A doctor recommended two sessions of GPS lipo one week apart. Is that safe? I have over 4 liters of fat to remove.

This is very difficult to evaluate without pictures or an exam. Many
varieties of liposuction are available including ultrasonic, smart lipo,
laser lipo, vaser lipo, power assisted lipo, and conventional tumescent
lipo.  The results depend very little on the method used and very much
on the surgeon selected. 
The most common postoperative issue of liposuction is contour irregularity. Because contour irregularities may be secondary to postoperative swelling and skin elasticity, they may be treated conservatively for at least 6 months after the initial operation.The only limit when it comes to fat removal via liposuction is the total amount that surgeons are allowed to remove during a single surgical case (5L).

The usual safe limit is 5 liters, which corresponds to 10 lbs of fat at one time.  Unfortunately, you have provided photographs or told us your height & weight.  Certainly, 4 liters can be done in 1 session.Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

The choice of the having one or two liposuction/BodyTite procedures depends on many things including the locations of fat (one body area vs. many body areas), type of anesthetic used (tumescent vs. general anesthesia), health of the patient, the BMI of the patient and son on. It generally does not depend on the doctor board certification (dermatologist or plastic surgeon). Some procedures remove just fat and others can remove fat and tighten the skin.
BodyTite removes the fat and tightens the skin. Combination of exercise, healthy diet, decreasing weight and BodyTite is the best. At the same time, it is important that all prospective patients get in-person detailed examination.I have been performing BodyTite Liposuction for over 7 years and it is a great technique for fat removal as well as skin tightening.Please make sure that you see an experienced doctor for a thorough consultation and assessment prior to undergoing any treatments.Best regards and I hope this helps, Dr. Sapijaszko (Fellow, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery)

Original5245I appreciate your concerns, however your first question should be “have I given diet and exercise a fair chance to accomplish my goals without surgery?” Liposuction should not be used as a weight-loss tool, but rather as an effective method to remove well-defined areas of fat unresponsive to diet and exercise. While 4 L of fat removed is the upper limit of safety guidelines, it is feasible to be done in one session. However you should consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to evaluate your particular situation and advise you to see if you are a reasonable candidate for the surgery. Good luck.

Dear Original5245,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD

I wait two weeks between liposuction procedures on the same patient just to give more healing time before the second procedure is done. If you have concerns, please ask your surgeon.

The quick answer is NO.   First, make certain that you are seeking liposuction from a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.   Many doctors may claim other cosmetic certifications, but you want to see a plastic surgeon for liposuction.   You can verify his/her credentials at plasticsurgery.org.   Second, make certain that the proposed surgical procedures are being done in an accredited surgical suite or facility - JCAHO, AAAASF, AAAHC.  Third, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, ASPS, discourages liposuction amounts of >5L without an overnight stay for monitoring.  4L can be safely done in one setting.  

Hi, thank you for your question. The safe amount of fat removed in one session is 5L. This is a safe procedure to perform in one session. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.
Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

I question if your provider is a board-certified plastic surgeon. My best guess is that he or she is not. Almost all plastic surgeons are comfortable removing 4 L of fat in a single procedure. I see no reason why this should be split into two procedures.There are numerous variables that determine safety. Who is taking care of you is probably number one on that list. Please make sure you’re dealing with a board-certified plastic surgeon with several years of experience.That means board certified by the American Board of plastic surgery.Best, Mats Hagstrom MD