Get Directions
Capella Plastic Surgery logo
Schedule Consultation
(201) 818-9199
Appointment

Body Lift
in New Jersey

Begin & End Your Aesthetic Journey at Capella Plastic
Surgery

Woman in olive top with hand in hair, standing in sunlit garden setting

New Jersey Body Lift at Capella Plastic Surgery

Dr. Capella has personally performed over 3000 body lifts. He has the largest published series of body lifts in the world.

A body lift is a very powerful body rejuvenating procedure that perhaps is underutilized in the United States. Like the face, the remainder of the body suffers the consequences of time, gravity, and in some cases, significant weight loss. While some areas are affected more than others, skin wrinkling and loss of tone occur throughout the body. To achieve a balanced and pleasing aesthetic result, many patients seeking a tummy tuck may also need both a thigh and buttock lift. At our practice in New Jersey  Body Lift  surgery delivered by Dr. Joseph Capella brings you excellent results with a constant focus on your safety and comfort. Dr. Capella specializes in aesthetic surgery after weight loss. Having performed over 15,000 body contouring procedures, he’s a renowned leader in body contouring. Dr. Capella’s research, presentations, and publications demonstrate his dedication to surgical innovation and safety. He has also collaborated with his father, Dr. Rafael Capella, an esteemed bariatric surgeon. Dr. Joseph Capella, who has performed over 3,000 body lifts, can tailor your physique and help you show off your weight-loss progress. Contact our friendly office team at Capella Plastic Surgery to schedule your body lift consultation today.
Gallery
What is a Body Lift?
Pre-Operative Visit
Procedure
Results
Recovery & Aftercare
FAQs
Consultation
Gallery
What is a Body Lift?
Pre-Operative Visit
Procedure
Results
Recovery & Aftercare
FAQs
Consultation

Body Lift Before & Afters

1/1
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After

Background on Body Lifts

What is a Body Lift?

A Body Lift is a combination of several procedures that usually includes an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), thigh, and buttock lift.

The technique is also often referred to as a “lower body lift” or “belt lipectomy.” Along with tightening of abdominal wall muscles and removal of excess skin from the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks, the procedure can incorporate liposuction to achieve balance between the torso and thighs. The scar required for the procedure is placed very low on the abdomen, generally in the pubic area, then runs higher on the thighs to preserve their aesthetic appeal, and continues along the lower back, just above the buttocks. The scar, which usually heals very well, is hidden by most contemporary underwear and bikini swimwear.
Dr. Capella will perform a body lift along with an upper body lift (breast and arm lift combination) in appropriate candidates. The combination of a  body lift  and upper body lift  is sometimes referred to as a full Body Lift. A full body lift combines procedures to remove excess or drooping skin from various areas of the body, including the arms, thighs, stomach, buttocks, and breasts. While the surgery process may be lengthy and meticulous, the results can be life-changing. Say goodbye to unwanted skin and embrace a transformed body through a comprehensive body lift procedure.
Man in profile view, shirtless, standing against neutral background with natural lighting

What are the benefits of a Body Lift?

The ideal candidate for a Body Lift is an individual with excess skin along the lower abdomen and relaxed abdominal wall muscles who also has cellulite or loose and wrinkled skin along the thighs and buttocks.

Individuals who have undesirable skin irregularities along the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks secondary to liposuction may benefit greatly from this procedure. This single operation can have a dramatic effect on a person’s body. Dr. Capella’s patients find a body lift to be very gratifying because of the ability to improve both their body contours and skin tone. Most individuals are not aware of the operation and only first recognize its potential when during the consultation, Dr. Capella provides upward traction to the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks with the patient standing in front of a mirror. Many individuals with significant concerns about their inner thighs will no longer need an inner thigh lift following a body lift.

Improve Body
Contours & Skin Tone

Woman in pink off-shoulder top and shorts posing at an indoor studio setting

Focused on Your Safety

Your Body Lift Consultation

At the first office visit, Dr. Capella will take a medical history and perform a focused physical examination. Medical conditions such as bleeding disorders, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, hernias, or a history of smoking will be of particular concern to Dr. Capella.

Information regarding medications you are currently taking or have taken in the past, including all kinds of pain medications, will be requested by the doctor. Your height and weight will be recorded. Patients who have scars from previous surgery, in some cases, may not be candidates for a Body Lift because of the risk of surgical complications due to alterations in the blood supply to the skin. Dr. Capella will determine this at the time of the consultation.

