Maximum Amount of Fat Removal Per Surgery? Will I Need Lipo Twice?

Im a size 14(36-36-52). Im dieting & exercising to become a size 10. Desired measurment (36-29-55). My butt is sagging,so I'm considering a BBL. I want a smaller waist & abdomen; for my back fat/love handles to disappear; & a rounder, fuller butt. I was told that by law, that only 4L of fat can be removed per surgery! Is this true? Will I need 2 lipo surgeries to reach my desired outcome? Also what medical test are required before the procedure (physical, bloodwork, cardio?) Miami/Ft.Laud, FL

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by Suga in Miami, FL

Doctor Answers (8)
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How much fat is taken out during liposuction?

Hi Suga, It is entirely possible that liposuction alone will give your buttocks a better shape. You may not even need a Brazilian Butt Lift. The B'more Butt Lift is based on using only Liposculpting to enhance the shape of your buttocks. I practice in Baltimore, therefore I do not know Florida regulations for liposuction. However, if you would like to learn more about how much fat is typically extracted from each area of your body, please see the link below... more

Liposuction and limitations

I am not exaclty sure of the law in Florida, but that does ring a bell. Large volume liposuction is discouraged because of the increased risks. It is better to get down to your desired weight with diet and exercise first.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Large volume liposuction and safety

There is no blanket mandate on the limit of how much fat can be removed during liposuction. Each state either has a limit or the surgeon should use sound judgement in choosing the appropriate candidates for larger volume liposuction. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has recommended a 5 liter limit on liposuctions done as an outpatient, but some states supercede this with lower limits. You should check with your surgeon in Florida as to what the restrictions are... more

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD

18 reviews

Boston Plastic Surgeon

Large Volume Fat Removal May Be Best Done By A Two-Stage Liposuction Approach

The most important thing in any surgery, particularly in liposuction, is your safety. There is no question that the larger amount of fat removed and time spent doing so does increase the risk and potential complications to some degree due to the internal trauma posed on one's body. Because of complications that have occurred throughout the country, some states have imposed restrictions on how much fat can be removed in a single setting including where the procedure is performed... more

Large Volume Liposuction. Is it Safe?

In 2001 Bruce Halperin and I reported on 631 cases of Large volume Liposuction in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. We are soon to add 426 cases to this number. These have been done successfully and with great care in patient selection. There is no actual limit in California but every case has a limit based on good judgement and common sense based on experience. In a 70 year old one liter may be large volume and in a 20 year old that is healthy... more

4000 cc limit in Florida

Here in Florida, in office-based surgery practices, there is a 4 litre = 4000 cc fat limit with liposuction. (This limit does not apply in a hospital setting.) With combined procedures, say tummy tuck and liposuction, the limit is moved down to one litre of liposuction. So, yes, you might need two procedures... Do as much as you can with pre-operative weight loss. Remember, 4 litres of fat is equal to about 10 pounds of weight.

Liposuction done safely has limits of removal

Different surgical societies agree that mega liposuction has more risk, some serious, and there is a limit of 4 liters. In New York, there is a restriction that any office liposuction removing more than 1/2 liter must be done in an accrerdited office (accreditation by the Joint Commission, the AAAHC or the AAAASF.

Liposuction and volume of fat removed

I practice in Texas and am currently unaware of any law that mandate or limits the amount of liposuction you can have at once. That said, however, there are some practical limits to having safe and effective liposuction in an outpatient setting. I often use a number like 5% of the body weight, for example, a person weigh 212# or 100kilos would get up to 5L of liposuction. This amount provides me with enough fat removal to significantly change someones contour while not... more