Body Procedures
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) in New Jersey & New York City
Restore a Flatter, Stronger, More Contoured Abdomen
Flatter
Abdominal contour
Stronger
Core repair
Refined
Scar closure + shaping
Pregnancy, significant weight loss, and aging can leave behind changes that no amount of diet or exercise can correct, loose abdominal skin, separated abdominal muscles, and stubborn fat that resists even the most disciplined fitness routine.
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, addresses all of these concerns in a single surgical procedure: removing excess skin, repairing the abdominal wall, and, at this practice, combining VASER High Definition liposuction to sculpt the waist and flanks for a result that looks transformed from every angle.
Dr. Joseph A. Racanelli is a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs every tummy tuck personally, in a hospital operating room, with a board-certified anesthesiologist. Every patient he operates on is seen by him, and only him, from the first consultation through every postoperative visit.
Patients travel from throughout New Jersey and New York, including Morristown, Summit, Short Hills, Chatham, Madison, Livingston, Montclair, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Manhattan.
The Dr. Racanelli Difference
What Sets This Practice Apart
Most patients don't ask the right questions when choosing a surgeon, not because they're careless, but because they don't know what to ask. Here is what you should know about how this practice operates, and why it matters for your outcome and your safety.
1
Dr. Racanelli is the only surgeon who will operate on you.
There are no other physicians, no residents, no physician assistants performing any part of your procedure. Dr. Racanelli makes every incision, performs the muscle repair, and closes every layer himself. In many high-volume practices, portions of the operation, including the closure, are handled by staff the patient has never met. That does not happen here.
2
He performs one major procedure per day without exception.
Dr. Racanelli does not stack cases. When your surgery is scheduled, it is the only major procedure on his calendar that day. His attention, energy, and judgment are entirely yours. High-volume surgical practices run back-to-back cases, which means fatigue accumulates and the surgeon performing your closure may be on their fourth operation of the day. That does not happen here.
3
All surgery is performed in a hospital operating room with a board-certified anesthesiologist.
Not a surgical center. Not a nurse anesthetist. Every tummy tuck is performed in a fully accredited hospital with a board-certified anesthesiologist managing your anesthesia from induction through recovery. This is the highest standard of surgical safety available, and it is the standard applied to every patient, without exception.
4
Every follow-up visit is with Dr. Racanelli personally.
Your postoperative care is not handed off to a nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Every office visit during your recovery, drain checks, suture removal, progress assessments, is with Dr. Racanelli himself. The person who knows exactly what was done in the operating room is the same person monitoring your healing.
Dr. Racanelli's Closure Technique
Dr. Racanelli's Proprietary Closure Technique
The incision closure is where many surgeons cut corners, sometimes literally, using staples or rapid suturing techniques to move through cases efficiently. Dr. Racanelli closes the entire tummy tuck incision by hand, in multiple layers, using sutures placed to progressively distribute and eliminate tension from the deepest tissue layers up to the skin surface.
This matters because tension is the primary driver of poor scarring. When the skin surface carries the full load of closure, the scar widens, thickens, and becomes more visible over time. By building the closure layer by layer, transferring tension to deeper tissues before the skin is ever touched, the skin closes with minimal stress on the surface. The result is a finer, flatter, more refined scar that continues to improve throughout the first year.
This technique takes longer. That is the point. It is one of the reasons Dr. Racanelli performs only one major procedure per day because doing this correctly cannot be rushed.
A Different Level of Care
What Does a Tummy Tuck Correct?
A tummy tuck addresses concerns that cannot be improved through weight loss alone.
These may include:
Many patients find that despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle, their abdomen never fully returns to its previous shape. A tummy tuck can help restore a smoother, firmer abdominal profile.
Does a Tummy Tuck Tighten the Muscles?
How Dr. Racanelli Repairs the Abdominal Wall
Diastasis recti, the separation of the abdominal wall that commonly results from pregnancy or significant weight changes, is repaired during every tummy tuck where it is present. But not all repairs are performed the same way.
Dr. Racanelli repairs the abdominal fascia in multiple layers. A single-layer repair places all holding tension on one line of sutures. A multi-layer repair distributes that load across several tissue planes, making the repair significantly more durable and reducing the risk of recurrence over time.
The result is a stronger, tighter abdominal wall, not just cosmetically, but structurally. Many patients notice improvements in core stability and lower back comfort following surgery, in addition to the visible flattening of the abdomen.
Tummy Tuck Recovery Timeline
Week 1
Week 2
Weeks 3–6
Week 8
Months 3–12
Drains
Most patients have one or two surgical drains for approximately 1–2 weeks following surgery. Drains prevent fluid accumulation under the skin during the early healing phase. Dr. Racanelli monitors drain output at your postoperative visits and removes them when output reaches an appropriate level, typically within the first two weeks.
Compression Garment
You will wear a compression garment continuously for the first several weeks following surgery. This reduces swelling, supports the healing tissues, and helps the skin conform to its new contour. Dr. Racanelli will advise you on when to transition from full-time to part-time wear based on your individual recovery progress.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
You may be a candidate if you:
You may not be a candidate if you smoke or use nicotine products, have uncontrolled medical conditions, are planning future pregnancies, or have a BMI significantly above your goal weight. Dr. Racanelli will review your complete medical history at consultation to determine whether tummy tuck surgery is safe and appropriate for you at this time.
A consultation with Dr. Racanelli is the best way to determine candidacy.
