Dr. Capella and ALL his staff were wonderful. I am extremely happy with my results so far. I am not completely healed but from what I can see, everything is looking the way it’s supposed to. I flew in from South Dakota to specifically have this done with Dr. Capella. I had met with 11 (no joke) surgeons prior to speaking with Dr. Capella. After our initial phone call and doing my research on him, I finally booked my surgery, flights and hotel stay. I would do it all over again! Dr. Capella is was so nice and made me feel like I wasn’t just another patient. He took the time to thoroughly go over both procedures I was having. He also visited the next morning while I was in a recovery/care facility. Kerry is his ‘right hand gal’ and she is fantastic along with his assistant, Scott. There was also another traveling nurse that helped with my procedure, I think her name was Rachelle? She was so friendly and had a very calming presence. Communication with both Kerry and Macey were superlative. I sent a ton of emails and my questions were always answered in a timely fashion. I have nothing but great things to say about Dr. Capella and his staff.
25 years after losing 100lbs I am FINALLY removing the loose skin from my arms. So much has happened in between, a tummy tuck, 2 c-sections, a thigh lift...and now finally the last step, my arms. I put it off for a long time because it wasn't as critical as the other 'improvements' I felt I needed first. I also got super distracted having and raising my family and figured if I waited more time before I did my arms, they would get even looser and therefore make the surgery even more impactful. Anyway, now is my time. I am VERY nervous. After my longer-than-expected thigh lift recovery 7 years ago, I know a little about what I'm in for. I am not fooling myself by believing recovery will be a breeze, I know I'll be out of commission for some time. Sadly, there is never a good time to be out of commission, and you will always have to miss out on something, so I finally decided I need to just pull the trigger. Today is Saturday and my operation is Tuesday morning. I am just wanting to get it done with now so I can move on to the recovery piece. Waiting for it all to begin may be the worst part. My biggest fears currently are not being able to wipe myself (I think I'll die if this turns out to be the case), and not being able to drive or wash my hair for more than a week or two. I do a lot of things around the house and for my family. I take the kids to all their activities and am involved with their day to day school life. I don't want to be helpless and uninvolved, even for a little bit. I want to be able to fix their lunches, do the laundry, go the grocery store, etc. I know this sounds like mundane stuff but I like it because it gives me purpose and keeps me moving. Plus I only work PT now so the minimal demands of work keep these tasks from being overwhelming. Basically, I want to be capable, independent and helpful, and it kills me to know I will have to rely on my husband for nearly everything for a while. I really hope I recover quickly, but it is going to be what it is going to be and I will just have to deal with whatever it is. I attached some 'before' pictures so I'll have something to compare my new arms to once this is all done. I measured my arms at the widest parts and they were 12" around :( As you can see from the pictures, a lot of that is just hanging skin. It will be a relief to finally get rid of it and not have to hide certain angles of my arms. Anyway, that's it for now - wish me luck! Updated on 10 Sep 2024: The surgery went well. I was a nervous wreck beforehand. I thought of everything that could go wrong, me not waking up and leaving my children motherless, me waking up in the middle of the surgery, everything bad possible. I did ok though - when I woke up the pain was pretty severe. I felt like the nurse was a bit stingy with the pain meds, it took awhile before she gave me anything but the dilaudid that had come through the IV. She kept saying it would help with pain but not the burning sensation. That literally was the pain, the burning...there was no throbbing or aching. Finally she gave me an oral narcotic and that helped A LOT. I could go to the bathroom and wipe by myself, I can eat by myself and pull up my own pants. I was suprised and how much I feel I can do and my range of motion. Even though this is tough and I am very limited and in pain, this is WAY better than the thighs. As the morphine comes out of my system I might change my mind...but for now that is the case and I'll take any good I can get. Anyway, I'm tired and it hurts to type a little. My right had is swollen quite a bit. I will try to give an update tomorrow. Updated on 11 Sep 2024: Today I feel great! I had swelling in my right hand very bad overnight, but I loosened the arm wrap and that made it hurt less. The hospital and my Doc's office both called this morning to check on me and they both mentioned the IV