Preservé™, the breast augmentation of the future
Preservé™ translates comfort into:
- less pain
- small scar
- preservation of sensation in the breasts and nipples
- preservation of the ability to breastfeed
I want a breast augmentation… but I’m afraid of the pain, the scar, and loss of sensation
Research shows that women who are considering breast augmentation often hesitate for the following reasons:
- Fear of scarring
- Fear of pain
- Fear of losing sensation in the breasts
👉 These doubts are completely normal — and actually a sign that you are making a conscious choice for a procedure that truly suits you.
In this blog, we take a closer look at these fears and how the Preservé™ technique is a real game changer.
Wat will you find here?
- Fear of scars after breast augmentation
- Fear of pain after breast augmentation
- Fear of loss of sensation + can I still breastfeed after breast augmentation?
- Fear of sagging breasts after breast augmentation
- What do our patients say about pain, loss of sensation, and scarring after their breast augmentation?
1. Fear of scarring: why is the scar smaller with Preservé™ than with a traditional breast augmentation?
With Preservé™ breast augmentation, a small incision of approximately 2.5 cm in the lower breast fold is sufficient.
With Preservé™, this is the only incision, because the pocket (the cavity where the implant is placed) is gently expanded using the Preservé™ inflatable balloon instead of being surgically cut.
The implants are then inserted through this minimal opening without direct skin contact (“no touch”) using the Motiva Insertion Sleeve, a sterile insertion device. This is made possible in part by the flexibility of the Ergonomix® implants used. This insertion technique also results in less damage to the breast tissue.
In a traditional breast augmentation, the skin incision may also be limited to 2–4 cm in some experienced plastic surgeons and when using normal size implants. However, internally, further cutting of the breast tissue (and sometimes -behind the muscle- even muscles) is still required to create the pocket. This causes more tissue damage, resulting in greater internal trauma and ultimately a larger scar compared to the Preservé™ technique.
An additional advantage of the Preservé™ breast augmentation is that there is less tension on the scar, which usually allows it to heal more beautifully than with a traditional breast augmentation.
This is because the implant is guided through a tunnel, without any additional incisions, to a more distant pocket. As a result, there is less pulling force from the implant on the wound (and the scar), which can occur with a traditional breast augmentation.
Less tension on the scar generally helps it heal more smoothly and attractively.
Difference between Preservé™ breast augmentation and traditional breast augmentation:
- Smaller incision of approximately 2.5 cm
- No additional cutting of breast tissue, chest muscles, or breast ligaments
- Less tension on the scar
2. Fear of pain: why is a Preservé™ breast augmentation less painful than a traditional breast augmentation?
Preservé™ breast augmentation completely breaks with the traditional breast augmentation technique.
Instead of cutting into healthy breast tissue, muscles, and supporting ligaments, the implant pocket is created through gradual and controlled tissue expansion using the special Preservé™ balloon.
Since the breast tissue is not damaged internally, recovery is faster and less painful compared to a traditional breast augmentation.*
*provided an appropriately sized (not too large) implant is used.
3. Fear of loss of sensation: why is there less risk of sensation loss with a Preservé™ breast augmentation? Is breastfeeding still possible after a Preservé™ breast augmentation?
Because there is less trauma when creating the pocket and inserting the implant, there is also a lower risk of complications such as capsular contracture and preservation of nipple sensitivity.
Breastfeeding is also still possible after a Preservé™ breast augmentation because this is a minimally invasive procedure that keeps the milk ducts and glands as intact as possible.
4. I want a Preservé™ breast augmentation but am afraid my breasts will sag faster because the implant is placed in front of the muscle.
With Preservé™ breast augmentation, the implant is indeed always placed in front of the breast muscle — a method that Dr. Nelissen has been successfully using for years and fully masters.
The main advantage of placing the implant in front of the muscle is that the chest muscle remains completely intact, resulting in significantly less (or no) post-operative pain and very fast recovery.
A common concern is whether an implant placed in front of the muscle will sag faster.
This is not the case — on the contrary. During the Preservé™ procedure, the breast tissue is gently stretched rather than cut, allowing the natural supporting ligaments to tighten and form a firm, stable “nest” of supportive tissue around the implant. This actually provides better support and long-term stability of the implant. This is also one of the additional benefits of Preservé™ breast augmentation.
Do not be guided by outdated breast augmentation techniques. Some surgeons continue to rely on traditional methods, such as “behind the muscle to prevent sagging”, not because it is better, but simply because they have not mastered or are not allowed to perform modern techniques. The Preservé™ technique may only be performed by plastic surgeons who have completed special training.
5. What do our patients say about pain, loss of sensation, and scarring after their breast augmentation?
Some feedback from our patients about pain, loss of sensation, and scarring after a breast augmentation:
- “The result is amazing! My breasts look very natural and they feel completely like my own, with the same sensation as before.”
- “Everything looks very natural. And the scar healed beautifully within a few months.”
- “No pain, only some tightness. After a few days I was already able to return to work.”
- “Two days later, I was able to join the Christmas dinner without much pain. The week after, we left for vacation.”
- “I am a mother of two young children, so I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do anything afterwards, but that was absolutely not the case. After 5 days I went back to work and was no longer taking any pain medication. I was able to take care of my kids just fine and was almost pain-free.”
- “I took Dafalgan for 3 days and by day 3 I was already without medication.”
- “I had surgery on Thursday afternoon and took my last painkiller on Sunday evening. I was back at work on Monday!”
- “Also regarding pain relief: I did not experience pain at any point. Surgery Thursday afternoon, last painkiller Monday morning.”
- “I only took pain medication for 2 days, and 2 days after my surgery I was already able to go watch the Antwerp marathon.”
- “The is bscararely visible. I wanted a natural look, and Dr. Nelissen truly achieved that.”
Every experience is personal, but the absence of pain is mentioned remarkably often in our reviews.
Preservé™ is not a trend but the future of breast augmentation
Choose the Preservé™ technique if you have:
- Fear of pain: With Preservé™ breast augmentation, no muscles, nerves, or blood vessels are cut, making the procedure minimally invasive.
- Fear of scars: Preservé™ breast augmentation leaves the smallest possible scar in the breast fold (± 2.5 cm).
- Fear of loss of sensation: With Preservé™ breast augmentation, you retain sensation in your nipples and breasts (and the ability to breastfeed).
- Fear of unnatural result: Preservé™ breast augmentation gives a natural-looking and feeling breast enhancement.
- Fear of surgery or anesthesia: Preservé™ breast augmentation is performed under “comfort anesthesia”: no fear, no pain, and a quick return to wakefulness and alertness.
- Doubts about recovery and practical arrangements: The recovery period after Preservé™ breast augmentation is much shorter than with traditional breast augmentation.
Dr Nelissen, certified Preservé™ surgeon, explains
Question: Which (unnecessary) fears are still common when considering breast augmentation?
Dr Nelissen was the first plastic surgeon in Belgium to apply this innovative technique in 2025 and now has nearly one year of experience with Preservé™.
Book your no-obligation consultation today with plastic surgeon Dr. Nelissen* and discover which breast augmentation technique suits you best: MIA®, Preservé™ or a classic breast augmentation.
As one of the few clinics in Belgium and the Netherlands, we offer both Preservé™ and MIA Femtech™.
*These new techniques may only be performed by specially trained and certified plastic surgeons. See: Official Preservé Motiva website and MIA® Clinic Finder.
🔗 Continue reading our series on Preservé breast augmentation:
Do you have any questions?
Would you like to discuss whether this treatment could be right for you?
Then make your non-binding appointment for a consultation at our clinic.
