Body Procedures
NJ & NYC High Definition Liposuction
Targeted
Body contouring
Custom
Unique anatomy + goals
Surgeon
With you every step
Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes targeted deposits of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise. For most people, certain areas of fat storage are genetically determined: no amount of exercise will eliminate them. Liposuction addresses those areas precisely.
At this practice, every liposuction procedure uses VASER High Definition technology, ultrasound energy that emulsifies fat before it is removed, allowing for finer sculpting, smoother contours, and less disruption to surrounding tissue than traditional liposuction. Dr. Racanelli also uses custom-made cannulas that are significantly smaller and thinner than the standard instruments most surgeons use. The combination of VASER energy and specialized instrumentation produces more precise results with less trauma to the body.
Dr. Joseph Racanelli is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 40,000 procedures performed in New Jersey and New York. He personally performs every liposuction case himself, in a fully accredited hospital operating room with a board-certified anesthesiologist, and schedules one major surgery per day so each patient receives his undivided attention.
Before & After Photos
Real patient before and after photos, 100% uneditted results.
What Sets This Practice Apart
Custom-made smaller cannulas, not the standard instruments.
Most surgeons use standard-gauge liposuction cannulas. Dr. Racanelli uses custom-made cannulas that are significantly smaller and thinner. Smaller instruments mean smaller entry points, less tissue disruption, and smoother final contours. This is a deliberate equipment choice, not an industry standard.
VASER High Definition technology on every case.
VASER ultrasound energy emulsifies fat before removal, allowing for more precise sculpting and better differentiation between fat and surrounding tissue. The result is a smoother, more defined contour and less bruising and swelling than traditional liposuction methods.
Hospital operating room. Board-certified anesthesiologist. Every time.
All liposuction procedures at this practice, from a single small area to full-body cases, are performed in a fully accredited hospital operating room. General anesthesia is administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. Not a surgical center. Not a nurse anesthetist.
Dr. Racanelli performs the entire procedure himself.
No residents, no physician assistants, no other surgeons participate in the operation. Dr. Racanelli performs every case from start to finish, including the marking, the VASER treatment, the suctioning, and the closure.
One surgery per day.
Major surgical cases are scheduled one per day. This means your procedure receives Dr. Racanelli's complete focus, not a fraction of a day shared across multiple operating rooms.
All follow-up care with Dr. Racanelli personally.
Postoperative visits are with Dr. Racanelli directly, not a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. He monitors your healing, reviews your compression garment fit, and makes any adjustments to your recovery plan himself.
A Different Level of Care
About Liposuction with Dr. Racanelli
Custom-Made Cannulas
Standard liposuction cannulas are thick instruments that remove fat efficiently but leave behind more trauma to the surrounding tissue. Dr. Racanelli uses custom-made cannulas that are significantly smaller and thinner than the instruments most surgeons use.
The practical difference is measurable: smaller cannulas mean smaller entry incisions, less disruption to the tissue planes, and a smoother final result. Patients treated with standard cannulas more frequently experience irregular contours, lumps, divots, uneven areas, that are visible once swelling resolves. The custom instrumentation at this practice is one of the reasons the results look consistently smooth.
VASER High Definition Technology
VASER (Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance) uses ultrasonic energy to selectively emulsify fat before it is removed. The process works as follows:
First, tumescent fluid, an anesthetic and vasoconstricting solution, is introduced into the treatment area, causing the fat to swell and making it easier to target. Then, small VASER probes deliver precise pulses of ultrasound energy that break apart fat cells while largely leaving blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue intact. The emulsified fat is then removed through the custom cannulas.
The benefit over traditional liposuction: more precise sculpting, less blood loss, less bruising, and a smoother final result, particularly in high-definition contouring where muscle definition is part of the goal.
Treatment Areas
Body Areas Dr. Racanelli Treats with Liposuction
Abdomen and waist
including upper and lower abdomen, flanks (love handles), and the area around the navel. This is one of the most commonly requested areas and is often included as part of a tummy tuck procedure.
Arms
inner and outer upper arms. Frequently requested by patients who are bothered by arm appearance even at a healthy weight.
Knees
inner knee fat deposits.
Chin and neck (submental)
a small amount of fat under the chin or along the jawline can significantly affect facial profile. Submental liposuction produces a more defined jawline and neck contour.
Back
upper back, lower back, and bra-line fat are areas where diet and exercise rarely produce significant change.
Thighs
inner thighs, outer thighs (saddlebags), and the anterior thigh. Inner thigh liposuction is one of the most consistently requested areas at this practice.
