How much fat can liposuction remove safely in one session?

In healthy patients who weigh over 200 lbs, then 5-7 liters is not uncommon to be removed safely at 1 liposuction.  In a 100-110 lb patient, that number might be 1.5 liters.  If the liposuction is done under local anesthesia by the tumescent technique with the patients awake which is now the standard, then it is by far safer and other factors come into play such as amount of lidocaine injected, size and number of the areas, vital signs during the surgery,  liver condition, or other health issues etc. Always see at least 2-3 docs for consultations when considering liposuctions and trust the doc you finally choose. 

Thank you for your question. While you can liposuction several areas at once there is a limit to how much fat can be removed safely. Risks from liposuction increase significantly when over 5 liters of fat are suctioned out. We usually stay below this limit for patient safety. We’ve found that we’re able to achieve dramatic improvements for our patients with 2 to 4 liters of liposuction, depending on their needs.

One of the most commonly held misconceptions is the myth of surgical weight loss via liposuction.
Liposuction is a sculpting tool. It is a targeted means of addressing subcutaneous fat excess. The best candidates are healthy individuals who have achieved a stable weight with stubborn or resistant target treatment areas.
Total body liposuction for volume reduction or debulking carries greater surgical risk. The loose skin which is likely to be present post op often overshadows any benefit gained from volume reduction. While there are no limits for procedures performed in a hospital setting. For procedures performed in an office setting, the legal limits will vary from 4-5 liters (depending upon the state).
For any patient consider large volume suction, I would suggest delaying surgery until you are within striking distance of your goal weight. Once you have reached your goal, you would likely be a better candidate for any contouring procedure.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

This can vary by state, but keep in mind, it's not only the amount of fat that can be removed, but the technique that helps improve outcomes with liposuction. For best results, I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermiRF and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

The most common answer is 5 L of fat. Some states have upper limits on the amount of fat that can be removed during an outpatient procedure. I would consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon so that you can hear their specific recommendations for your liposuction procedure.

In California, the maximum amount of liposuction aspirate allowed by law is five liters. Risks go up and precision is decreased with larger amounts of liposuction.  Careful fluid management and postoperative monitoring because more important with larger amounts of liposuction.  Make sure that you choose your surgeon carefully and make safety a priority.