hand tends to do that. Also, they said they removed 175 grams of fat/skin collectively. That is only .386 pounds lol. Visually I'm sure it will make a big difference though. I was able to put on makeup today and walk my son to the bus-stop. Then I went on my morning walk plus a little extra - 4 miles in total. I really felt great doing it. My arms started out not being able to come down straight, they were at like a 45 degree angle from my body, but by the end of the walk they seemed to loosen and hang much straighter. I'm a little tired now and still feel occassional burning in various areas, but overall nothing major. I have been taking the percocet every 6 hours to stay on top of the pain so I think that has helped a lot. I'll try to post another update tomorrow. Updated on 12 Sep 2024: I started out the day on a positive note, having switched to just Tylenol the night before and feeling ok. The pain is there, but I am able to get by with just Tylenol at this point which is good b/c the Percocet makes me feel nauseous. I went for a walk and was feeling like a could do a little more than yesterday. Then it was time to take off the wraps and shower. First I have to say that the size and shape of my 'new' arms is fantastic. It is clear my surgeon made my arms perfect. I am very upset, however, about the placement of the scar. I thought it would go mid-way through my armpit, it turns out it goes down the side of my arm pit all the way to the front where my boobs are (pictures attached). It is pulling so funny now and I'm horrified that it will be very visible from the front. I know it still has to flatten but still, I thought it would be hidden in my armpit and it definitely is not. There is nothing I can do about it...what's done is done and there is now going back which makes me sad. Another upsetting thing is that on my right arm there appears to be the beginnings of a wound opening already. I can't tell you how upset this makes me. Wound openings horrify me. I wrote to my surgeon and he is in the OR but should get back to me tonight. I attached a picture of the spot that worries me to this review as well. On a good note, the swelling in my right hand and forearm is slowly dissipating. It is not back to normal yet but it's much better and I can use it easier as a result. Updated on 13 Sep 2024: Last night I was freaking out about the possible wound separation in my right arm and so my Doctor told me to come to the office this morning so he could look at it. Sure enough, it was a small separation but I was so happy he had a way to 'fix' it. He put 5-6 steri-strips over the area and it pulled it closed and it seems to be holding it tight. He said that should hold for 1-2 weeks and in that time the wound should close up on it's own. What a relief! An opening really is my worst nightmare. It's just so gross. He looked at my arms and said they were healing well otherwise. On a frustrating note, the swelling is VERY difficult to tolerate. It doesn't look as bad as it feels. It feels like there is a vice on both arms and you desperately just want to release the pressure. It is an underlying feeling of extreme discomfort that makes you less able to deal with other stresses in life. I asked someone who recently had an arm lift with my surgeon when that feeling went away and she said it STARTED to get better at 2 weeks. That's a long wait for me now, it feels like forever when you are dealing with it every minute. I know this will all one day be worth it and it is really just a brief period of annoyance in the grand scheme of things...but it is SO HARD to tolerate when you're in it. Anyway, that's where I'm at now...just counting down the time and waiting (im)patiently for it to get better. Updated on 17 Sep 2024: Today marks one week since my operation. I am impatient with the time it is taking to heal but I'm an impatient person. So far no openings, though the almost opening in the right arm seems precarious. I have a PO appt in 3 days and I will ask the Doc to re-apply new steri-strips to that area to keep in secure. I haven't been able to feel comfortable without the ace bandages wrapped around my arms. I feel like the hulk with them on and it is uncomfortable and cumbersome but it keeps down the pain on the incisions. It is very sensitve without any covering and there is definitely still pain. I'm still taking Extra-strength Tylenol (2 pills 3x a day). Without it I feel like crying. I was hoping to be weaning down at this point but unfortunately I'm not ready. Yesterday I drove for the first time - just 7mins away to take my son to an activity. I did ok but turning the wheel was a little uncomfortable. I just have to be VERY careful. I definitely wouldn't drive long distances at this point. At one point I had to put the sun visor down and I really felt that. It was probably too soon to drive but I wanted to test it to see if it was doable. My armpits still ache but I've been putting in sanitary napkins (tucked into the ace bandages on one side