Introduction

Breast augmentation has changed dramatically over the last decade. Today’s patients are no longer willing to accept prolonged downtime, painful muscle dissection, or results that shift and distort over time. Women want breast enhancement that looks natural, feels natural, heals quickly, and holds its shape for years—not months.

That evolution has led to one of the most important innovations in modern breast surgery: Preserve™ Breast Augmentation.

As one of the few surgeons in the United States formally trained and certified in the Preserve™ technique, Dr. John L. Burns offers this advanced, anatomy-based approach at his boutique plastic surgery practice in Dallas—giving patients a safer, gentler option with faster recovery and unmatched long-term stability.

What Is Preserve™ Breast Augmentation?

Preserve™ is a minimally invasive, tissue-sparing breast augmentation technique that creates the implant pocket without cutting breast tissue or disturbing the chest muscle.

Traditional breast augmentation relies on sharp dissection—often beneath the pectoral muscle. While effective, that approach can lead to:
• Significant post-operative pain
• Prolonged activity restrictions
• Animation deformity (breast movement with muscle flexion)
• Progressive implant displacement over timePreserve™ fundamentally changes this paradigm.

With Preserve™:

• No breast tissue is cut
• The chest muscle is untouched
• Natural breast support structures are preserved
• Implants are placed above the muscle, where they belong anatomically

Instead of forcefully creating space, Preserve™ uses specialized blunt instrumentation to gently separate natural tissue planes—allowing the implant to “nest” within the breast’s existing architecture.

The result is a procedure that is gentler, faster to recover from, and far more stable over the long term.

Ultra-Fast Recovery — Often Without General Anesthesia

One of the most exciting aspects of Preserve™ Breast Augmentation is the recovery experience.

Unlike traditional submuscular augmentation, Preserve™ can often be performed without general anesthesia, using local anesthesia with oral or IV relaxation medication. Patients remain comfortable, breathing on their own, and avoid the physiologic stress of being fully “put to sleep.”

Patients commonly report:
• Pressure rather than pain during surgery
• No muscle spasms afterward
• Minimal swelling and bruising
• A clearer, faster post-op recovery

Typical Preserve™ Recovery Timeline
• Same day: Walking comfortably, minimal soreness
• 1 week: Return to light exercise
• 2–3 weeks: Full, unrestricted workouts

By comparison, traditional submuscular augmentation often requires 6–12 weeks before full activity is allowed.

Because Preserve™ avoids the chest muscle entirely, it eliminates animation deformity—the unnatural movement or distortion of the breasts during exercise or muscle flexion that commonly occurs with submuscular implants.

Implants are placed in a subfascial, anatomically appropriate position, allowing the breast to move naturally with the body.

This makes Preserve™ especially appealing for:
• Athletic women
• Pilates, yoga, and CrossFit enthusiasts
• Runners and weightlifters
• Patients who want a natural look and feel in motion

Breasts should move like breasts—not contract when you flex.

Why Preserve™ Delivers the Longest-Lasting Results

While fast recovery is impressive, the true breakthrough of Preserve™ lies in its long-term stability.

Understanding “Bottoming Out”

One of the most common long-term issues with traditional breast augmentation is downward and outward implant displacement, often called bottoming out. This happens when:
• Breast tissue is cut
• Natural ligamentous support is weakened
• The implant pocket stretches over time

Once these structures are disrupted, gravity and motion gradually pull implants downward—leading to loss of shape, asymmetry, and the need for revision surgery.

Preserve™ Protects the Breast’s Natural Support System

Preserve™ takes advantage of breast anatomy—specifically the circummammary ligaments, which function like an internal suspension system for the breast.

In traditional augmentation, these ligaments are often divided or weakened. With Preserve™:
• No cutting is used
• Circummammary ligaments remain intact
• Implants are positioned higher and more medially
• The implant becomes naturally supported by existing anatomy

Because the breast’s internal architecture is preserved, patients are far less likely to experience bottoming out over the life of their implants—an advantage unmatched by older techniques.

How Early Facelifts Differ From “Mini” Facelifts

Many patients confuse early-intervention facelifts with mini facelifts. While there can be overlap, they are not the same.

A true early-intervention facelift:
• Addresses deeper support structures
• Is customized to facial anatomy
• Avoids surface-only tightening

Dr. Burns designs each facelift individually, focusing on balanced facial rejuvenation, not cookie-cutter techniques.

Benefits at Every Stage

Short-Term Advantages
• No general anesthesia in many cases
• Minimal pain and swelling
• Rapid return to daily life
• No muscle dysfunction

Long-Term Advantages
• Stable implant position
• Reduced risk of bottoming out
• Natural breast movement
• Predictable, long-lasting results

Preserve™ offers the rare combination of fast recovery and long-term durability.

Why Choose Dr. John Burns for Preserve™ Breast Augmentation?

Dr. John L. Burns is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 25 years of experience and a national reputation for advanced breast surgery.

He is:
• One of the few surgeons in the U.S. certified in Preserve™
• A leader in minimally invasive, anatomy-preserving techniques
• Known for natural, athletic, long-lasting results

All Preserve™ procedures are performed in Dr. Burns’ AAAASF-certified private surgery center, ensuring the highest standards of safety, precision, and patient experience.

Preserve™ Breast Augmentation represents a new era in breast surgery—focused on preservation, performance, and permanence.If you want:

• The fastest recovery
• The most natural movement
• The longest-lasting breast augmentation results

📍 Dr. John Burns Plastic Surgery — Dallas, TX
🏥 AAAASF-certified boutique surgical facility
📐 Advanced 3D imaging for individualized planning
🌐 Visit drjohnburns.com to request your consultation