How many cc’s of fat can be safely removed from an abdomen of someone weighing 270 lbs and a height of 5’10? (photos)

The safe maximum amount that can be liposuctioned in an outpatient setting is 5 liters in one surgery. Some patients have a lot of intra-abdominal fat, which is not addressed by liposuction, only weight loss.  Weight loss would help to create a more favorable final result. Lipo is terrible for weight loss but great for body contouring .You will not lose any significant amount of weight with lipo. Liposuction will allow you to have stubborn fat resistant to exercise and diet removed from unwanted areas (hips, stomach, thighs, back) and transferred to areas that can benefit from the added volume and will result in a waist as small as possible.   Lipo will not alter the underlying musculoskeletal anatomy or help with any amount of significant skin laxity.Your best option would be to consult with your PCP to provide guidance in a weight loss and exercise program. Having a BMI of 38.7 will increase the risks of complications during and after surgery and will not produce the best results. Different surgeons will have different opinions and comfort levels with regard to this so it is best to ask the individual surgeon at your virtual or in-office consultation how much weight you should lose prior to lipo.

Thank you for your questionFrom the pictures you seem to be a good candidate for a staged procedure.  360 liposuction yielding up to 5 liters or 5000 cc of fat (that is the limit at an outpatient surgery center).  You may then need some type of procedure to remove excess skin (if needed) like a tummy tuck.  I recommend that you see a board certified PLASTIC SURGEON who can remove the fat via liposuction and also have the ability to treat the excess skin with a tummy tuck if needed in the future.  The best way to give you proper recommendations is to see and evaluate you in person.  Best of luck!

In an outpatient setting, the limit is 5 liters (4 liters in some states). This will amount to 11 lbs. However, this is not purely fat but a combination fat and a number of other components (blood, tumescent etc.).
Ultimately, lipo is a contouring tool and not a means to weight loss. It is best reserved for addressing those areas which have been resistant to diet and exercise.With regards to your specific question, 1800 cc would be possible. However, whether this is appropriate is another issue. You would be better served by pre-op weight loss (current BMI of 38.7 represents an elevated surgical risk). Optimal candidates have reached a healthy stable weight at which they are content (preferably with a BMI < 30). I would venture to guess that once you reach that point you may consider other options including tummy tuck.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).
Donovan Rosas MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
RealSelf Top 100
RealSelf Hall of Fame

Dear Bab27,
Generally speaking, you want to reach your goal weight before you consider a liposuction, otherwise your results will be suboptimal if you continue to lose weight after the surgery. 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
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello and thank you for your question and sharing your photos. The best advice you can get is from an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. You would be a better candidate for tummy tuck as opposed to liposuction alone. Your current BMI is 38, which is too high for an elective plastic surgery. I would strongly advise you to pursue an aggressive weight loss program prior to any body contouring procedure. Most of us would like to see a BMI of around 30 or less before your surgery. During tummy tuck, extra skin in the lower half of your abdomen including the stretch marks will be removed. In addition, typically the fascial laxity/separation of recti muscles will be taken care of by muscle plication, giving you a flat abdomen. The added liposuction of your hips/flanks will help with creating a natural and aesthetic waistline. Incision can be placed very low to be hidden under bikini. With proper surgical technique, belly button can be designed to  be a true 'innie'. Recovery from tummy tuck is 1-2 weeks. Strenuous activity and lifting heavy weights should be avoided 6 weeks to 3 months post op. I would seek consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon for a full evaluation and advice. Best,
Pejman Aflaki, M.D.

Johns Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best. You will likely need to lose weight first before undergoing any cosmetic procedure to get the best outcome. For best results, it is recommended to be at your ideal or stable weight before getting a sculpting liposuction procedure. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure; rather, it is for sculpting, defining and removing problem areas that cannot be removed with weight loss, diet and exercise alone. If skin is very loose before surgery, then it will need to be removed: tummy tuck/abdominoplasty for lower abdominal skin; breast lift for excess breast skin; and/or a brachioplasty for loose arm skin. In the meantime, I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a bariatric doctor or dietitian. Best, Dr. Emer

Thanks 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.

Hello dear!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well.
Unfortunately, right now your BMI is 39 and it needs to be 33 or less, for you to be considered a good candidate for plastic surgery.
l recommend you to make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon to talk about your goals and the best options for you.
Good luck :)

Hello, thanks for your question. The safety in a surgical procedure depends on a lot of factors, not only how much fat can be extracted. In your case, I think that 1800cc may be enough, but your doctor could extract more without risk. Please consult a board-certified surgeon in your area for an exam. Good luck! 

Hi and welcome to our forum!Every state has their own rules and regulations regarding maximum liposuction volume amounts. For example, here in Florida we are allowed to aspirate 4000 cc of supernatant fat (the fat which floats to the top of the mixture (of blood, infusion fluid, and fat) in the collection canister.  4000 cc of fat weighs ~6-8 pounds. This applies to outpatient procedures. If hospitalized in an in-patient setting with close monitoring, greater volumes can be withdrawn.  However, the procedure of liposuction is designed for reshaping, not weight loss.
Your candidacy for cosmetic surgery requires consideration of many
factors. One is measurement of your BMI (body mass index equals weight in kg /
square of height in meters). You can find BMI calculators on the internet. If
your BMI is > 30, the cosmetic result will not be optimal. If your BMI is
> 35, your operative risk will rise. YOUR BMI is 38.74. Weight loss through diet and exercise
is recommended. If not achievable, a bariatric procedure (such as a gastric
sleeve) will result in significant weight loss (often in excess of 100 pounds!)I recommend a consultation with your primary care physician regarding a program of weight loss, and when at a safe level, you may consider a liposuction procedure.Best wishes...