At our renowned San Francisco office, our team offers Motiva® breast implants, along with Natrelle and Sientra silicone options, for women who wish to increase the size or volume of their breasts.
Empowering You to Make Informed Breast Augmentation Decisions
Women undergo breast augmentation surgery for a variety of reasons, such as to increase the size of naturally small breasts, correct asymmetrical or disproportionately sized breasts, add volume to breasts that have begun to sag, or repair breasts affected by trauma or disease. Whatever the motivation for considering breast augmentation surgery, it is important to be fully informed about the choices involved, including implant type and size, incision technique, and implant placement. Our team is committed to helping each patient make the best choices to meet her personal appearance enhancement goals, which is why we offer the following information for patient education. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Liu to discuss which path is right for you.
Choosing the Right Implant Type
Breast implants generally fall into three categories: cohesive gel implants such as Motiva, traditional silicone gel implants, and saline implants. Each type has its own profile, and the right choice depends on anatomy, goals, and lifestyle. Our San Francisco plastic surgeon, Dr. Liu, will walk through these options in detail during a consultation and help determine which implant may support the outcome a patient has in mind.
SVIA® - Patient Testimonial
Motiva® Breast Implants
Our team is proud to offer Motiva Implants, among the most advanced options available for breast augmentation today. Manufactured by Establishment Labs, Motiva has led Femtech innovation for over two decades and maintains a presence in more than 86 countries worldwide. These implants pair refined engineering with a patient-focused design philosophy, backed by 14+ years of consistently low complication rates reported internationally. Motiva Implants are available in two styles, each offered in three projection levels, Mini, Demi, and Full, allowing Dr. Liu to tailor shape and size to a patient's individual frame and aesthetic goals.
Motiva SmoothSilk® Round
- Features the SmoothSilk® surface paired with ProgressiveGel PLUS® for added upper pole fullness and softness
- Maintains a round, full form in any position, whether a patient is standing or lying down
- Suited to patients seeking a consistently full, rounded appearance
Motiva SmoothSilk® Ergonomix®
- Combines the SmoothSilk® surface with ProgressiveGel ULTIMA® to echo the natural look, feel, and movement of breast tissue
- Adapts to the body's movement, appearing round while lying down and shifting to a teardrop contour when upright
- Designed for placement through a smaller incision, which may help minimize visible scarring
Many patients are drawn to Motiva for its combination of a soft, cohesive gel fill, a smooth outer shell designed to support natural movement, and a long-standing international safety record. Dr. Liu can review whether a Motiva implant aligns with a patient's goals during consultation.
Digital Imaging and 3D Surgical Planning
Choosing a breast implant size and shape is easier when a patient can see a realistic preview of the possibilities before surgery. Our practice uses Crisalix, a 3D imaging and simulation platform, to help patients visualize potential outcomes based on their own anatomy. By combining a patient's measurements and photographs with different implant styles, sizes, and projection levels, Crisalix generates a simulated preview that can support the conversation between patient and surgeon.
This digital planning step is not a guarantee of final results, since healing and individual anatomy affect outcomes, but it gives patients a clearer starting point for discussing their goals with Dr. Liu and narrowing down implant options before the day of surgery.
Breast Implant Placement Locations
Breast implants can be placed either above the chest muscle (subglandular) or below it (subpectoral). Our team typically favors a subpectoral placement to support natural-looking results. The right option depends on a patient's anatomy, existing breast tissue, skin elasticity, and personal aesthetic goals.
Advantages of Silicone Breast Implants
The main advantage of silicone breast implants is a natural look and feel that closely resembles breast tissue. Many women consider this a major factor in their decision, one that can outweigh other considerations. A few factors are worth noting with traditional silicone implants. Their size cannot be adjusted after placement, which means they require a larger incision than an implant filled after insertion. There is also a greater risk that a rupture may go unnoticed, since the gel tends to remain in the breast area rather than causing an immediate, visible change. For this reason, periodic MRI screening is generally recommended for patients with silicone implants.
Natrelle Warranty Information
Natrelle breast implants include a lifetime product replacement guarantee. If an implant deflates or ruptures due to a loss of shell integrity, Allergan will replace it with any style or size at no cost. Purchasing Natrelle implants also enrolls patients in Allergan's ConfidencePlus warranty program, which provides 10 years of financial assistance toward expenses related to implant rupture or deflation that are not covered by insurance. An enhanced ConfidencePlus Premier tier is available for an additional fee and includes contralateral implant replacement.
Sientra Warranty Information
Sientra breast implants come with one of the more comprehensive warranty programs in the industry. The Sientra limited warranty and product replacement program includes:
- Lifetime product replacement if a Sientra implant ruptures
- A financial contribution toward surgery if a Sientra implant ruptures within 20 years of the original breast augmentation surgery
- A complimentary contralateral (opposite side) implant if required
A Note on Saline Implants
Saline implants, filled with sterile salt water inside a silicone shell, remain an FDA-approved option for women 18 and older. Because they are filled after placement, they can be inserted through a smaller incision than a pre-filled implant. Dr. Liu can discuss whether a saline implant fits a patient's goals, alongside the Motiva, silicone, and cohesive gel options described above.
