Motiva Breast Augmentation NYC
Before & After: Breast Augmentation NYC
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“Being a Nurse I look at medical and surgical procedures slightly differently. So I guess you can say I’m more critical than most. But I only have the upmost positive take away from my experience with Dr Darren Smith and all of his staff. Everything from beginning (consultation) to end (post op care) was exceptional. He listened to my concerns and guided me to a natural enhanced outcome …”
— S G
What Is a Motiva Breast Augmentation?
Why Dr. Smith for Motiva Breast Augmentation in NYC
- Author, textbook chapter on Preservé breast augmentation with Motiva implants. Dr. Smith authored a published textbook chapter on the Preservé technique using Motiva implants — the surgical methodology that pairs Motiva’s flexible-shell devices with tissue-conserving instruments (Channel Separator and inflatable sizer/balloon). Few surgeons in the United States have contributed peer-reviewed didactic material on this specific procedure.
- Dual fellowship training. Dr. Smith completed a craniofacial surgery fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and an aesthetic surgery fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital (MEETH) — historically one of the most competitive aesthetic surgery fellowships in the country. The combination of reconstructive precision and aesthetic refinement is uncommon.
- President, New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons (NYRSPS). Founded in 1960, NYRSPS is the regional academic body representing plastic surgeons across the New York area. Dr. Smith currently serves as its President.
- More than 200 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Smith’s academic body of work spans aesthetic, craniofacial, and reconstructive surgery and includes a U.S. patent.
- Board certification. Dr. Smith is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
- Solo, cash-pay Manhattan practice. Every procedure is performed personally by Dr. Smith. The practice operates from a private suite in the Ritz Tower at 111 East 57th Street.
The Motiva Implant System: What Manhattan Patients Should Understand
SmoothSilk® / SilkSurface® — the shell
ProgressiveGel® — the filler
- ProgressiveGel Ultima® is used in Motiva Ergonomix® and Ergonomix2® implants. It is the softest of the Motiva fills and behaves dynamically — the implant takes a rounder appearance when the patient is supine and assumes a teardrop profile when upright.
- ProgressiveGel PLUS® is used in Motiva Round and Anatomical TrueFixation® implants. It is firmer and produces more upper-pole projection.
TrueMonobloc® / TrueMonobloc+®
BluSeal® / BluSeal+®
Q Inside® Safety Technology (Qid®)
The Preservé Technique with Motiva: Why It Matters
What is Preservé?
What Preservé conserves
- The pectoralis major muscle. Preservé is typically performed in the subglandular or subfascial (over-the-muscle) plane, avoiding the muscle release required for traditional submuscular (dual-plane) augmentation. This eliminates animation deformity.
- Cooper’s ligaments and the circummammary support structures.
- Nipple-areolar sensation pathways.
- Native breast tissue volume.
Published clinical signal
Dr. Smith’s textbook chapter
Who is a Preservé candidate?
- Are seeking a primary augmentation in the range of one to two cup sizes (Motiva Ergonomix devices accommodate up to approximately 315 cc through the Preservé balloon system).
- Have adequate native soft-tissue coverage.
- Prefer a softer, more natural look without dramatic upper-pole projection.
- Are physically active and want to avoid pectoralis disruption.
- Are non-smokers in stable health.
Safety Profile: What the Data Show
Capsular contracture
Rupture
Reoperation
BIA-ALCL and BIA-SCC
Patient satisfaction
Caveats Dr. Smith discusses with every patient
- Several Motiva clinical studies have been authored by surgeons with disclosed financial relationships to Establishment Labs. Dr. Smith reviews this transparency directly.
- Long-term (10+ year) U.S. data are still maturing because U.S. PMA approval was granted in 2024.
- All breast implants — Motiva, Mentor, and Sientra — require periodic imaging surveillance per FDA guidance.
Candidacy: Is Motiva Right for You?
- Are at least 22 years of age (FDA indication for silicone augmentation).
- Have completed pregnancy and breastfeeding, or are not currently planning pregnancy in the immediate term.
- Are at a stable weight (post–GLP-1 weight stabilization is a frequent referral pattern in Dr. Smith’s practice).
