Top Doctor
Top Doctor
Top Doctor
Verified
Contributor
Top Doctor
Top Doctor
Top Doctor
Verified
Contributor
Mini. Demi. Full. Those three words can shape everything from how a T-shirt drapes to how a sports bra feels on a morning run. Profiles aren’t about “small, medium, large.” They’re about projection: how far an implant comes forward for a given base width and how that projection works with your chest wall, soft tissue, posture, and life. This guide breaks it down in clear, useful language so you can picture what each option actually looks and feels like on a real body.
Two measurements drive the conversation: base width and projection. Base width is the footprint of the implant on your chest, how much real estate it takes up from side to side. Projection is how far the implant comes forward from that base. A Full profile doesn’t automatically mean a larger implant by volume; it means more forward projection on a similar base width. That’s why two implants with the same CCs can look completely different in profile.
On the body, projection changes the side-view curve, the way cleavage forms, and how clothes sit through the chest. Choose too little projection for your base width and the implant can look wide but flat. Choose too much and the breast can feel “proud” in close-fitting tops. The sweet spot lives where your chest wall shape, skin quality, and goals intersect.
Mini is the quiet profile. It spreads volume across a broader base with less forward push. Think soft shape, athletic ease, and a “no one can tell, but you can feel it” kind of augmentation. Mini often suits broader chests or anyone who wants subtle volume without a built-in push-up effect.
Demi is the balanced profile. It adds a touch more projection than Mini while staying easy and natural across most frames. Many first-time augmentations land here because Demi supports a gentle upper-pole curve without looking engineered.
Full steps the projection up a notch. Same base width, more forward contour. It’s useful for narrower chests that need forward shape to create cleavage, tighter skin envelopes that can hold a clean curve, or anyone who wants a defined upper-pole silhouette. Full doesn’t have to read “done.” Paired with the right pocket and gel, it can still look lived-in and soft.
Motiva offers different gel behaviors that matter in daily life.
Ergonomix uses a cohesive gel that shifts with gravity. Upright, it settles a bit like natural breast tissue: fuller toward the lower pole with a gentle slope on top. Lying down, it redistributes and looks rounder, the way a natural breast would. Many patients describe it as “believable movement.”
SmoothSilk Round keeps a more consistent upper-pole presence throughout postures. If you like a set, sculpted look in photos, this can be a fit. It’s also a strong choice if your clothing style leans toward structured cuts and you want the shape to hold.
Neither is “better.” They’re different experiences. One follows you; one frames you. A consult should include a conversation about how you spend your time (office, gym, events, parenting) and which gel behavior lines up with the life you actually live.
Projection on paper won’t tell the full story. The pocket, where the implant sits, can amplify or soften what a profile does.
If you’re hearing about breast tissue preservation or tissue-sparing planning (including approaches like Preservé™), the goal is similar: protect supportive structures, maintain sensation where possible, and create a precise, stable pocket that lets the implant sit where it looks best long term. Pair that with the right profile and gel, and daily comfort goes up as drama goes down.
Consults that land on the right profile usually include a few key steps:
Measurements that matter. Your surgeon will look at base width, soft-tissue pinch (how much coverage you have at the upper pole), nipple position, skin elasticity, and chest wall shape (flat, convex, or concave). Those numbers build your “envelope.”
Lifestyle filters. Runners, lifters, and yogis often favor pockets and profiles that keep shape stable in motion. If your work wardrobe is blazer-heavy or you live in athleisure, that also influences projection choices.
Aesthetic preferences. Some people want soft, quiet volume that doesn’t announce itself. Others want a photo-ready upper pole with defined cleavage in a V-neck. There’s room for both. Your surgeon’s job is to translate that vibe into Mini, Demi, or Full with the right gel and pocket.
Petite frame, narrow chest, wants elegant cleavage. Full profile often comes into play here, paired with a moderate volume. Ergonomix if believable movement matters, Round if you prefer a steady, sculpted upper pole. Subfascial or a thoughtfully executed dual plane can keep edges soft while delivering shape.
Broader chest, wants volume without a push-up look. Mini or Demi can prevent the “all in the middle” effect and keep width balanced. Subfascial often reads very natural in motion for athletic builds.
Post-pregnancy with upper-pole deflation. Demi is a common starting point; Full may be considered if skin is still snug. If there’s true laxity or low nipple position, a lift discussion belongs on the table. Profile alone won’t correct descent.
Athletic build with visible muscle activation. Subfascial placement can reduce animation changes. Projection usually stays true in daily movement, so Demi or a lighter Full can look consistent from yoga to deadlifts.