He will also delineate the site of the planned incision for a body lift with you standing in front of a mirror. Dr. Capella has personally performed over 2,000 body lifts. He has the largest published series of body lifts in the world. During your private consultation for Body Lift New Jersey Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Capella, will take the time to address all of your questions and concerns. Dr. Capella and his team will do everything to make sure you are fully informed about the procedure and will be here to guide you on your aesthetic journey.

It’s Time to
Prep

Body Lift Pre-Operative Visit

You will meet again with Dr. Capella approximately two weeks prior to surgery, at which time any remaining questions you may have regarding the operation will be answered. You will be asked to discontinue medications that could lead to bleeding during the surgery. The specific medications will be reviewed with you at the visit.

You will then be asked to sign a consent for the surgical procedure. Dr. Capella performs body lifts with general anesthesia. Photographs will be taken of your abdomen, thighs and buttocks, and any other areas upon which Dr. Capella will be operating. Specific instructions regarding the date and time of your procedure will be given to you. You are not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. Exceptions may be made for certain individuals. You should wear loose-fitting clothing that will wash easily in the event that they are soiled. Do not wear jewelry or contact lenses or bring valuables to the hospital.
Remove all body jewelry from pierced body parts; this can interfere with the procedure and may represent a safety threat to you because of the use of electrocautery during the procedure. Do not shave or wax your abdomen prior to surgery; this may increase your risk of infection. Any shaving that is necessary will be done on the day of your  Body Lift . Finally, Dr. Capella will write prescriptions for preventative antibiotics to decrease your risk of infection and a narcotic analgesic for post-operative pain relief. The antibiotics should be started after surgery. The balance of your surgical fee is due at this pre-operative visit.
Woman in light blue sleeveless dress standing by an indoor swimming pool

The Day of Your Body Lift Surgery

Your Body Lift Procedure

On the day of your procedure, Dr. Capella will place skin markings on your abdomen, thighs, and buttocks to direct him during the procedure.

The anesthesiologist will review your medical history and will then administer an anesthetic. A body lift takes approximately three hours, depending on the extent of the work. The procedure begins with the elevation of the abdominal skin and fat from the abdominal muscles up to the level of your lower rib cage, like lifting an apron. A cut is made around the navel, which is left alone. The vertical abdominal muscles are then tightened with heavy sutures from your xiphoid (solar plexus) to your pubic bone. This provides a more firm abdominal wall and a narrower waistline.
You are then turned on your side, and the excess skin along the thighs and buttock is elevated and removed. The skin edges along the thighs and buttocks are carefully closed. You are returned to a flat position, and the skin apron along the abdomen is pulled down to the pubic area. The excess skin here is removed. After a new opening is made for the navel, the skin is stitched. In some cases, liposuction will make up part of the body lift to further improve contours. Drain tubes are placed under the skin to evacuate any fluid which may drain after the operation. The drains exit through the skin incisions. These drains are removed approximately one to two weeks after surgery. The closure of the skin is done with dissolving-type suture material, which does not require removal.
Sterile dressings and a binder are applied over your incisions at the conclusion of the operation. Most patients undergoing a body lift alone are discharged to a nursing facility on the day of surgery. Patients are then usually discharged home from the nursing facility the day after surgery. This varies from patient to patient, depending on the extent of the procedure. It is necessary to have an adult drive you home and be with you during the first 24 hours after your return home. Patients cannot be discharged to the company of a minor or to a car service. Patients from out of the tri-state area should plan to stay locally for approximately two weeks.

A Life-Changing
Difference

Body Lift Results

You will experience the immediate advantages of body lift surgery. However, it may take up to two years or more for your optimal results to fully manifest. As your body heals and adjusts after surgery, you will see smoother, sleeker contours and a more taut, youthful skin tone. You may find it easier to wear different clothing styles, feel motivated to engage in more activities, and experience increased confidence in many areas of your life. By maintaining a healthy weight and staying active, you can ensure the longevity of your results. While natural aging may cause some loss of firmness over time, the majority of the positive outcomes achieved through your hard work should endure.

