
Could you briefly describe the filling materials for breast implants available on the market today?
Most implants used today are filled with silicone gel and have varying degrees of softness. Even silicone gel itself can have different consistencies and malleability, but generally speaking, modern silicone implants are cohesive (i.e. the implant's form is maintained and holds together as a single piece even if its shell breaks).
In the USA, surgeons occasionally use breast implants filled with saline, but their use is fairly rare in Europe. Saline implants became somewhat popular in the North American market during the FDA moratorium on silicone implants between 1992 and 2006. However, advances in clinical effectiveness and safety of post-2006 versions of silicone implants - as well as the eventual deflation of saline ones - have led to renewed confidence and widespread use of silicone as implant filling in both the USA and Europe.
Alternatives such as soybean oil-filled implants have been associated with various and major adverse events and had been even banned in several countries.
Why should patients care about implant filling material before planning their breast augmentation?
Patients should be aware of what is going into their bodies and be informed of the various types of filling materials and their properties before breast augmentation.
For instance, the form-stable filling material in a traditional anatomical implant (i.e. teardrop-shaped) is more firm, meaning breasts with this type of implant are firmer to the touch. These may be suitable for patients with sagging breasts.
Which filling material is particularly safe?
All modern silicone-filled implants have safe and cohesive materials. This means that if the implant is damaged in some way, we don’t have to worry about any possible leak. This type of implant helps us achieve excellent aesthetic results.

Does that apply to Motiva Implants® as well?
Motiva Implants® are available in two versions of a proprietary silicone gel: ProgressiveGel® Plus and ProgressiveGel Ultima®. Both silicone gels have high cohesivity but low viscosity, and Ultima® in particular adapts very well to the body’s movement. Their interaction with breast tissue and elasticity make them well-suited to even very athletic women.
Because of their gels' unique properties, Motiva Implants® can be inserted into a patient’s body through much smaller incisions, which leave scars that are quite inconspicuous. In fact, Motiva® has teamed up with expert surgeons to create Motiva MinimalScar®, a minimal-incision breast augmentation using minimally invasive techniques and tools. For example, 300 cc ordinary implants leave a scar about 4.5 cm long, while those associated with 300 cc Motiva Implants® are more like 2.5 to 3 cm.

Does the different procedure technique with Motiva Implants® also play a role in healing and final results?
The Motiva MinimalScar® breast augmentation is certainly more challenging on a technical level. The smaller incision means a smaller space to prepare the pocket for the implant.
However the process is typically well worth it, as it leaves patients with barely visible scars that fade even further along time; and with smaller incisions that heal more quickly, with fewer complications associated with them.
Could you describe one of the Motiva® implant filling materials?
I would like to present Ergonomix® by Motiva®. Form stability often comes with a level of rigidity, so for patients aspiring to a more "natural" (i.e. like unoperated breasts) look, feel, and movement, Ergonomix® is a great option. Ergonomix® implants are filled with the soft ProgressiveGel ULTIMA®, which possesses high cohesivity but low viscosity, allowing it to be truly ergonomic - meaning that they move like the real breast tissue would move in tandem with your body.
Viscosity refers to a substance's resistance to flowing (i.e. its thickness). Think of water vs. syrup - water is thinner and flows a lot more easily due to its low viscosity.
What makes Ergonomix® implants so unique is their ability to "flow" or move along with the rest of the body (due to low viscosity) while still maintaining their gel integrity (due to high cohesivity).
What results can be achieved with Ergonomix® implants?
We get the most natural-looking results with Motiva Ergonomix® implants. You can’t even tell if the patient has had a breast augmentation. The Motiva Ergonomix® filling material, ProgressiveGel ULTIMA®, is highly flexible and features a damage-resistant gel structure. I'd recommend it for all patients who are physically compatible with it and want implants that look, feel, and move in a natural way.
Published: 2020-12-22