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For many women thinking about breast augmentation, one of the most important questions about the procedure doesn’t just concern aesthetics, but also considers lifestyle. If you lead an active life and your goals include achieving a fuller, more youthful breast profile, you may question whether breast implants will possibly interfere with strength training, chest workouts, sports, or other competitive athletics. 

With the specialized experience of fellowship-trained Salt Lake City plastic surgeon Jared Garlick, MD along with advances in modern implant technology, Utah patients can now complement their active lifestyle with Preservé™ breast augmentation —a transformative breast implant technique that avoids disrupting the chest muscle, lowering one’s risk of animation deformity while reducing recovery time, minimizing the possibility of rippling, and maintaining sensation. Dr. Garlick is one of only 36 plastic surgeons in the United States trained to perform Preservé™ breast augmentation, placing him among a highly select group of specialists offering this advanced technique. With his experience and the use of Motiva^® implants — which provide an excellent and natural-looking contour for women with an athletic, petite, or lean body frame — our practice redefines what’s possible for active women seeking breast augmentation.

Understanding Breast Implants and Physical Activity: What is Animation Deformity?

Traditional breast augmentation techniques typically involve placing implants either above the chest muscle (subglandular) or beneath it (submuscular). While both methods can achieve beautiful results, submuscular placement has long been favored for its natural appearance and reduced risk of visible implant edges. However, for women who frequently engage in upper body workouts — such as weightlifting, CrossFit, yoga, or tennis — placing implants under the muscle can lead to an unnatural or distorted look upon exercising. Each time the pectoral muscles contract, they can compress and shift the implant, leading to visible distortion of the breast shape. This phenomenon is known as animation deformity and may be defined by appearing flattened, displaced, or distorted when flexing or engaging the upper body.

For athletes and highly active individuals, animation deformity goes beyond aesthetic preference and can be distracting and uncomfortable, even impacting confidence during exercise.

Why Preservé™ Can Be Ideal for Athletes and Active Women

For women who prioritize fitness, Preservé™ breast augmentation offers several distinct advantages:

• No disruption of the chest muscles, helping preserve strength and function
• Reduced risk of animation deformity — even during intense workouts
• Shorter recovery time, allowing a quicker return to physical activity
• Less post-operative discomfort, thanks to the minimally invasive approach
• Preserves breast sensation and function
• Natural-looking results with implants that move harmoniously with the body

Preservé™ represents a modern, minimally invasive evolution in breast surgery. Rather than placing implants beneath the muscle, this technique allows for implant placement behind the breast tissue but above the chest muscle. As a result, patients achieve the benefits of minimized rippling and a natural look without disrupting muscle function.

Instead of traditional surgical dissection, a specialized device is used to gently and precisely prepare the space for the implant. This approach helps preserve the integrity of the chest muscles, nerves, and surrounding tissue, resulting in a lower-impact procedure overall.

The Role of Motiva^® Implants in Active Lifestyles

The Preservé™ technique often involves the use of Motiva^® breast implants, which are known for their advanced design and performance. These implants are composed of highly cohesive gel and characterized by their flexibility, softness, and adaptability, allowing them to move more naturally with the body. They also maintain an elegant teardrop-slope whether upright or lying down, providing a seamless breast profile. Motiva^® breast implants settle naturally within the breast pocket, contributing to a more seamless and lifelike appearance whether at rest or in motion.

For athletes, these implants integrate harmoniously with your body and can enhance both comfort and confidence during physical activity. Additionally, Motiva^® implants are designed to minimize issues like rippling and provide long-term stability, which is especially beneficial for lean or muscular individuals.

What to Expect From Recovery

While Preservé™ breast augmentation is designed to support an active lifestyle, proper healing is still essential. Most patients can resume light activity within a few weeks, with a gradual return to full workouts as recommended by Dr. Garlick. Since the chest muscles are not surgically altered, many women find that they regain their strength and range of motion more quickly compared to traditional submuscular augmentation. If you’ve been hesitant about breast implants due to concerns about working out, animation deformity, or muscle function, this advanced approach offers a solution tailored to your needs.

Dr. Garlick is thrilled to bring the benefits of the cutting-edge Preservé™ breast augmentation procedure to the Utah community. For high-quality enhancement tailored to your body frame and lifestyle, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Garlick today for an initial consultation.