Chest (male)
liposuction is one component of gynecomastia treatment for male patients with excess chest fat.
Liposuction and Fat Transfer
Liposuction and Fat Transfer to the Buttocks
Fat removed during liposuction does not have to be discarded. In cases where a patient also wants to add volume or shape to the buttocks, the harvested fat can be processed and transferred, a procedure commonly referred to as a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) or gluteal fat transfer.
This approach offers two benefits in one surgical session: fat is removed from areas where it is unwanted and added to the buttocks to create a fuller, more rounded shape. The transferred fat is your own tissue, not an implant.
Not every liposuction patient is a candidate for fat transfer, and not all harvested fat survives the transfer process. Dr. Racanelli will assess your anatomy and fat volume at consultation to determine whether you are a candidate and what kind of result is realistically achievable
Benefits of Liposuction
Precision and smooth contours
VASER energy combined with custom-made smaller cannulas allows for more precise fat removal than standard liposuction. Smaller instruments create less tissue trauma, which translates to smoother results, fewer lumps, fewer irregular contours, and more defined areas once healing is complete.
High-definition sculpting capability
VASER's ability to differentiate between fat and surrounding tissue makes it well-suited for high-definition work, sculpting that reveals underlying muscle tone rather than simply removing bulk. This technique requires a surgeon who performs it personally and with precision, from start to finish.
Targeted fat removal
Liposuction addresses areas where fat is genetically resistant to diet and exercise. Whether the issue is a single area or multiple, the procedure is planned based on your specific anatomy, not a standard template.
Permanently removes treated fat cells
Liposuction removes fat cells from the treated area permanently. Subsequent weight gain tends to distribute differently, often to areas not treated, preserving the contour improvement. Maintaining a stable weight after surgery is important for lasting results.
Customizable to any body area
From chin to knees, liposuction can address targeted deposits throughout the body. Multiple areas can be treated in a single surgical session, the practical limit is operative time, not an arbitrary cap on the number of areas.
Shorter recovery than traditional liposuction
Because VASER emulsifies fat before removal, there is less mechanical disruption to surrounding tissue compared to traditional liposuction. This typically results in less bruising, less swelling, and a faster return to normal activity for most patients.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
Liposuction is a body-contouring procedure, not a weight-loss surgery. The best candidates are patients who:
- Are at or near a stable, healthy weight, within approximately 30% of their ideal body weight
- Have maintained that weight through diet and exercise for at least 6–12 months before considering surgery
- Have specific areas of stubborn fat that have not responded to exercise or diet
- Have adequate skin elasticity in the areas to be treated
- Are nonsmokers, or are willing to stop smoking for the required period before and after surgery
- Are in good overall health with no conditions that would significantly impair healing
Liposuction does not address loose or excess skin. If skin laxity is a concern, particularly in the abdomen after pregnancy or significant weight loss, a tummy tuck may be a more appropriate procedure, or a combination approach may be discussed at consultation.
Your Consultationn
At your consultation, Dr. Racanelli will assess your anatomy, discuss your goals, and develop a specific surgical plan. This includes:
There are no estimates or ranges. You will leave the consultation knowing exactly what the plan is and what it costs.
Preparation
Before your liposuction procedure, Dr. Racanelli will utilize preoperative photographs to help him plan for your specific treatment. This will give both you and Dr. Racanelli the ability to envision realistic result. He will also make temporary markings to indicate what areas of fat he will be removing.
In preparation for your procedure, we will also let you know what medications and supplements you should stop taking before your procedure, such as those with blood-thinning properties. You should also prepare to take at least a few days off of work after your procedure, and also arrange for a trusted individual to drive you home from your appointment.
The Procedure
All liposuction procedures at this practice are performed in a fully accredited hospital operating room under general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist.
The procedure begins with the introduction of tumescent fluid into the treatment areas, an anesthetic and vasoconstricting solution that prepares the fat for removal and limits blood loss. Dr. Racanelli then uses VASER probes to deliver targeted ultrasound energy, emulsifying the fat cells while leaving surrounding tissue largely intact.
Once the fat has been emulsified, Dr. Racanelli removes it using his custom-made smaller cannulas, instruments specifically chosen for their ability to sculpt smoothly and precisely. He performs the entire procedure himself, from the initial marking through final closure.
Operative time ranges from approximately 1 to 6 hours depending on the number of areas treated and the volume of fat being removed. Larger cases or patients with more extensive treatment areas require more time, there is no arbitrary limit on the number of areas that can be addressed in a single session. Dr. Racanelli will give you a clear estimate of expected surgical time at your consultation based on your specific plan.
