Motiva Breast Implants

What Are Motiva Breast Implants?

Breast augmentation is one of the most personal decisions a woman can make, and the choice of implant plays a central role in the outcome. Motiva breast implants represent the latest generation of silicone implant technology — engineered with advanced materials, innovative surface textures, and design features that address many of the concerns patients and surgeons have had with traditional implants.

Approved by the FDA in 2024 after extensive global clinical use, Motiva implants have been available internationally for over a decade, accumulating a robust safety record across more than 100 countries. Their arrival in the U.S. market has generated significant interest because they offer several meaningful improvements over conventional implants, including a reduced risk of capsular contracture, more natural movement and feel, and expanded placement options.

At Allure MD in Newport Beach, Dr. James Rosing offers Motiva implants as part of his breast augmentation practice, helping patients select the implant type, size, and placement that best aligns with their anatomy and aesthetic goals.

How Motiva Implants Differ From Traditional Implants

To understand what makes Motiva implants special, it helps to know what distinguishes one breast implant from another. The key variables are the shell (outer surface), the fill (the material inside), and the overall design geometry.

SmoothSilk and SilkSurface Technology

The outer surface of a breast implant is one of the most important factors in how the body responds to it. Traditional implants come in two main surface types: smooth and textured. Smooth implants have a lower risk of certain complications but tend to move more freely within the pocket, which can be desirable or problematic depending on placement. Textured implants were designed to reduce capsular contracture and prevent implant rotation, but aggressive texturing has been associated with a rare condition called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

Motiva's SmoothSilk and SilkSurface technologies represent a middle ground. These surfaces use nanotexturing — a microscopic surface topography that promotes tissue adherence without the aggressive macrotexturing of older implants. The result is an implant that:

• Maintains position without significant migration
• Has a substantially lower profile for BIA-ALCL risk compared to aggressively textured implants
• Promotes a thinner, more organized capsule formation (the body's natural scar tissue envelope around the implant)
• Reduces the rate of capsular contracture, one of the most common complications of breast augmentation

Progressive Gel

Inside the shell, Motiva uses a proprietary Progressive Gel — a cohesive silicone gel that behaves differently from the gel in most traditional implants. Standard cohesive gel (often called "gummy bear" gel) maintains its shape well but can feel somewhat firm. Motiva's Progressive Gel is engineered to respond to the body's natural movements: it feels soft at rest and firms up with motion, mimicking the behavior of natural breast tissue.

This dynamic gel behavior means that Motiva implants tend to look and feel more natural in motion — during activities like walking, exercising, or changing positions — compared to traditional cohesive gel implants.

BluSeal Visual Barrier Layer

Every Motiva implant includes BluSeal, a visual indicator layer built into the shell. This blue-tinted layer serves two purposes: it alerts the surgeon during placement if any microscopic defect exists in the shell, and it acts as an additional barrier layer that reduces gel bleed (the microscopic migration of silicone molecules through the shell). This is a safety feature unique to Motiva.

Qid Microtransponder

Motiva implants include a Qid microtransponder — a tiny, passive identification chip embedded in the shell. This microtransponder contains the implant's serial number, specifications, and manufacturing details, which can be read non-invasively with a handheld scanner. This feature simplifies implant identification for future medical needs, eliminating reliance on paper records or patient recall.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Motiva breast implants are suitable for most women considering breast augmentation, whether for cosmetic enhancement, reconstruction, or revision of previous augmentation. You may be a good candidate if:

• You are seeking breast augmentation for the first time and want the latest implant technology
• You are considering implant replacement or revision and want to upgrade to a more advanced implant
• You prefer a natural feel and movement in your augmented breasts
• You are concerned about capsular contracture risk (Motiva's lower contracture rates may be especially appealing if you have experienced capsular contracture with previous implants)
• You are interested in prepectoral (over-the-muscle) placement, which Motiva's tissue adherence properties make more feasible

The ideal implant type, size, profile, and placement are determined during a detailed consultation that considers your chest wall dimensions, existing breast tissue, body proportions, skin quality, and aesthetic goals. There is no single "best" implant — the best implant is the one that is right for your specific anatomy and desires.

Prepectoral vs. Submuscular Placement

One of the most discussed advantages of Motiva implants is their suitability for prepectoral (above-the-muscle) placement. Traditionally, most breast implants have been placed submuscularly (beneath the pectoralis major muscle) or in a dual-plane position. Submuscular placement provides additional tissue coverage over the implant, reduces certain risks, and can produce a more natural look, particularly in thin patients with limited breast tissue.

