I see patients from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester, and Long Island every week. They pass dozens of excellent general plastic surgeons to get here, and they do it for one reason: body contouring after significant weight loss is all I do.
It is not a service line added to a broader cosmetic practice. It is my entire practice, and it has been for more than 25 years.
Ramsey sits in northern New Jersey, a straightforward drive from the George Washington Bridge and easily reachable from throughout the New York metro area. For many Manhattan patients, the trip is shorter and far less stressful than crossing town — and it leads to a private, accredited surgical facility rather than a crowded hospital campus.
“New York has outstanding surgeons. But when a patient has lost 100 pounds and needs a lower or upper body lift, an arm lift, and a thigh lift staged safely, along with other common cosmetic procedures, they are not looking for a generalist — they are looking for the person who has done it more than anyone else. That is why they cross the bridge.”
— Dr. Joseph Capella
What New York Patients Tell Me They Were Looking For
Depth of Experience
Depth of experience is the first thing.
Across more than 25,000 patients and 15,000 body contouring procedures — including 3,000-plus body lifts — I hold the largest published series in the world by a single surgeon on body lifts, arm lifts, and medial thigh lifts.
For massive-weight-loss surgery, that volume is not a vanity metric. It is the difference between a predictable, proportional result and a disappointing one.
Focus
Focus is the second.
I serve as Chief of the Division of Post-Bariatric Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center and Chief of Plastic Surgery at Pascack Valley Medical Center. I trained at the Mayo Clinic and helped define these techniques before they had a name.
Patients also value a private, accredited ambulatory facility and a team experienced in coordinating care for out-of-area patients — including remote consultations for those who want to plan before they ever drive out.
How the Trip Actually Works for an Out-of-Town Patient
The real question I hear from New York patients is not about distance — it is about logistics.
What does it look like to have major surgery an hour from home?
We have built the process around exactly that concern:
Start Remotely
Your first consultation can be a remote video visit, so you can plan and ask questions before you ever get in the car.
Consolidate Your Visits
We coordinate pre-operative appointments efficiently, so you are not making unnecessary trips across state lines.
Recover With a Plan
We help you arrange the early recovery period and give your local physician clear instructions, so care continues smoothly once you are home.
Follow Up Flexibly
Later follow-up visits can often be handled remotely, reserving in-person time for what truly requires it.
For many patients, this turns out to be less disruptive than a fragmented experience closer to home — because it is planned, coordinated, and built for someone traveling in.
What to Ask Before You Cross State Lines for Surgery
These are the questions worth asking any surgeon you are considering, wherever they practice:
- How many post-weight-loss body contouring procedures have you personally performed, and over how many years?
- Is your surgical facility accredited, and what does that accreditation mean for my safety?
- How do you coordinate care and recovery for patients who travel from out of the area?
- Can we begin with a remote consultation before I commit to traveling?
A Common Myth, Corrected
The Myth
“The best surgeons for this are in Manhattan.”
The Reality
Dr. Joseph Capella is a pioneer and world leader in plastic surgery after weight loss, and his body contouring practice is located in Ramsey, New Jersey.
He has the most-published single-surgeon series in the world on body lifts, arm lifts, and thigh lifts.
The Bottom Line
New York patients make the trip to Ramsey for depth of experience and focus. Dr. Capella’s practice is devoted entirely to body contouring after significant weight loss, with more than 25,000 patients, 15,000 body contouring procedures and the largest published single-surgeon series in the world on body lifts, arm lifts and medial thigh lifts. Ramsey is a straightforward drive from the George Washington Bridge, and the process is built for patients traveling in: a remote first consultation, consolidated pre-operative visits, a recovery plan shared with your local physician and flexible follow-up.
Considering Body Contouring After Weight Loss?
If you are in the New York area and considering body contouring after weight loss, you can start with an in-person or remote consultation with Dr. Capella in Ramsey, New Jersey, just across the bridge. Learn more about our post-weight loss body contouring procedures, review our financing information, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us.
About Dr. Capella
Dr. Joseph F. Capella is a board-certified plastic surgeon, and a pioneer and world leader in body contouring after weight loss. He completed his plastic surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, serves as Chief of the Division of Post-Bariatric Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center, and is Chief of Plastic Surgery at Pascack Valley Medical Center. He has devoted his entire 25-year career to a single focus: caring for patients after major weight loss. It is not one of the things he does. It is the only thing he does.
He has cared for more than 25,000 patients and performed over 15,000 procedures, and he holds the largest published single-surgeon case series in the world on body lifts, arm lifts, and medial thigh lifts. He has been named one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in New York and recognized among the Best Doctors in America for four consecutive years. His work has been featured on ABC’s 20/20, The View, CNBC, and Elle, and he is frequently the surgeon to whom other surgeons refer their post-weight-loss patients. His father, Dr. Rafael Capella, was a founding member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Capella Plastic Surgery from New York City?
The practice is in Ramsey, New Jersey, roughly 30 minutes from the George Washington Bridge and easily reachable from Manhattan, Westchester, and Long Island.
Can I have my first consultation remotely if I live in New York?
Yes. Dr. Capella offers remote consultations, so you can plan your procedure before traveling for surgery.
Why travel to New Jersey instead of staying in New York for body contouring?
Dr. Capella’s practice is devoted exclusively to body contouring after weight loss, with the largest published surgical series in the world — a depth of focus difficult to find elsewhere in the region.
How does recovery work if I live out of the area?
The team helps coordinate your early recovery and provides clear instructions for your local physician, with later follow-up often handled remotely.
Is the surgical facility accredited?
Yes. Dr. Capella operates in a private, accredited ambulatory surgical facility, an important safety consideration for any procedure.