What a Tummy Tuck Does Not Fix
A tummy tuck is an incredibly effective procedure, but it is important to understand its limitations.
A tummy tuck does not:
The best candidates are patients who are already near their goal weight and are looking to address excess skin and abdominal wall laxity.
VASER High Definition Liposuction: Included in Every Tummy Tuck
VASER HD liposuction is not an optional addition to Dr. Racanelli's tummy tuck, it is part of every procedure he performs.
Traditional liposuction removes fat. VASER High Definition uses ultrasound energy to first emulsify fat at the cellular level before removal, which allows for significantly more precise contouring, including the ability to sculpt around the natural structure of the abdomen, waist, and flanks in three dimensions.
The practical difference for patients: a result that goes beyond a flatter stomach. The combination of abdominoplasty and VASER HD creates a comprehensive body transformation, tighter skin, a repaired abdominal wall, and a sculpted waistline that looks proportional and natural from the front, the side, and the back.
This is why Dr. Racanelli's tummy tuck results tend to look different from standard abdominoplasty outcomes, the contouring is built into every procedure, not added as an afterthought.
Types of Tummy Tuck Procedures
Tummy Tuck Procedure Options
1
Complete Abdominoplasty
The patient is under general anesthesia for the entirety of the surgery. Dr. Racanelli makes an incision along the bikini line from one hipbone to the other. Then, he frees the belly button with a separate incision. Next, he lifts the skin away from the abdominal muscles from the incision to the ribs before repairing the ab muscles. Lastly, he pulls and tightens the upper abdominal skin toward the hips and places his layered sutures. The tummy tuck New Jersey procedure typically takes anywhere from 2 to 5 hours to complete.
2
Partial (Mini) Abdominoplasty
A partial or mini tummy tuck is a complete abdominoplasty, just on a smaller scale. Dr. Racanelli makes a smaller incision, then detaches the fat and skin in a less prominent manner from the fascia. As with the complete tummy tuck, he redrapes the skin and removes the excess before placing sutures.
Where Is the Tummy Tuck Scar Located?
A common concern is scar placement.
Dr. Racanelli places the tummy tuck incision as low as possible while still safely removing the necessary amount of skin.
The scar is typically positioned beneath most underwear and swimsuit styles.
The exact length of the scar depends on the amount of excess skin present and each patient's anatomy.
Why the Shortest Scar Isn't Always the Best Result
Many patients initially request the shortest scar possible.
While this may sound appealing, excessively short incisions can create fullness at the ends of the scar, often referred to as "dog ears."
Dr. Racanelli carefully designs the incision to optimize contour and minimize the likelihood of requiring future revision surgery.
The goal is not simply the shortest scar, it is the best overall result.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a tummy tuck cost in New Jersey?
The cost of a tummy tuck depends on the complexity of the procedure and operative time. Because Dr. Racanelli includes VASER High Definition liposuction in every case, comprehensive body contouring is built into the procedure rather than billed as a separate add-on. A personalized quote is provided at consultation after Dr. Racanelli has assessed your anatomy and outlined your surgical plan. There are no surprises at the time of surgery.
Can a tummy tuck remove stretch marks?
Stretch marks located within the skin that is removed may be eliminated. Stretch marks outside of the excised skin will remain, although they may be repositioned.
How painful is recovery?
Most patients describe recovery as soreness, tightness, and pressure rather than sharp pain. Prescription medication is provided to help manage discomfort.
How long do drains stay in?
Most patients have drains for approximately 1–2 weeks, although timing varies.
Can liposuction be combined with a tummy tuck?
Yes and at this practice, VASER High Definition liposuction is included in every tummy tuck Dr. Racanelli performs. It is not an add-on. The combination of abdominoplasty and VASER HD allows for a more complete body contouring result than skin removal alone.
What type of anesthesia is used, and who administers it?
All tummy tuck procedures are performed under general anesthesia in a fully accredited hospital operating room. Anesthesia is administered and monitored by a board-certified anesthesiologist, not a nurse anesthetist (CRNA). This is the highest standard of anesthetic safety and is applied to every surgical patient, without exception.
Will I have a flat stomach after surgery?
A tummy tuck can significantly improve abdominal contour, but final results depend on anatomy, body composition, and whether visceral fat is present.
Why Choose Dr. Racanelli
Patients choose Dr. Racanelli because they want to know exactly what they're getting, and with this practice, every detail is explicit. Dr. Racanelli personally performs every tummy tuck from the first incision through the final suture of his hand closure. He does not employ other surgeons, residents, or physician assistants to operate on his patients. He performs one major procedure per day so his full attention belongs to you. He operates exclusively in a hospital setting with a board-certified anesthesiologist, not a surgical center, not a CRNA. And when surgery is over, he sees you personally at every follow-up visit throughout your recovery.
His closure technique and multi-layer muscle repair are refined through years of surgical practice and are built into every procedure. VASER HD liposuction is included as standard, not billed as an upgrade. The result is a practice that operates at a fundamentally different standard than high-volume cosmetic surgery centers, for patients who want to know the difference before they book.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Schedule Your Tummy Tuck Consultation.
If excess abdominal skin, stubborn fat, or muscle separation is preventing you from achieving your goals, a tummy tuck may help restore a smoother, firmer, and more confident silhouette.
Dr. Joseph Racanelli provides customized tummy tuck surgery for patients throughout New Jersey and New York City, with a focus on natural-looking results, meticulous surgical technique, and comprehensive body contouring.