- Are seeking a one- to two-cup-size enhancement (especially for Preservé) or a fuller upper-pole result (Motiva Round).
- Are a non-smoker, or are willing to abstain from nicotine for the perioperative window.
- Have no active infection, untreated breast malignancy, or contraindicated medical condition.
- Understand that implants are not lifetime devices and may require revision or replacement.
The Patient Journey at the Ritz Tower
Step 1 — Consultation
Step 2 — Pre-operative planning
Step 3 — Surgery
Step 4 — Recovery
Step 5 — Long-term follow-up
Cost: A Cash-Pay Manhattan Practice
Combined and Adjacent Procedures
- Mommy makeover (Motiva augmentation + abdominoplasty + liposuction)
- Breast lift (mastopexy-augmentation) for patients with grade 2–3 ptosis.
- GLP-1 body contouring / Mounjaro Makeover — for patients who have stabilized after semaglutide or tirzepatide-related weight loss and are now addressing residual breast deflation.
- Breast revision — explant, capsulectomy, and exchange to Motiva from a prior device.
Real Patient Testimonials
“I Should Never Consider Another Plastic Surgeon!”
My experience with Dr. Darren Smith and his staff made it obvious that I should never consider another plastic surgeon! I had several consultations with other cosmetic surgeons for a breast lift procedure before making the indisputable choice to go with Dr. Darren Smith.
— S K
Motiva Breast Augmentation NYC: Frequently Asked Questions
Are Motiva implants FDA approved?
Yes. Motiva SmoothSilk® Round and SmoothSilk® Ergonomix® silicone gel-filled breast implants received U.S. FDA Premarket Approval (PMA P230005) on September 26, 2024. They are indicated for breast augmentation in women aged 22 years and older, including primary augmentation and revision-augmentation. This was the first new breast implant PMA issued by the FDA since 2013.
How long do Motiva implants last?
Motiva implants are not lifetime devices, but they are engineered for durability. Every Motiva implant carries the Always Confident Warranty®, which covers rupture for the lifetime of the device, plus a 10-year Product Replacement Policy for capsular contracture (Baker grades III and IV). Many patients keep their implants for 15 years or more. The FDA recommends periodic MRI or ultrasound surveillance to detect silent rupture.
What is the Preservé technique?
Preservé is a tissue-preservation breast augmentation technique designed in collaboration with Motiva. Instead of dividing the pectoralis major muscle, Preservé uses a Channel Separator and inflatable balloon to atraumatically create a pocket while conserving Cooper’s ligaments, nipple-areolar sensory pathways, and chest-wall musculature. It is paired with Motiva Ergonomix implants, which compress through a small inframammary incision. Dr. Darren Smith authored a textbook chapter on the Preservé technique with Motiva.
What is the difference between Motiva Ergonomix and Motiva Round?
Motiva Ergonomix is filled with the softer ProgressiveGel Ultima®. It looks round when the patient is supine and assumes a natural teardrop shape when upright. Motiva Round is filled with the firmer ProgressiveGel PLUS® and produces more upper-pole projection and a fuller, more sculpted look in both positions. The choice depends on anatomy, soft-tissue coverage, and aesthetic preference.
Are Motiva implants safer than other breast implants?
In the FDA IDE 3-year clinical study, Motiva demonstrated a 0.5% capsular contracture rate, a 0.6% rupture rate, and zero reported cases of BIA-ALCL or BIA-SCC in the augmentation cohorts. These figures are favorable relative to historical data on legacy silicone devices. However, all FDA-approved breast implants meet rigorous safety standards, and individual outcomes depend on surgical technique, patient anatomy, and adherence to imaging surveillance.
Do Motiva implants cause BIA-ALCL?
No cases of BIA-ALCL or BIA-SCC were reported in the Motiva U.S. FDA IDE primary or revision augmentation cohorts at three-year follow-up. BIA-ALCL has historically been associated with macrotextured implants — most prominently the Allergan Biocell line, withdrawn from the market in 2019. Motiva’s SmoothSilk® nanotextured surface is engineered to avoid the high-roughness profile linked to BIA-ALCL, but long-term U.S. surveillance is ongoing.