Rest, Walk, and Heal

Woman sitting on bed wearing cream sweater displaying leg and thigh appearance

Body Lift Recovery and Aftercare

For the first few days after your Body Lift, you are likely to feel discomfort, which can be controlled with pain medication. You will feel like you need to be flexed at the waist to be comfortable. Gradually, you will be able to stand upright. We suggest you begin walking as soon as possible, although rest is very important as well.
Showering is permitted 48 hours after surgery, at which time the binder and dressings may be removed. You will be seen back in the office approximately two weeks after the date of surgery at which time the drains will be removed. Individuals with desk-work-type employment may resume work approximately two weeks following surgery. Others with work involving prolonged periods of standing or walking may need to wait from three to six weeks. Patients with employment involving heavy lifting or vigorous activities need to wait at least six weeks. Vigorous or aerobic exercises should not be resumed for six weeks either.

It takes several months for the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks to regain a normal feel. The swelling will resolve over a period of weeks to months, depending on the extent of your body lift. In general, 75 percent of the swelling is resolved at six weeks, 95 percent at three months, and nearly 100 percent at six months to a year.

Temporary numbness, particularly just above the incision in the middle of the abdomen, is common. In some instances, this numbness may be permanent. You may experience occasional twinges of pain from time to time during this healing phase. The scars often become more red several weeks after surgery and begin to fade two to three months later. While scars never disappear completely, their appearance is usually very satisfactory. It may take scars as long as 18 months to reach their final appearance.

Body Lift

Frequently Asked Questions

A body lift is a very common procedure in Dr. Capella’s practice; nevertheless, like any surgical procedure, complications can occur. The vast majority of complications following a body lift are minor and include small skin separations and fluid accumulation under the skin, or seromas. More serious complications such as blood clots, bleeding, and infection are not common. Wound healing problems are associated with smoking. Patients are advised to stop smoking for three weeks before and after surgery.

It is vital to understand that a body lift is not an operation for obesity. However, you will be weighed before surgery. During surgery, Dr. Capella will weigh the tissue that he has removed. In some cases, this can be a substantial amount of weight. To get the best results, it is crucial to keep off the weight of the removed tissue.

At Capella Plastic Surgery, each body lift procedure is personalized to meet your unique aesthetic needs. During your consultation, our patient coordinator will discuss the surgical costs with you. We offer convenient payment and financing options to accommodate your needs and are committed to making your body lift journey as smooth as possible.
A body lift is an operation that includes a tummy, thigh lift, and buttock lift. The operation involves a single scar that is low along the pubic area, travels around the body along the level of the bikini line, and is well hidden by most underwear and contemporary swimwear. Dr. Capella performs most body lifts in under three hours.
A tummy tuck is an appropriate procedure for individuals with loose skin along the abdomen but relatively good skin tone along the hips, thighs, and buttocks. The body lift is a better option for patients with concerns about the abdomen who also have loose skin and cellulite along the thighs and buttocks.

For weight loss patients who have not had a pregnancy or who had previously carried much of their excess weight along the hips, thighs, and buttocks, muscle tightening may not be needed to achieve an excellent result following a body lift. Recovery following a body lift is much easier if muscle tightening is not performed.

Yes. The body lift has a very significant impact on the inner thighs. For many of Dr. Capella’s patients—approximately 70 percent—the body lift alone provides sufficient enough improvement of their inner thighs not to require an inner thigh lift.

No. Dr. Capella prefers to perform a body lift first with the hope that sufficient improvement has been achieved in the inner thighs so that a separate inner thigh lift procedure is not needed. In addition, because a body lift and inner thigh lift are pulling in opposing directions, an inner thigh lift alone, following a body lift, achieves better results than performing the procedures simultaneously.

Dr. Capella prefers to wait at least three months between these two procedures. This allows for swelling from the body lift to resolve so that an optimum result can be achieved from the inner thigh lift.

Body lifts are one of the most common operations performed by Dr. Capella. He has personally performed over 3,000 of them and has the largest published series of body lifts by a single plastic surgeon in the world.
Dr. Capella sees many patients who have had liposuction elsewhere at some time in their lives and now have deformities. A smooth layer of fat under the skin is critical to maintaining a youthful-appearing contour. Liposuction can disturb that layer, allowing the skin to collapse into the voids of fat and producing a cobblestone appearance, a telltale sign of prior liposuction. A body lift, by tightening the skin, can help eliminate deformities secondary to liposuction.
Get Directions
Capella Plastic Surgery logo
Schedule Consultation

Gallery

Body Procedures

Face Procedures

Breast Procedures

Gallery

Resources