of the technique. Dr. Andry will confirm the appropriate anesthesia approach for your specific case during your consultation.
Incision
Dr. Andry makes a 2.5 cm incision within the natural crease beneath the breast, the inframammary fold, where it is well concealed once healed. This incision placement is consistent across all planes Dr. Andry works in.
Pocket Preparation
Using specialized instruments designed specifically for the Preservé™ technique, Dr. Andry gently separates and expands the natural tissue planes in the intralamellar space. No muscle is cut, elevated, or disrupted. This tissue-preserving dissection protects the nerves responsible for nipple sensation, preserves chest muscle integrity, and minimizes post-operative discomfort.
Implant Placement
The Motiva SmoothSilk® Ergonomix® implant is inserted using a no-touch technique and precisely positioned within the intralamellar pocket for a natural-looking result that moves authentically with your body.
After Surgery
Following a brief recovery period at the surgical facility, most patients go home the same day. Dr. Andry’s team provides detailed post-operative instructions and scheduled follow-up visits to monitor your healing throughout recovery.
Preservé™ Recovery Timeline
One of the most significant advantages of Preservé™ is what recovery actually looks like. Because the procedure avoids the pectoral muscle entirely and minimizes tissue disruption, most patients experience considerably less discomfort than they anticipate.
General Recovery Milestones
- Days 1 to 3: Light walking and daily activities.
- Days 3 to 5: Return to desk work or remote work for most patients.
- Week 1: Shopping, light errands, and most daily activities resume.
- Weeks 2 to 4: Gradual return to exercise and full activity as cleared by Dr. Andry.
*Recovery timelines are estimates and vary by individual. Dr. Andry will give you a personalized recovery plan at your consultation.
Is Preservé™ by Motiva® Right for You?
You may be a strong candidate for Preservé™ if you:
- Are considering your first breast augmentation, or augmentation combined with a breast lift
- Want a natural-looking result with minimal volume change, typically 150 cc to 315 cc
- Are petite or slender with less natural breast tissue
- Are an athlete, CrossFit participant, or highly active woman who needs no animation deformity
- Prefer a less invasive approach and faster recovery
- Would like to avoid general anesthesia
- Value long-term breast tissue preservation and implant stability
- Want the smallest possible incisions
Preservé™ may not be ideal for women requiring very large implants or those with significant breast sagging who need a more extensive lift. Patient selection matters. During your consultation, Dr. Andry will evaluate your anatomy, tissue characteristics, and goals to confirm whether Preservé™ is the right approach for you.
Motiva SmoothSilk® Ergonomix® Implants
Preservé™ is performed exclusively with Motiva SmoothSilk® Ergonomix® implants, FDA-approved in the United States in 2024. These implants are engineered specifically for above-muscle placement and represent the most advanced implant technology currently available.
- ProgressiveGel® ULTIMA filling: Adaptive gel technology that moves with your body, mimicking the natural feel and movement of breast tissue.
- SmoothSilk® surface: An ultra-smooth, low-friction microtextured surface with demonstrated low rates of inflammation and capsular contracture in clinical studies.
- Ergonomic design: The implant adopts a teardrop shape when upright and rounds naturally when lying down, behaving like natural breast tissue in any position.
- TrueMonobloc® construction: Integrated shell and fill interface that reduces rippling and visible implant edges.
- BluSeal® barrier: An additional protective layer against gel bleed.
- Q Inside Safety Technology® (optional): RFID traceability for straightforward implant identification at any future visit.
Available in profiles from 150 cc to 315 cc, Motiva Ergonomix® is specifically suited to the natural, proportionate results that characterize Dr. Andry’s low-volume specialty.
Why Choose Dr. Andry for Preservé™ in Houston?
First-Mover Expertise in Texas
Dr. Danielle Andry is one of a very small number of surgeons in Texas and the Southeast currently trained in the Preservé™ technique. She trained directly with the innovators of this approach in Costa Rica, where the Preservé™ method was developed and refined by Establishment Labs, the team behind Motiva implants.
That hands-on training at the source, with the surgeons who built this technique, is what distinguishes Dr. Andry’s expertise from surgeons who have only read about it. It is the reason patients travel from across Texas and the Southeast to have this procedure done here.