and my bra on the other) to absorb any blood and keep the two sides from rubbing against each other, which hurts pretty bad. I attached some pictures I took last night. It seems to be healing ok...though I have a long way to go. It is on my mind constantly as I feel it every second. I can't tell if the swelling has gone down much. I guess maybe it feels a little less tight but still VERY uncomfortable and noticeable. Updated on 20 Sep 2024: Today was my 10DPO visit with my Doctor. Going into the appointment I was still worried about the spot on my right arm that had the small opening in the beginning. I was hoping the Doc would re-tape the area with new steri-strips. He looked at it and said it was very unlikely to open at this point and that tape might actually irritate the area and it was best to leave nothing on it. He also said the ace bandages I've been wearing were probably doing more harm than good at this point and could actually slow healing. I REALLY want to believe that. Compression has mixed reviews amongst surgeons and my Doc feels strongly that it really doesn't help and possibly cuts off some circulation and could be detrimental to the healing process. After the appointment, I took off the Ace bandages and am wearing spandex sleeves (loose) to cover my arms b/c the incision line is still very sensitive. In 24 hours I will know if the bandages had made a difference in the swelling or not. If I continue to have the same amount of swelling by tomorrow at this time, then I will happily continue to not wear the bandages. If the swelling starts to increase, I may choose to put back on the bandages, but perhaps make them a little looser. I can still put pads, tucked into the sleeves on one end and my bra on the other, to keep my armpits dry and comfortable. It's a little harder to get the pads to stay in place since the spandex sleeves are somewhat loose. Right off the bat it is more painful/uncomfortable to not have that thick protective layer of bandage covering the incisions. I feel 'exposed' now and vulerable, and there is more aching/pain. I will make on update in a few days to let you know how it works out. On a separate note, I measured the circumference of my arm and they were 12" before (at the widest part). They are now only 10" even with the swelling! My husband said my arms look 'skinny' now which makes me happy :) I included pictures of the one area that I am afraid will open (on my right arm) and also the new sleeve cover-up on this update. Updated on 24 Sep 2024: I can't believe it's been two weeks already. I am so glad things are moving along and that my recovery is progressing, little by little. I can't wait until 4 weeks PO, I hear there is a major difference at that point. This week I noticed that my swelling went down a bit, maybe partially due to cooler weather, but still, I'll take it! I'm glad I chose the fall to do this operation, the cooler weather really is much better for swelling and also to cover up. I no longer feel like my arms are so tight it is annoying. It's uncomfortable, but not awful. The pain has increased but I'm still just taking Extra-Strength tylenol. I try to go past the 6 hours and it really starts to hurt too much so I know it is working and that I still need it. I think it hurts more partially due to the nerves starting to come back online and also due to me doing more around the house. Besides lifting and reaching I pretty much do everything I used to do. My range of motion is great, I just avoid raising my arms past shoulder height or reaching far, as per my doctor's orders. I have been driving locally and it's been no problem. Next week I'll go back to work in person and drive a little further. I'm pretty sure I'll be ok to do that by then. This week I'm working from home, no issues. Some of the blood blister scabs on my right arm fell off so my arm looks better. Also, so far no signs of an opening - whew! I really hope it stays that way. I'm not pushing things just in case. That's it for now. Current pictures attached. Updated on 1 Oct 2024: Today I'm officially 3 weeks PO. I'm mainly just frustrated with the amount of pain and discomfort I feel in both armpits, behind my armpits on my back, and along the incisions lines. I am STILL on extra-strength tylenol. This weekend I thought I'd die from the pain even with the Tylenol and so I tried Advil. That did the trick, thankfully, but I don't want to have too much of it b/c it can cause swelling. I'm trying to only use it when I really can't take the pain. Otherwise I use the Tylenol. I can do a lot of things,; technically I am allowed as of today to start reaching above my head. I don't want to push it just yet though b/c I definitely don't want an opening. I might wait another week for that unless my shoulders start to lock up. For now they seem fine. Yesterday and today I started working back in person. Without my comfy pillow set-up my arms got more tired than I expected. It actually took a lot out of me even though I didn't really do