Motiva is one of three breast implant brands routinely used in breast augmentation surgery in the UK, alongside Mentor and Allergan. Manufactured by Establishment Labs in Costa Rica, Motiva is the newest of the major implant brands and has built a reputation for design innovations including the SmoothSilk shell surface, ProgressiveGel filler, and embedded RFID identification chip.
This guide covers everything you need to know if you are considering Motiva implants for your breast augmentation: how Motiva implants are constructed, the differences between Ergonomix and Round ranges, the available sizes and profiles, the safety record and BIA-ALCL context, longevity, warranty, and how Motiva compares with Mentor. The guide is written by the team at Centre for Surgery, where breast augmentation is performed by GMC-registered specialist plastic surgeons at our CQC-regulated Baker Street clinic.
What are Motiva breast implants?
Motiva breast implants are silicone-shelled, silicone gel-filled implants used in cosmetic breast augmentation and post-mastectomy reconstruction. Three design features distinguish Motiva from older implant brands:
- SmoothSilk shell — a nano-textured surface engineered to a specific micron specification, distinct from the macrotextured surfaces associated with breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)
- ProgressiveGel filler — proprietary cohesive silicone gel formulations that flow under gravity in the Ergonomix range and hold a defined shape in the Round range
- Q Inside Safety Technology (Qid) — an embedded passive RFID microtransponder that allows non-invasive identification of implant size, type, and serial number using a handheld scanner
Motiva implants received MHRA clearance in the UK in 2010 and FDA approval in the United States in 2024. They are widely used across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, and are now an established option in UK private cosmetic surgery.
RELATED: Breast implant options at Centre for Surgery | Mentor vs Motiva breast implants
Motiva Ergonomix — natural-shape silicone implants
The Motiva Ergonomix range is the brand’s flagship product and the most commonly used Motiva implant in UK breast augmentation. Ergonomix uses Motiva’s ProgressiveGel Ultima, a softer, more dynamic gel that flows under gravity within the implant shell.
The clinical effect is that Ergonomix implants behave differently depending on body position:
- Upright — the gel settles toward the lower pole of the implant, producing a soft teardrop shape with a natural slope from the upper to lower pole
- Lying flat — the gel redistributes, producing a flatter, more spread-out shape similar to natural breast tissue at rest
This positional behaviour is the principal reason Ergonomix is chosen for patients who want a natural-feeling, natural-looking result that closely mimics native breast tissue. The implant is round-shelled, meaning rotation in the breast pocket does not affect appearance — combining the rotation-proof safety of round implants with a teardrop visual effect achieved through gel dynamics rather than implant shape.
Motiva Round — defined-projection silicone implants
The Motiva Round range uses a firmer cohesive gel — ProgressiveGel Plus — that holds a defined round shape regardless of body position. This produces a different aesthetic outcome to Ergonomix:
- More pronounced upper-pole fullness
- A rounder, more visibly augmented appearance
- More defined cleavage
- Less dynamic movement in response to body position
Motiva Round is typically chosen by patients who want a clearly augmented look with maximum upper-pole projection. Like Ergonomix, the round shell means rotation does not affect appearance.
RELATED: Round vs teardrop implants — choosing the best implant shape
Motiva projections — Mini, Demi, Full, Corsé
Both Ergonomix and Round are available in four projection profiles. Projection refers to how far the implant stands forward from the chest wall — a critical factor in the final aesthetic outcome that is often less well understood than implant volume.
- Mini — lowest projection, widest base, subtlest enhancement
- Demi — low-to-medium projection, moderate enhancement
- Full — medium-to-high projection, defined fullness
- Corsé — highest projection, narrowest base, maximum forward fullness
Volume options span approximately 105cc to 1,050cc across the projection profiles, allowing the surgeon to match the implant precisely to your chest wall width and aesthetic goals. Two implants of the same volume can produce very different results depending on projection — a wider, lower-projection implant gives a more natural slope, while a narrower, higher-projection implant gives more forward fullness.
RELATED: Understanding breast implant profile and projection | What is the perfect breast implant for me?
SmoothSilk shell technology
The Motiva shell uses a nano-textured surface called SmoothSilk (also marketed as SilkSurface). This is engineered to a specific micron specification — distinct from both fully smooth shells and the macrotextured surfaces of older textured implants.
The clinical rationale is that nano-texturing provides a controlled, even surface contact with surrounding tissue, with the goal of reducing capsule friction and inflammatory response without the safety concerns associated with macrotextured shells. The SmoothSilk surface has not been associated with BIA-ALCL in the way that macrotextured implants from other manufacturers have been.
BluSeal barrier and TrueMonobloc construction
Two further design features differentiate Motiva from older implant brands:
BluSeal is a visible blue barrier layer between the implant shell and the silicone gel filler. Its purpose is to provide a clearly identifiable safety check during manufacture and pre-implantation inspection — a uniformly visible blue layer indicates the barrier is intact.