Motiva’s surface and shell/gel pairing are engineered to interact smoothly with soft tissue. The SmoothSilk/SilkSurface nano-surface concept is part of that conversation, and some models include implant identification technology so your implant details can be verified non-invasively later. Keep the focus on the triangle that matters most: an appropriate surface, a gel that matches your goals, and a pocket that’s built precisely for your anatomy. That combination is what supports long-term comfort and a stable look.
Bodies change. Weight fluctuates. Skin stretches and recovers to a point and then asks for help. This is why the “how will this age?” question is smart.
If your skin is strong and you’re at a stable weight, a smaller volume with a higher projection can create a clean silhouette that holds up well. If tissue is looser, pushing projection without support can encourage descent. Sometimes the better answer is modest projection with a supportive plan: a smaller implant, a preserved or reinforced pocket, or a lift when it’s indicated.
The long game is about matching current anatomy to desired shape without forcing either one to do a job it can’t maintain.
Patients often ask how Motiva compares to the traditional “gummy bear” category.
Many “gummy bear” implants hold a structured shape, which some patients like for a set, steady upper pole. Motiva Ergonomix aims to mimic natural movement across postures, which can read more believable day to day.
Cohesive gels vary in firmness and cut behavior. Tighter gels can require slightly longer incisions and may feel firmer at the edges in thin patients. These are fine points to review in person based on your tissue thickness and planned pocket.
If you love an always-on upper-pole look, a rounder, shape-holding gel can make sense. If you want softer movement that shifts with posture, Ergonomix aligns with that preference. Both can look beautiful when paired with the right plan.
Smart planning includes 3D imaging and bra/soft sizers to preview Mini, Demi, and Full on your frame. Treat this as guidance rather than gospel. Lighting, posture, and how you hold yourself in clothes all influence perception. Bring a couple of wardrobe tests to your fitting, the classic T-shirt and the dress you care about. Seeing both can sharpen decisions quickly.
Projection can’t fix everything. If the nipple sits low or the envelope is lax from weight changes or pregnancies, a breast lift may be the right partner to any profile. Small-volume fat grafting can soften transitions at the upper pole, finesse cleavage lines, and help with rippling in thinner patients. These aren’t “extra.” They’re tools that let the profile you pick do its job gracefully.
No. Full refers to more projection on a given base width, not a universal size jump. You can have the same volume in Mini, Demi, or Full and get very different looks.
Sometimes. It depends on your pocket dimensions, scars, and goals. Subtle changes can make a big visual difference, but they still require surgical planning.
Demi and Mini often look the most natural in motion, especially in subfascial pockets. They give shape without fighting fabric or flexion.
No. The gel redistributes with posture but maintains proportion. It’s built to move like natural tissue, not collapse.
Thoughtful pocketing is key. Many thin patients do well with Demi in a subfascial or tailored dual-plane pocket. Small-volume fat grafting can soften the rim if needed.
Before your consult, it helps to have a few answers ready. What kind of upper-pole shape do you like in photos? How active are you, really? Which two outfits matter most to you? And do you prefer movement that reads natural, or a shape that stays put? Those preferences, paired with measurements, point clearly toward Mini, Demi, or Full, often faster than you think.
A good plan translates numbers into an everyday experience you’ll actually enjoy. Expect measurements, tissue assessment, and a direct conversation about lifestyle and aesthetics. Expect options on gel behavior and pocket placement. Expect a recommendation that makes sense on your body, not a template.
If tissue-preserving pocket work (including Preservé™ concepts) fits your goals, it will be presented as a way to protect sensation, maintain support, and create a pocket that showcases the profile you choose. That’s the point: long-term comfort with a shape that still feels like you.
Motiva’s Mini, Demi, and Full aren’t three versions of the same thing. They’re three ways projection can interact with your base width, tissue, and life. Pick the gel that matches how you want a breast to move. Pick the pocket that keeps that shape stable in motion. Pick the profile that looks right in your clothes and still feels right on a Sunday morning when you’re doing absolutely nothing.
When profile, gel, and pocket align, the implant stops feeling like a “thing” you got. It reads like the body you brought in, just arranged the way you prefer.
If you’re mapping out options, pair this guide with a proper consult and a try-on session. Bring the T-shirt. Bring the dress. Bring the life you plan to live in these implants.
Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Ran Stark brings decades of experience and training to each consultation. When you meet with Dr. Stark, he takes the time to give you information and options, so you can have confidence in your decision to move forward with the best procedure for you. Confidence. Personalized care. Impeccable results. That’s the Stark Difference. Discover that difference yourself by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Stark today.
135 South Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 220, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
