One of the main trends driving innovation in the field of aesthetic medicine is the concept of minimally invasive procedures. In other words, treatments that allow us to achieve our aesthetic goals with natural results, minimal recovery time, and in the least aggressive way possible for the body.
In this post, we analyze the differences between Mia Femtech™ and Preservé™, two techniques designed to increase breast volume with express recovery, among other advantages. Keep reading to learn more!
What is Mia Femtech™?
Mia® is a minimally invasive technique that allows us to increase breast volume by one to two cup sizes. This procedure is innovative for several reasons:
- It provides a subtle increase in volume.
- It does not require general anesthesia; only local anesthesia with light sedation is used.
- It is performed via an axillary (armpit) approach, so the scar remains hidden.
- It respects the breast tissues and ligaments.
- Thanks to this, the patient can return to her routine almost immediately.
This technique is aimed at patients who do not wish to undergo traditional breast augmentation surgery and who are not completely dissatisfied with their breast size, but who often rely on push-up bras and other tricks to achieve a bit more volume. It is a procedure that does not alter the shape of the breast; it simply fills the breast when volume has been lost for some reason or was never fully present to begin with.
What is Preservé™?
Preservé™ is based on the same concept as Mia® in that it is a minimally invasive technique, but it is designed for patients who are looking for a greater increase in breast volume.
One of the main differences compared to Mia® is that, with the Preservé™ technique, the implant is inserted through the inframammary fold. This allows for more direct control and the placement of a larger implant, without the risk of damaging tissue and while still avoiding the use of general anesthesia.
In summary, Preservé™ combines the advantages of minimally invasive breast augmentation—such as the use of local anesthesia with sedation—while allowing for larger implant volumes.
Mia Femtech™ or Preservé™: Main Differences
Procedure
In both cases, the first step is to administer local anesthesia with sedation to ensure the patient’s comfort.
Once the anesthesia has taken effect, we create a tunnel using a very narrow dissector, which opens an access pathway for a key instrument in preserving breast tissue: the expander.
The expander can be described as an empty balloon that is inserted into the breast and gradually inflated with air. This allows us to create space for the implant without cutting, injuring, or tearing the breast’s suspensory ligaments.
In summary, we create a space that did not previously exist, which means we do not need to use an electric scalpel as in traditional techniques—thereby avoiding damage to breast tissue.
Once the expander is deflated and removed, the implant is inserted:
- In the case of Mia®, we use a device that propels the implant using compressed air, inserting it into the created space without the surgeon needing to touch the inside of the breast.
- In the case of Preservé™, insertion is performed using a device similar to a pastry piping bag. This method allows us to work with larger implants and, consequently, achieve a greater increase in breast volume.
Duration and Anesthesia
Both procedures are performed using local anesthesia combined with light sedation.
This type of sedation is similar to what is used during medical tests such as a gastroscopy or colonoscopy. The anesthesiologist inserts an IV and administers medication that relaxes the patient to the point of falling asleep; however, if the surgeon or someone in the room speaks to the patient, she can respond because she remains conscious. The patient is not intubated and breathes on her own.
Sedation is administered first to promote relaxation, followed by the application of local anesthesia to the breast. This is done without directly injecting the breast tissue, using cannulas that allow the anesthetic to be delivered from the incision site to the areas that need to be numbed.
Incisions and Scarring
Both techniques share the advantage of being performed through a very small incision. The difference lies in the location of the incision:
- In the case of Mia®, the incision is made in one of the natural folds of the armpit, ensuring that the scar remains hidden.
- In the case of Preservé™, a small incision is made in the inframammary fold, which—with proper care—becomes almost imperceptible over time.
Recovery
Recovery is very similar for both procedures, although Preservé™ may be slightly more uncomfortable due to the larger implant volume. A larger implant places more tension on the nerve endings, so the patient may feel increased tightness in the breast area. However, this is generally very manageable and usually only requires anti-inflammatory medication during the first few days of recovery.
As for returning to daily routines—such as working, driving, or taking care of family—this can be done the day after the procedure, and in many cases even on the same day.
When it comes to sports or lifting weight with the arms, it is recommended to wait approximately three weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which treatment should I choose?
These techniques are mainly aimed at two different patient profiles:
- If you are not completely happy with your current breast volume and often use push-up bras or underwires to make your breasts look slightly larger, but you are not considering surgery, you are probably a candidate for Mia®, which offers a very subtle enhancement.
- If, after trying the volume provided by Mia®, you feel it is not enough, we can consider the Preservé™ technique, which combines the benefits of a minimally invasive procedure with the possibility of achieving a more significant increase in volume.
Which of the two treatments is less invasive?
Although both procedures are minimally invasive, it is true that Mia® fully preserves the breast tissues, whereas Preservé™ involves minimal disruption of the tissues only in the small area where the incision is made to insert the implant.
Even so, this tissue disruption is minimal and significantly less than in traditional breast augmentation surgery.
With which treatment will I achieve more natural results?
In both cases, the results are very natural; this depends largely on the quality of the patient’s tissues and the size of the implants.
That said, the new generation of implants is made with a very natural-feeling, highly biocompatible gel that is very well tolerated by the body, forming very thin capsules around the implant. This allows the breasts to look, feel, and move in a very natural way.