anything physical. Maybe it was just holding my arms up without support. I don't have to work W-F this week so by the time I go back in it will be almost week 4. By then hopefully it will be easier and less tiring. Some of the scabs along my scar line are starting to fall off which is nice. There is still a moderate amount of swelling, however. Also, I've been eating SO much. It's probably b/c I am healing but I have gained 1-2lbs already. I hope once I'm in better condition I can take that off. Who knows, it could be partially swelling too. Time will tell, but I hate to see the scale go up. At least the extra food has been all healthy stuff...almonds and peanut butter mainly. OK - that's it for this week. Pictures from today are attached. Updated on 8 Oct 2024: I finally made it to 4 weeks PO! I was told this is where many people turn a corner in their recovery. I do have to say this past week I noticed a lot of improvements, little by little. I can reach further, I can use my arms more, they feel less sore, and I am using less than 1/2 the Tylenol I used last week. I'm now down to 1 extra-strength tylenol twice a day. I could probably do without even that, but it wouldn't be very comfortable. I am still using the pads under my arms but I feel I might go without them in another few days. As long as my armpit incisions don't rub together uncomfortably, I'd rather not have that bulky pad in there anymore. I'll see how it goes... I worked today and yesterday and was not tired or sore like I was last week. Maybe a little, but much more manageable. I can't wait now until the scars flatten. My armpits look unsightly with the skin all pinched up. At this point I'm mainly living my life normally, with the exception of not lifting anything heavy. My arms get twinges of nerve pain and they are still sore to the touch in many areas, but they are almost 100% functional. Now that recovery isn't hindering me as much, I suspect the time will pass faster. I will probably write another update after my 6 week PO appointment. I attached pictures from today below. Updated on 23 Oct 2024: Yesterday I made 6 weeks PO. I can't believe how fast time is going. I no longer have any weight lifting restricitions (though I don't plan on lifting weights). I can fully extend my arm upwards, though it pulls a little. Pain is minimal, but I still need 1 extra strength tylenol a day. The incision lines feel a little like exposed nerves, which is why I usually take the tylenol. My armpits really have no pain, but the center of my arms can ache and occassionally have stabbing pain. I think parts of my scar have started to flatten already. Today at my 6 week PO appointment the Doctor said the scars should flatten almost completely in about 10 days - I can't wait! I am VERY happy with my results. My arms are really thin and well-shaped. I have no openings and it appears the scar will be just a thin line when in flattens. I am living my life now pretty much as normal. I'm looking forward to next summer when I can 'showcase' my new arms lol. Current pictures attached. Updated on 5 Nov 2024: Today I'm 8 weeks out and my scars have mostly (maybe 80%) flattened. They are still pertruding in the elbow area and the armpit appears pinched when I extend my arms up. I'm worried a little about a knob looking thing in the intersection of the scars in my right armpit so I wrote to my Doctor and am awaiting his response. I hope that flattens in time too. I'm doing great otherwise, finally stopped all Tylenol at about 7.5 weeks post. Also, I noticed since the scars flattened I can more comfortable lean and lay on my side. It's still not good for sleeping yet, but it doesn't hurt and I can do it for a few minutes. I can sleep on my stomach with my arm up if I want to, but honestly I've gotten used to sleeping on my back. All is good, I feel mostly normal. I am looking forward to when the scar completely flattens and the marks where the stiches were fade. Updated on 10 Dec 2024: I still have numbness in the back portion of both arms. Doc says that can take up to a year to go away. I hope it isn't permanant. I haven't had any openings and am back to operating as normal. Sometimes if I sleep on one arm it will ache in the morning so I still use pillows most nights to keep myself from tossing and turning. My incision lines are sensitive, especially near the elbows, but this really only bothers me when wearing certain shirts with rougher fabric. Overall I am EXTREMELY happy and I feel the recovery was quicker and better than expected. I have to keep my scar out of the sun for 12-18 months. That will be hard, but I'll just use lots of sunblock. I just started using silicone scar sheets only for the area of scar that extends slightly down my body (past the armpit). That area is really visible so I am hoping I can fade those scars a bit. The ones down the length of my arm are mainly hidden from the front and behind just by their perfect positioning (seam-line). Feel free to PM me with any questions.