Recovery
Recovery varies depending on the number of areas treated and the volume of fat removed. General guidelines:
All postoperative follow-up appointments are with Dr. Racanelli personally. He will monitor your healing, assess your compression garment, and advise you on activity as your recovery progresses. No nurse practitioners or physician assistants are involved in surgical follow-up at this practice.
Results
Improvement in contour is visible almost immediately after surgery, but swelling will be present for several weeks. The final result, the smooth, defined contour that represents the full outcome of the procedure, is typically visible once swelling has fully resolved, which can take 2–4 months depending on the areas treated and the extent of the procedure.
Liposuction permanently removes fat cells from the treated areas. Maintaining a stable weight after surgery is the most important factor in preserving long-term results. Significant weight gain after liposuction does not reverse the sculpting achieved, but it will affect your overall body composition.
Before and after photos of actual patients treated at this practice are available in the liposuction gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight will I lose with liposuction?
Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure. It is a contouring procedure. The goal is to reshape specific areas, not to reduce the number on the scale. The amount of fat removed varies by case and is limited by safe surgical parameters. Most patients notice little change in total body weight but a significant change in shape and proportion in the treated areas.
How much fat will liposuction remove?
The amount of fat removed depends on your anatomy, the areas treated, and what is safely achievable in a single session. Dr. Racanelli will give you a realistic assessment at consultation based on your specific fat distribution and goals. There is no universal number, the procedure is tailored to each patient.
After liposuction, will the fat come back?
Fat cells removed through liposuction do not return. However, remaining fat cells throughout the body can still enlarge with weight gain. To preserve results, maintaining a stable weight after surgery is important. Significant weight gain can affect overall body composition, but the relative improvement in the treated areas typically remains.
What areas of the body can be treated with liposuction?
Dr. Racanelli treats most areas of the body, including the abdomen, waist, flanks (love handles), back, arms, thighs, knees, chest (for gynecomastia in male patients), and chin/neck. The two areas not treated at this practice are the buttocks (liposuction) and buccal fat (cheek) removal. Multiple areas can be treated in a single session, the limit is surgical time, not an arbitrary cap on areas.
What is the difference between VASER liposuction and traditional liposuction?
Traditional liposuction removes fat mechanically, the cannula physically breaks apart and suctions fat tissue. VASER uses ultrasound energy to emulsify (liquefy) the fat first, then removes it. This selective emulsification is gentler on surrounding tissue, blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue are largely left intact. The result is typically less bruising, less swelling, and smoother contours compared to traditional technique. At this practice, VASER is standard, it is used on every liposuction case.
Can harvested fat be used for fat transfer to the buttocks?
Yes. Fat removed during liposuction can be processed and transferred to the buttocks in the same surgical session, a procedure commonly called a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) or gluteal fat transfer. This allows patients to simultaneously remove fat from areas where it is unwanted and use it to add volume and shape to the buttocks. Not every patient is a candidate; Dr. Racanelli will assess whether you have adequate donor fat and whether the transfer is appropriate for your goals.
Is liposuction performed in a hospital or a surgical center?
All liposuction procedures at this practice are performed in a fully accredited hospital operating room, not an outpatient surgical center or office procedure room. General anesthesia is administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. This is the standard for every surgical procedure at this practice, regardless of the size or complexity of the case.
Who performs the liposuction?
Dr. Racanelli personally performs every procedure, from start to finish. No residents, physician assistants, or other surgeons participate in the operation. This is true for every surgical case at this practice, it is not a premium option, it is the standard.
How many areas can be treated in one session?
There is no fixed limit on the number of areas treated in a single session. The practical limit is operative time, more areas or larger volumes of fat require more surgical time, and all cases are scheduled with that in mind. Larger patients or more extensive treatment plans naturally require longer procedures. Dr. Racanelli will give you a realistic estimate of surgical time at your consultation based on your specific plan.
Is liposuction included in a tummy tuck?
Yes. VASER High Definition liposuction is a standard component of every tummy tuck performed at this practice, it is not an optional add-on. During an abdominoplasty, Dr. Racanelli uses VASER HD liposuction to address the flanks (love handles) and improve the overall abdominal contour. Patients who are considering a tummy tuck will receive the benefits of VASER liposuction as part of that procedure.
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Let’s create a body contour that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and proud
With the personal attention of a surgeon who is with you every step of the way.