However, submuscular placement has drawbacks: it can cause animation deformity (visible implant distortion when the chest muscle contracts), more postoperative pain, longer recovery, and functional limitations for women who are very active or athletic.

Motiva's nanotextured surface promotes better tissue integration, which means the implant can be placed above the muscle in many patients while still maintaining a stable, natural-looking result. Prepectoral placement offers several advantages:

• No animation deformity — The implant does not move when the chest muscle contracts
• Less postoperative pain — The pectoralis muscle is not disturbed
• Faster recovery — Most patients return to full activity sooner
• Better for athletes — No interference with chest muscle function
• More natural breast dynamics — The implant moves with the breast tissue rather than being tethered under the muscle

Not every patient is a candidate for prepectoral placement — adequate soft tissue coverage is still necessary to prevent visible implant edges. During your consultation, Dr. Rosing will evaluate your tissue quality and recommend the placement that will give you the best result.

What to Expect During Surgery

Breast augmentation with Motiva implants is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia, typically taking one to two hours.

Incision options include inframammary (in the crease beneath the breast), periareolar (around the lower edge of the areola), or transaxillary (in the armpit). The inframammary approach is most commonly used with Motiva implants, as it provides the best access for precise pocket creation and implant positioning. The resulting scar is well-hidden in the natural breast fold.

Pocket creation is performed with meticulous attention to dimensions, ensuring the implant sits in the correct position for a natural, balanced result. If prepectoral placement is chosen, the pocket is created above the muscle with careful dissection of the breast tissue plane. For submuscular placement, the lower portion of the pectoralis muscle is elevated.

Implant insertion uses a no-touch technique with a Keller Funnel (a specialized insertion sleeve) that minimizes handling of the implant and reduces the risk of contamination. This technique also allows the implant to be inserted through a smaller incision than would otherwise be necessary.

Recovery Timeline

Recovery from Motiva breast augmentation follows a similar trajectory to other breast implant procedures, with some patients reporting a more comfortable experience — particularly those who have prepectoral placement.

Days 1-3: Expect soreness, tightness, and swelling. Pain is managed with prescribed medications. A surgical bra or compression garment is worn for support. Many patients describe the sensation as chest tightness rather than sharp pain.

Week 1: Most patients can return to desk work and light daily activities within 5 to 7 days. Avoid lifting anything heavier than 5 pounds and keep arms below shoulder height.

Weeks 2-4: Gradual return to more activity. Light exercise like walking is encouraged. The implants begin to settle into a more natural position — a process called "drop and fluff" that continues over the following months.

Months 1-3: Implants continue settling. Swelling resolves. The breasts take on a softer, more natural shape and movement. Most patients are cleared for full activity including exercise by 6 to 8 weeks.

Months 3-6: Final shape and position are established. The breasts look and feel natural, and scars continue to mature and fade.

Results and Long-Term Expectations

Breast augmentation with Motiva implants produces long-lasting results. While no implant lasts forever, modern silicone implants are designed for durability, and many patients enjoy their results for 10 to 20 years or longer before considering replacement.

Motiva's lower capsular contracture rates are a significant long-term advantage, as capsular contracture has traditionally been the most common reason for implant revision surgery. By reducing this risk, Motiva implants may extend the interval between surgeries.

Regular follow-up and monitoring are important. Patients with silicone implants are advised to have periodic imaging (MRI or ultrasound) to confirm implant integrity. The Qid microtransponder simplifies identification if imaging or intervention is ever needed.

Why Choose Allure MD for Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is one of the most rewarding procedures in plastic surgery, but the outcome depends heavily on surgical skill, implant selection, and individualized planning. Choosing the right surgeon is just as important as choosing the right implant.

Dr. Rosing is a Stanford-trained, FACS-certified plastic surgeon with over 14 years of experience performing breast augmentation, revision, and reconstruction. His approach emphasizes careful preoperative planning, precise surgical technique, and open communication about expectations and realistic outcomes.

At Allure MD in Newport Beach, every breast augmentation consultation includes detailed sizing, tissue assessment, and a thorough discussion of implant options — including Motiva — so that you can make an informed decision about the approach that is right for you.

To learn more about Motiva breast implants or to schedule your consultation, contact Allure MD at (949) 706-7874.