I had gastric sleeve surgery in 2017. I lost a total of 150lbs. In 2019 I had a breast Augmentation and tummy tuck with another surgery. Still continue to have some loose skin in abdomen and really have extensive loose skin in thighs and butt. Wanted to go to a doctor that specializes in weight loss skin removal surgery. Very excited to have this surgery tomorrow. Dr Capella office has been nothing but helpful throughout the entire process. Great customer service!!! Always so attentive to answering emails right away and completely made this process so simple. Started with a FaceTime office visit with Dr capellla as I live 2 1/2 hrs away. Then when I chose to go with the surgery and preop in person appt was made. Had all my questions plus answered. Dr Capella took the following pictures. Updated on 18 Jan 2024: Arrived at hospital, took me back right away. Staff were very nice. Dr Capella came in and answered any questions I had and placed marks on me. Anesthesia placed the IV. He was so nice he gave me Lidocaine first to numb the vein and didn’t even feel him stick me. They walked me back to the OR. The doctor and his assistant swabbed me down with disinfectant. Then up on the table I went and I don’t remember anything else until I woke up in the recovery. I do have to say that I was in a lot more pain than I expected while in recovery. Updated on 18 Jan 2024: Once I was more awake I had a snack and water and took a pain pill. That was a game changer. Te pain came down to a tolerable level. The hospital I goose to have surgery was Hackensack Medical Center. I felt very safe here. I also loved that they went over and beyond with little things that went a long way. Instead of a regular white belonging bag they suppled hanging garment bags. While I was in recovery the nurse had me inhaled aromatherapy lavender and sent me home with peppermint ginger in case I get nauseous. She also automatically applied lip balm to my lips without even asking. Really felt like a queen. Once I was ready to leave the EMS picked me up and drove me to Care One Ridgewood nursing facility. The EMS ladies were very nice and again felt very safe. Updated on 19 Jan 2024: Was a very long night. I was put on strict bedrest and if you knew me you would know it’s almost impossible to keep me down. I was a bit anxious and restless most of the night. Laying on my incisions all night was a bit uncomfortable. Finally made it through the night. Dr Capella came to see me bright and early and ordered urinary catheter to be taken out and I was finally aloud to get up. I felt so much better getting out of bed. The ultrasound sound tech finally arrived in the afternoon. She did a lower leg ultrasound to confirm no blood clots and I was then discharged. Haven’t seen my stomach or butt because I have dressings and a binder on but I can see how amazing my thighs look already. I’m so excited!!! Updated on 23 Jan 2024: Had my first shower. Still having issues getting comfortable especially at night. Not sleeping well right now. Wow!!! The incision looks pretty intense. But the results are amazing already. Updated on 29 Jan 2024: Had my 1 week follow up and had two drains removed. Feel like I’m turning the corner. Feeling much better but still having trouble sleeping due not being able to get comfortable at night. As you can see the one side picture shows some swelling in lower area. Hoping I’m not developing a seroma. I will keep an eye out on it
I lost around 200 lbs and was left with a body that destroyed my mental health. With saggy skin rolls everywhere, mirrors were banished from my house as seeing myself naked would immediately result in tears. My mental health was destroyed and seemed irreparable. The pandemic provided me the time and space to do intensive research; the different combination of surgeries, the outcomes, the risks, the horror stories, and then the surgeons. Once I was ready to start looking at surgeons, I established principles of how I would make a decision: price will not be a deciding factor; I won’t compromise with my expectations or health; and I do a full professional background search and history before doing a consult with any doctor - lawsuits, licences and credentials, reviews, medical association standings, sanctions, reviews, etc. I consulted with two surgeons locally and wasn’t impressed with their results or price, even if OHIP would pay for one of the procedures. I then expanded my search to my province and all major cities in Canada and had the same disappointment for price, consult and results or a combo of two. I then expanded my search to all of North America and realized I need to focus on plastic surgeons that specialize in weight loss reconstructive body surgery, to get the results I am looking for. Dr Capella was the first doctor that got short listed. I went through all of his body lift before and afters on his website. Once I got to page 10, I saw my body in the before and after. His before and after pictures then became the standard to compare all other surgeons. My virtual consult with Dr C made me like him instantly. He listened to my laundry list of issues I had with my body. He laid out his recommended plan and when there was options, he engaged me on my preferences, which was for a smoking hot body!! He took the time explained how each of the issues I had with my body could be addressed and never pushed anything on me or recommended something that didn’t address the issues I outlined. He heard me — really, actually heard me! It took me a lot of time and consults but I narrowed it down to him and another doctor as they both met my mandatory criteria, but when it came down to it, Dr C met every one of my additional preferences or “nice to haves”. I immediately called his office and paid the deposit to secure a surgery date. As I was driving about 6 hours from Canada, his office did a fantastic job to help me coordinate all presurgery requirements in a 24 hour trip for a face to face consult with Dr C for the formal surgical plan, sizing for implants and connected me with a doctor that could complete the pre-surgical clearance and blood work. I brought my friend with me who was going to take care of me after surgery. We both were amazed and impressed after meeting Dr C face to face. We can’t say enough kind things about him and his team! Two weeks after the in person consult, I’m getting surgery for a circumferential abdominoplasty, Brachioplasty, Flankplasty and Breast Augmentation with Saline Implant on March 22, 2022! Dr Cs surgical team put my mind immediately at ease. Of course an amazing surgeon is going to build an amazing surgical team! The nurses, Scott and the anesthesiologist are fantastic and take such good care of you!! I’ve never been so excited for something in my life. The surgery went amazing and I felt no pain. I was a little uncomfortable but I took a Tylenol the night and morning after surgery and needed nothing else. I was up and about walking a mile and a half, 2 days after surgery to get coffee. I negotiated with Dr C to stay in the US until the first set of drains were removed and then have virtual follow ups. If anything went wrong, he’d work with my Canadian doctor or go back to NJ. I sent pictures before I removed the remaining drains myself and Scott immediately responded how great they look and that I was ready. Twice I emailed pictures of things I was wondering if I should be concerned about and right away, Scott replied putting my mind at ease and explaining that everything was good. Today I had my 6-week virtual follow up with Dr C. I’ve had no issues, complications or pain, and some of the incisions you can’t even see anymore (breast augmentation) or are small white lines (arms and flanks)! I couldn’t thank him enough on the phone for being so amazing and the artistry he performed on my body. I then raised proceeding with our plan as it’s an unfinished masterpiece and turned our follow up into a consult. He laid out a plan for my remaining transformation and we negotiated how long I would stay and the follow up. I didn’t even need a half second to think about it. I immediately asked him to send me a quote, so that I could pay the deposit to secure the next available surgical date 3 months post op. Tomorrow I’m calling Kerry to secure a surgery date before you read this review and take the date
I have always hated my arms. I have bad genetics and they always were bigger than my body making me look like I was much heavier than I am. I had liposuction done over 10 years ago and unfortunately that made my arms worse I made them sag. I went to a Dr. Capella because he came highly recommended. I also had friends and relatives go to him. He has done an extensive amount of arm lifts and has even perfected his own stitching to help with scarring I had my surgery on 9/21 so this is only my fourth day I feel fantastic my arms are tight and sore but nothing compared to my abdominoplasty I had years ago. I did not even need to take pain meds I just took eight hour Tylenol The whole experience from arriving at Hackensack hospital to the recovery room was very smooth and pleasant. The nurses at the surgical center were fantastic and took such good care of me Dr. capella staff is also extremely responsive. Every time I email Kerry I get an email back within a half an hour. I am posting some before and after pictures I will keep updating on my recovery to help others out there who are looking to have this done. Again this is only my fourth day so the incisions have not yet flattened. I really don’t have a lot of bruising either from the lipo I have been taking Arnica Montana and bromelain So far I am VERY HAPPY I had this done I’m not worried about the scars as I can have scar revision 18 months out. I’m also going to work very hard to take good care of them. The trade off of the scars is well worth it for me to be able to wear tank tops and short sleeves and not be mortified by my arms Updated on 6 Oct 2021: I still have lot of tightness and my arm pits are very sore. I do have what looks like small separation in my armpit but I go on Friday for the Dr to look at. I still m not driving I m afraid of pulling my incision. I have noticed a lot of large hard lumps under my skin but I have read that is normal. I will ask on Friday. I still cannot get over how much better my arms look this was so worth it at this point I do need to stay I am being very careful I still am not driving any farther than like a half of a mile. I’m not lifting my arms over my head. I’m being very conscious of everything that I do Updated on 6 Oct 2021: I m trying to upload my photos Updated on 6 Oct 2021: Updated on 21 Oct 2021: Had my 4 week checkup today and doctor said I m doing great! No issues at all other than swelling which is to be expected still I am extremely happy with how my arms are progressing and I can’t wait to see how they look a year from now when everything is completely healed including the scar!