TrueMonobloc describes Motiva’s manufacturing approach, in which the shell, patch (the small reinforcement at the base of every implant), and gel are formed as a unified structure rather than assembled from separate components. This is intended to reduce the risk of failure at the patch — a known weak point in some older implant designs.
Q Inside Safety Technology (Qid)
Motiva offers an optional embedded RFID microtransponder — Q Inside Safety Technology — that stores the implant’s unique identification, size, type, model, and serial number on a passive electronic chip embedded in the shell. The chip is non-active (no battery, no signal output until scanned) and is read using a handheld scanner.
The clinical relevance is that any future surgeon, anywhere in the world, can identify exactly what implant is in place without referring to paper records — which can be useful in the case of revision surgery, manufacturer recalls, or relocation to another country. Qid is offered as an option, not a requirement, and adds to the implant cost.
Motiva safety record
Motiva implants have been MHRA-cleared in the UK since 2010 and received FDA approval in the United States in 2024 — a significant regulatory milestone, given the FDA’s stringent post-market safety surveillance requirements for breast implants.
The most discussed safety concern in modern breast implant surgery is BIA-ALCL — a rare type of lymphoma associated specifically with macrotextured implant surfaces. The textured Allergan implants linked to most BIA-ALCL cases were recalled by the FDA in 2019. Motiva’s SmoothSilk nano-texture is engineered to a different specification than the macrotextured shells associated with BIA-ALCL cases. As of current published surveillance data, Motiva implants have not been associated with BIA-ALCL in the same way as macrotextured implants.
Other recognised long-term considerations with any breast implant — Motiva included — are capsular contracture, implant rupture, and the very rare condition of breast implant illness (BII). Routine monitoring with ultrasound or MRI from around three years post-augmentation is recommended for all silicone implants.
RELATED: Capsular contracture — causes, symptoms and treatments | Breast implant illness — current evidence
How long do Motiva implants last?
Motiva implants do not have a fixed expiry date, and there is no clinical requirement to remove or replace them at a specific age. In practice, most modern silicone implants last between 10 and 20 years before any clinical issue arises, and many last considerably longer.
What matters is monitoring — not the number on the calendar. A baseline ultrasound or MRI is recommended around three years post-augmentation, with follow-up imaging every two to three years thereafter. Replacement is appropriate when imaging or symptoms suggest implant rupture, when capsular contracture (Baker grade III or IV) develops, or when the patient simply wishes to change size or shape.
RELATED: How do I know when my breast implants need replacing? | Breast implant replacement
Motiva warranty — Always Confident programme
Motiva’s standard “Always Confident” warranty provides:
- Lifetime cover for confirmed implant rupture — replacement implants provided at no charge if rupture is confirmed
- Ten-year cover for capsular contracture (Baker grade III or IV) — replacement implants provided
- Ten-year cover for delayed-onset seroma — replacement implants provided
Optional extended warranties are available for additional financial assistance toward replacement surgery costs. The warranty applies only when the implants are placed by a Motiva-trained surgeon following the manufacturer’s clinical guidelines — which is standard practice at Centre for Surgery.
Motiva vs Mentor — how to choose
Both Motiva and Mentor are reputable, modern silicone implant brands. The differences are in implant gel cohesivity, shell technology, market history, and warranty programme rather than fundamental safety or quality.
Motiva Ergonomix uses ProgressiveGel Ultima that flows under gravity, creating a softer teardrop appearance when upright and a more rounded appearance when lying flat. The SmoothSilk shell is nano-textured to a specific micron specification not found in other brands. Qid RFID identification is available as an optional add-on.
Mentor MemoryGel uses a more traditional cohesive gel formulation with a wider range of off-the-shelf profiles available in the UK. Mentor’s longer market history (40+ years) means there is more long-term published data on outcomes.
Patient choice between the two is best made at consultation, where your surgeon can demonstrate sizers from each brand, explain how each implant behaves in different anatomies, and discuss the warranty implications for your individual case.
Considering Motiva implants? Book a consultation
Breast augmentation at Centre for Surgery is performed by GMC-registered consultant plastic surgeons at our Baker Street clinic. All procedures are carried out under TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) as a day case. The clinic is regulated by the Care Quality Commission, with an overall rating of “Good”. A mandatory two-week cooling-off period applies between consent and surgery.
At consultation, your surgeon will take detailed chest wall measurements, discuss your aesthetic goals, demonstrate Motiva and Mentor sizers, and recommend a specific implant brand, range (Ergonomix vs Round), projection (Mini, Demi, Full, or Corsé), and volume. You can also discuss recovery, scarring, the post-operative bra you will wear (covered in our guide on choosing the right bra after breast augmentation), and the long-term monitoring schedule.
0% APR finance is available through Chrysalis Finance, subject to status. Full pricing is given at the end of your consultation.
RELATED: Are breast implants worth it? | Common questions about breast implants | Teardrop breast implants | Fat transfer to breasts (alternative to implants)
Phone: 0207 993 4849
Email: contact@centreforsurgery.com
Address: 95–97 Baker Street, London W1U 6RN
Online: Book a consultation
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