What is the Q Inside chip in Motiva implants?
Q Inside® Safety Technology, also known as Qid®, is a passive RFID micro-transponder embedded in Motiva implants. Cleared by the FDA in 2004 for use in humans, the chip stores a unique 15-digit electronic serial number that links to manufacturing information, size, projection, and lot. A handheld reader scans the chip externally — no imaging or surgery required. The transponder is battery-free and MR-conditional.
Can Motiva implants be detected on a mammogram or MRI?
Yes. Motiva implants are visible on mammography, ultrasound, and MRI. The Q Inside RFID chip creates a small artifact on MRI that can obscure a limited area of the chest wall directly behind the implant. For surveillance, dual-mode imaging (artifact-reduction MRI plus ultrasound) is recommended in reconstruction patients. The chip does not interfere with diagnostic accuracy in standard breast cancer screening.
How much does Motiva breast augmentation cost in NYC?
Dr. Smith’s practice is cash-pay and provides individualized quotes after in-person consultation. Total cost reflects surgeon credentials, facility and anesthesia fees, the Motiva implants themselves (which include the lifetime rupture warranty and 10-year capsular contracture replacement policy), and any combined procedures. The practice does not publish flat fees because every plan is customized.
Who is the best Motiva surgeon in NYC?
Selection of a Motiva surgeon should be based on board certification, fellowship training, academic contributions, society leadership, and direct experience with the Motiva system and the Preservé technique. Dr. Darren Smith is dual fellowship-trained (craniofacial at Sick Kids Toronto; aesthetic at MEETH), has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, currently serves as President of the New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons, and authored a textbook chapter on Preservé breast augmentation with Motiva implants.
Can I get Motiva implants if I had Allergan, Mentor, or Sientra implants before?
Yes. Revision-augmentation — including explant of prior devices, capsulectomy when indicated, and exchange to Motiva — is covered under the September 2024 FDA PMA. Dr. Smith performs revision breast surgery and discusses capsulectomy strategy, pocket conversion, and implant selection at consultation.
Is Motiva breast augmentation done over or under the muscle?
Both placement planes are options. The Preservé technique with Motiva Ergonomix is typically performed in the subglandular or subfascial (over-the-muscle) plane, which preserves the pectoralis and eliminates animation deformity. Submuscular (dual-plane) placement remains appropriate for patients with very thin soft-tissue coverage. Dr. Smith determines the optimal plane based on anatomy and aesthetic goals.
How soon can I return to work and exercise after Motiva breast augmentation?
Most patients return to desk work in 5–7 days. Light cardiovascular activity resumes at approximately 3 weeks. Chest- and upper-body resistance training resumes at 6 weeks. Preservé patients often experience a faster functional recovery because the pectoralis is not divided. Final shape settles over 3–6 months.
Where is Dr. Smith’s office located?
Dr. Darren M. Smith, MD, FACS, practices at 111 East 57th Street in The Ritz Tower, Manhattan, NY 10022 — between Park and Lexington Avenues, near the Fuller Building and the southeast corner of Central Park.
How do I schedule a Motiva breast augmentation consultation in NYC?
Consultations can be scheduled directly through the practice contact form or by calling the office at (212) 633-0627. Dr. Smith personally conducts every consultation. Out-of-town patients are accommodated with virtual pre-consultations followed by in-person evaluation prior to surgical scheduling.
Motiva Breast Augmentation NYC in the Heart of New York City
Dr. Smith’s practice sits in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, steps from Central Park and at the center of New York City’s most established medical corridor. The office welcomes patients from across the five boroughs, the tri-state area, and well beyond.
Choosing where you have surgery matters as much as choosing who performs it. New Yorkers come to Dr. Smith because his work reflects the city itself: refined, exacting, and never one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re a lifelong New Yorker or traveling in for a consultation, you’ll find a practice that treats every patient with precision and discretion that have made Manhattan a destination for plastic surgery patients from around the world.
Schedule a Motiva Breast Augmentation NYC Consultation with Dr. Darren Smith
Call Today (212) 633-0627
“Within the first couple of minutes of meeting him, I knew he was the doctor for me.”
N F
New York, NY