I lost some weight and my arms literally collapsed into a crepey loose skin mess. I did not want surgery. I tried every lotion, potion, laser and exercise with zero improvement. I knew surgery was the only way to fix it and began researching surgeons. I was TERRIFIED of the scars, but decided scars would be better than what I had. I met several surgeons and decided to have Dr. Joseph Capella do the surgery. I chose him because of his extensive experience with this procedure. Beware that many plastic surgeons say they do this procedure, many may have done a few and they will do it for you, but Dr. Capella has done this extensively. This is not a routine easy procedure, you need a surgeon with extensive experience with armlift. I have waited a year to post this review to be sure of the results. I am thrilled. I am back in tank tops and sun dresses. The scar is barely noticeable with placement under the arm so you can't see it from front or back. Recovery was a bit challenging but worth every second of it. Also, I was not an easy patient, questioning every detail and frequently calling the office. I have NEVER had a physician and their office be so responsive. Trust me, I was so annoying that I annoyed myself but this Doctor and staff stood by me every step of the way. EVERYthing Dr. Capella, his PA Scott, and Office Manager Kerry told me turned out to be exactly as they said. I will end by saying that Dr. Capella, in addition to being an exceptional surgeon, is honest, compassionate and kind. A true gentleman. I could not be more pleased.
Dr. Capella and staff were great! Surgery went so well, as did recovery. Wasn’t a fan of aftercare at Care One. I suggest hiring a private nurse. Almost two years later, I am well healed with a flat tummy and barely a visible scar! So happy with dr. Capella I went back an did upper body lift, this week! This is a little harder recovery bc it involved arms. Will try to post pics at later time.
20 years ago, I lost 160 pounds with diet and exercise. I have been left with a lot of extra skin and have had various surgeries over the years. 5 years ago, I had a total body lift with Dr. Capella. This week, I went back for a back lift and vertical thigh lift. I am post op day #3. The first 2 days were pretty bad. Having my upper and lower body done at the same time makes it hard to move! The pain was really bad too as I made Dr C promise to pull my back as tight as possible. My husband took this picture for me. I will include leg pictures in a day or two Updated on 14 Jan 2021: Overall very pleased! Leg scars are actually really light and the recovery was easier than expected with not a lot of swelling. Back was more painful then legs. I planned to be out of work for 2 weeks but went back after 3 and I’m on my feet all day and did pretty well. Not sure why photos are rotated!
So first let me start by saying being a mom of 3 going “under” was my biggest fear! First time I met Dr. Capella, well, he is the most down to earth man. I felt like I was talking to a family member who was truly listening to what I was looking for and my concerns. I felt totally confident that he was surgeon I was going to have do my implants and tummy tuck. His staff are remarkable! Any question I had they were always there to answer. Thank you to all of you for making my experience a pleasurable one.
