How much fat is actually in a liter of what is removed from lipo?

Hi and thanks for your question.  Most liposuction today is performed after first infiltrating the tissues with fluid.  This helps to prevent bleeding.  When the liposuction is being performed the aspirated contents are collected in a canister.  At the conclusion of the procedure, the fat and fluid separate into two layers in the cannister.  Doctors may either separately record the total fat and total fluid removed, or just combine it into one number.  Ask your surgeon exactly how the output was recorded.  Best of luck,  Keith Blechman MD

Some surgeons will record the total amount of fluid removed during the procedure, in which case they should record it as such.  Others will try to estimate the amount of fat removed.  This is just an estimate because the longer the fluid is allowed to settle, the more the components in the fluid will separate, and the fat is not completely pure.

The amount she quoted you could be fat only or fat and fluid total.  Best to ask her what it was.

Most plastic surgeon will use the actual volume of fat that was removed when they tell the totals. This is really the most accurate way to describe what was done. Using the fluid as part of the total really is not appropriate because this fluid may be simply what was injected at the time of surgery if a tumescent technique was done. To find out for sure I would ask your surgeon.

When measuring output from liposuction, two numbers are usually recorded: the total volume out and the total amount of fat out.As you know, the total volume includes aqueous liquid and fat.Your medical records should show both numbers.I have seen surgeons use the total volume when referring to fat removed, though this is technically not accurate or honest, in my opinion.In the end, it's the results, not the volume, that really counts.Ask your surgeon. I'm sure she would be happy to tell you what the numbers represent.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.