2.5 cm Incisions, Always
Dr. Andry uses a 2.5 cm incision for every breast augmentation she performs, regardless of plane. This is among the smallest in the region. The result is minimal, well-concealed scarring that fades significantly over six to twelve months.
Specialist in Active and Athletic Women
Dr. Andry specializes in breast augmentation for athletes and women with active lifestyles, offering techniques that work with your body rather than against it. Subfascial and Preservé™ placement keeps the pectoral muscle completely intact, so your training is not affected and animation deformity is not a risk.
Dr. Andry’s patients include CrossFit athletes, competitive bodybuilders, runners, cyclists, yoga practitioners, and women who simply expect their augmentation to fit their life.
Complex Breast Revision Expertise
In addition to primary augmentation, Dr. Andry regularly performs pocket exchange, animation deformity correction, capsular contracture treatment, and implant malposition repair. This deep experience with how implants behave across different planes and over time informs every primary procedure she plans.
Patients Travel for This
Women from Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, Nashville, and beyond travel to The Oaks Plastic Surgery specifically for Dr. Andry’s Preservé™ expertise. We have a streamlined process for out-of-town consultations and coordinate pre- and post-operative care around your travel.
Board-Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Dr. Andry is a board-certified plastic surgeon who completed specialized training at the University of Kansas Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, with a focused emphasis on breast surgery at every level of her training.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Preservé™ by Motiva® cost in Houston?
Preservé™ at The Oaks Plastic Surgery starts at $9,500. Final pricing depends on implant selection, whether a breast lift is combined, and the specifics of your surgical plan. All fees are all-inclusive: surgeon, anesthesia, facility, and post-operative care.
Following your consultation, you’ll receive a complete, itemized summary of costs. We work with CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit for patients who prefer financing.
Preservé™ vs. traditional breast augmentation: what is the difference?
Preservé™ uses a tissue-preserving approach that places the implant in the intralamellar plane above the chest muscle rather than beneath it. Combined with Motiva Ergonomix® implants, this results in faster recovery, no animation deformity, natural movement from day one, and for most patients, no general anesthesia required.
Are Motiva® implants safe?
Motiva Ergonomix® implants received FDA approval in the United States in 2024 and are manufactured with rigorous quality controls. Their SmoothSilk® surface has demonstrated favorable tissue response and low rates of capsular contracture in clinical studies. Dr. Andry will walk you through the complete risk and benefit profile at your consultation.
How long do Motiva® breast implants last?
Motiva implants often last 10 years or more. However, no breast implant should be considered a lifetime device, and all implants require ongoing monitoring. Dr. Andry will advise you on how to track your implants over time and when future evaluation may be recommended.
Can Preservé™ be combined with a breast lift?
Yes. For women who want to restore both volume and position, Preservé™ can be combined with a mastopexy (breast lift) in a single procedure. Above-muscle placement actually offers specific advantages in this setting, including improved upper pole fullness and less tension on the lift incisions. Dr. Andry will evaluate whether the combination is the right approach for your anatomy.
What is the risk of rippling?
Above-muscle placement has a different risk profile than submuscular. In patients with very thin tissue coverage, there can be an increased risk of rippling or implant visibility. This is why patient selection is critical. Dr. Andry carefully evaluates tissue thickness and pinch test results before recommending Preservé™ and will address this honestly during your consultation.
Do you see patients from outside Houston?
Yes. Dr. Andry regularly sees patients traveling from Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, Nashville, and across the Southeast. We have a streamlined protocol for out-of-town consultations and will coordinate your care around your travel schedule.
Will I be able to tell I had surgery?
Dr. Andry’s specialty is natural, undetectable results. Her Preservé™ patients consistently describe results that their closest friends and family could not identify unless told. The combination of intralamellar placement and Motiva Ergonomix® implants produces movement and feel that is genuinely close to natural breast tissue.
Schedule Your Preservé™ Consultation in Houston
Dr. Andry is one of only a handful of surgeons in Texas and the Southeast trained in the Preservé™ technique. If you’re ready to find out whether Preservé™ is right for you, request your consultation today. Spots are limited.