If you are looking for an experienced, well-respected, compassionate, confident and exceptionally competent, board certified plastic surgeon, with a specialty in body contouring and brachioplasty, Dr. Joseph Capella (Ramsey, NJ) is a leader in the field. I thoroughly researched brachioplasty experts, and was willing to travel anywhere in the country for the best care. I scoured many doctor’s websites and the vast majority did not have any photos of arm lifts they personally performed; Dr. Capella’s website had in excess of 100. Prior to meeting Dr. Capella, I went for several consultations, with high profile, accomplished surgeons. I wanted to hear multiple opinions before making such a big decision. I left every appointment with one reservation or another. I did not want a plastic surgeon who “does some arm lifts” but hundreds of breasts and noses. I wanted someone who had done hundreds of arms. My last consultation appointment was with Dr. Capella. I scheduled the appointment with the assistance of his office manager, Kerry, who was kind and accommodating. I arrived hopeful. From the moment I met Dr. Capella, I was impressed. I was feeling anxious, but he immediately made me feel comfortable. He has a very calming presence, which is important to me. We sat in his office to talk first and then an exam followed. He spent as much time as I needed, and gathered information about my history, concerns and expectations. He showed me photos of his work, explained the details of the procedure and answered all of my questions (I had many). When I shared with him the opinions of other surgeons I saw, regarding how they would approach the surgery (liposuction as one procedure; skin removal as a second procedure), he listened and shared with me why he does things the way that he does. His ego did not appear to be threatened by my questions or by the fact that I went for several consultations. Some doctors get impatient or defensive when questioned, but not Dr. Capella. He was open, relatable, approachable and transparent. He shared with me how his methods have morphed over the years and how experience brought him there. There is NO teacher like experience, and he has tons. For example, his suture style is different than many other doctors, but once he explained WHY he closes incisions in a unique way, it made perfect sense (and now at 5 weeks post-op, I am thrilled with the scar so far). He made me feel comfortable in the exam room, and inspected my scars from previous surgeries so he and I could realistically predict how my brachioplasty scar might heal. He also spoke to me about risks, how he handles complications and how he handles revisions. He was quite confident in a favorable result but was honest and did not make empty promises of perfection. I asked Kerry to hold a date for me, and they generously gave me a few days to make a final decision (which clearly, I did). On the day of surgery, I reported to the hospital. I was happy that Dr. Capella performs this procedure in a high ranked hospital setting. Everyone I interacted with at the facility was friendly, welcoming and understanding. I felt relaxed, knowing that Dr. Capella’s operating room assistant, Scott, has been working with Dr.C for many years. Dr. Capella also rotates between several anesthesiologists with whom he shares a relationship and experience. I did not want him to meet his team that morning for the first time. I wanted them to have a history of successfully working together, which they did. I told Dr. C that I did not want any residents to work on me or to be present. I only wanted him performing the procedure. He assured me that he would be the only doctor working on me. The anesthesiologist introduced herself to me and we spoke at length about what I should expect. She was wonderful. After the surgery, I spent several hours in recovery, and the nurses there were excellent. They were attentive and helped with whatever I needed. I knew I was in good hands from arrival to discharge. Post-surgery, I have been healing well. While recovery has been a little more difficult than I anticipated, I am making progress each day. I was most surprised by how long it has taken me to do things independently, but I am also the cautious type. I have had several questions over the past five weeks, and Dr. Capella has answered every one of them. He and his office are so responsive to every concern. I send him photos weekly (sometimes more than once a week) so that he can look at my incision and let me know what is normal, and why things are happening as they are. He and his staff never make me feel like a bother and get back to me quickly (even once on a Saturday night). Aftercare is as important to me as surgical skill, and I have received the best aftercare. Dr. Capella and his staff are as invested in my result and I am. He wants his patients to feel good and look good. While It is too early in my recovery to know what my final results will be, I am confident that Dr. Capella will make sure I am healthy and satisfied with the aesthetics. I am grateful that I found him and highly recommend Dr. Joseph Capella to anyone considering, body contouring, especially brachioplasty.
Your appearance is likely to improve with additional weight loss. Particularly with men, I have found that skin tone is relatively well maintained despite brief periods of weight gain.
