June 04, 2026 | Breast Augmentation
On Saturday, May 30, Stephanie Han defended her WBA lightweight world title against Holly Holm at the El Paso County Coliseum, live on ESPN, and won by decision to move to 13-0. About four months before that fight, she had a breast augmentation in my operating room. We sat down to walk through the case, the technique, and her recovery in her own words.
Stephanie, What Made You Decide to Do This Now?
Stephanie: “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time, and I always held back because of the stigma, that you shouldn’t do it because it’s going to affect your performance as a professional fighter. But I did my own research and realized I can still perform at an elite level. Most importantly, I’m doing it for myself.”
You’re a Mom of Two Who Breastfed Both. How Did That Factor In?
Stephanie: “I’m a mom of two, and I breastfed both of my kids. No one tells you your breasts won’t be the same afterward. I could do a million push-ups and it would not change this. It was probably my biggest insecurity, and there’s nothing in training that fixes it. I knew this would give me back my confidence.”
In Plain Terms, What Is Motiva Preservé?
Dr. Agullo: It is the least invasive breast augmentation I do. We make a small incision in the fold under the breast, usually 2.5 to 3 centimeters, and we create the pocket above the muscle, behind the breast gland. It is not even in the subfascial plane, it is above it. There is no cutting and no electrocautery. We use a balloon to open the pocket, so we are just pushing the tissues outward, and the pocket is defined by the breast’s own ligaments. That means we preserve the nerves and the arteries, so there is a much higher likelihood of preserving sensation and breast function. There is no muscle release, so the recovery is much faster. We do not need a mesh, because the breast’s own ligaments hold the implant. We can place the volume exactly where the breast needs it, and we tend to get a larger result with a smaller implant, with a little more lift.
Her Implants Were Two Different Sizes?
Dr. Agullo: Yes. Stephanie had a natural asymmetry between her two sides, which is very common. On the Chrysalix 3D simulation we planned a 265cc Demi Ergonomix on the right, which has a little less projection, and a 315cc Full Ergonomix on the left. The Motiva Ergonomix implants move with the body, so they give really nice fullness and read as symmetric, even when she cuts weight for a fight.
Walk Me Through the Operation.
Dr. Agullo: It was conscious sedation, so she was deep asleep only while we placed the local anesthesia, then waking up as we finished. The whole operation was less than thirty minutes. We made a 2.5 centimeter incision in the fold on each side, and we used EXPAREL, a long-acting local placed between the ribs that numbs the breast for the first three days. As soon as the implants were in, we saw good lift, good volume, and improved symmetry. She woke up talking, with no pain, and she was able to raise her hands over her head, which is usually not common after a traditional augmentation. She was discharged within an hour.
How Fast Was the Recovery, Really?
Stephanie: “Dr. Agullo said I’d be fully recovered after two weeks, and I trust him, but I didn’t really believe it until it happened. I had maybe a little discomfort for about three days, and after that it felt amazing. It’s been about four months and it truly feels like I didn’t get them done.”
Her Coach Never Knew. What Does That Tell You?
Dr. Agullo: I was surprised she never told her coach. But it made for an interesting situation, because he was blinded to the procedure. He watched her spar and train through the whole camp toward the title defense, and he thought she was in the best shape and performing the best he had ever seen. That goes right along with the theoretical benefits of Motiva Preservé.
Are You Saying the Surgery Improved Her Performance?
Dr. Agullo: No. The implants did not make her a better fighter. They have boosted her self-confidence, for sure, but they did not make her a better fighter. The whole point is that they did not affect her fighting at all. They did not make her worse. That is what makes this such a good case to illustrate the advantages of this procedure in athletes, and really in all women.
How Does Your Body Feel Back in Training?
Stephanie: “Today I sparred 12 rounds and there was no pain. I run seven miles easily, it feels like nothing. They’re not in the way, they don’t hurt. In total it’s maybe a pound of extra weight, and it feels like part of my body. My performance is the same. If anything, I feel better and stronger.”
Why Did You Adopt This System?
Dr. Agullo: I was one of the early adopters of both Motiva implants and the Preservé system, part of a group of about twenty US surgeons selected for our breast augmentation experience and trained directly by Motiva. The procedure is innovative enough that it really does require training to do well and safely. I traveled to Costa Rica twice for that training and became one of the first certified users. What convinces me is the tissue preservation, where we are not cutting nerves or arteries but creating a space and using the breast’s own ligaments to support the implant. The implant’s nano-surface produces the lowest inflammatory response of any implant, so the risk of capsular contracture is extremely low. Add the ultra-fast recovery, and the fact that you get more volume with a smaller, lighter implant, and it is a compelling option for the right patient.
Is This Timeline a Promise for Every Patient?
Dr. Agullo: It is realistic for most women having a Motiva Preservé augmentation on its own. If they are not having anything else done, I expect them back to work within one to three days and back in the gym after about two weeks. If a patient also needs a breast lift, or is having liposuction or a mommy makeover with a tummy tuck, that changes everything, and the recovery is dictated by those other procedures. The category overview is on the breast augmentation page, and the technique itself is detailed on the Motiva Preservé page. The editorial version of Stephanie’s story is on drworldwide.com.
Stephanie, Any Advice for Someone Considering This?
Stephanie: “This is one of the things I do not regret at all, and I wish I’d done it sooner. Don’t listen to the stigma. You can still be strong, you can still be beautiful, and you can still perform at 100 percent. To all the female athletes, especially women champion boxers, and especially the moms who breastfed, if you have two weeks, you can do it. I’m an ambassador for it now.”
Why Choose Dr. Agullo for Breast Augmentation in El Paso
Double board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Plastic surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic. Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Affiliate Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso. Castle Connolly Top Doctor for thirteen consecutive years. Texas Super Doctors Hall of Fame, 2025. One of the first certified users of the Motiva Preservé breast augmentation system.
Ready to Talk?
If you have delayed a breast augmentation because you cannot afford weeks away from training or work, this is the case worth discussing. Book a consultation and I will tell you whether Motiva Preservé fits your anatomy and your goals, what implants make sense for your frame, and what recovery timeline I can stand behind for you specifically.
Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or book a consultation online. Follow Dr. Agullo on social at @RealDrWorldWide on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, @Agullo on X, or @AgulloPlasticSurgery on Facebook. #StayBeautiful
