Is 4 liters an appropriate amount of aspirate/fat removed from Vaser Lipo to pecs, flanks, love handles, arms and inner thighs?

Question

32 year old in fit male (16% body fat, 6'0 179 pounds pre-surgery). Recently had Vaser lipo on some stubborn fat areas. When I was told the amount of aspirate removed (4 liters) I was actually surprised as I've read most surgeries are 3 liters and under and over that is reserved for overweight patients. Do these CC aspirate amounts by area seem appropriate? I just want to confirm I wasn't overdone... Inner Thighs - 500 Front Love Handles - 350 Back Love Handles - 500 Pecs - 700 Arms - 1750 (Hi-Def)

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This is difficult to answer without pictures.The amount of fat removed will vary with each patient and desired results. You may have swelling, which can last 3-6 months after your procedure. I recommend adding hyperbaric oxygen and lymphatic massage along with your compression to help decrease swelling. To improve your final results, I also recommend adding vanquish for further fat removal, exilis/venus legacy for skin tightening, cellutone/z wave to make the skin smooth, remove scar tissue, and improve the skin’s appearance. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thanks for the question.You can actually remove upto 5 litres and that is not necessarily fo roverweight patients. For the bodydefining liposculpture it can be much larger volumes. Massaging will help to reduce any effects of lumpiness and uneveness that can develop following the treatment.I hope this is of help to youBW

W. John Bullis, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question; it's a bit of a "loaded" one, in that there really is not a definite answer.  Most liposuction cases on appropriate patients result in removal of 1-3 liters of fat.  Of course, the amount will depend upon many variables: the BMI of the patient, the amount of subcutaneous fat (as opposed to visceral fat, which cannot be liposuctioned), present, the total surface area of the body being treated, and the aggressiveness of the surgeon.  "More" does not equal "better."  I tell all my patients that my goal is to get it "just right" the first time; but if I had to make an error, I would rather leave too much fat behind than to take out too much.  One can always take a little more out, but if you're left with unnatural-appearing divots, ruts, and indentations in the treated area, that is nearly impossible to totally "fix" and is not an easy thing to do.  With that said, I cannot tell you if 4 liters is going to be too much.  From your description of yourself as 6' tall and 179, that seems like more than I would expect.  Maybe it was 4 liters of total aspirate? ("Aspirate" means, "all stuff that is sucked out," which includes fat, numbing fluid, and a little blood.)  The fat settles on top of the fluid and blood, because it is lighter and floats on the watery component of the aspirate.  In most cases, the fat portion of the aspirate is approximately double the fluid volume, but this is quite variable from one patient to the next.  In some patients, I will get almost 100% fat and very little fluid (I love it when that happens!), whereas in others, it can be 80% fluid and 20% fat.  The latter can be frustrating for both patients and doctors and has to do with how fibrous or "tightly-held" the fat is.  This is mostly a function of genetics, but I have also found that younger patients, male patients, and more physically-fit patients tend to have more fibrous fat.  The same is true of those who have had previous liposuction of the area being treated, due to scar tissue (just another form of tough collagen fibers that trap the fat).  I would bet that the 4 liters refers to total aspirate, but maybe not.  Time will tell - you will be swollen for several months, so it will not be until the swelling subsides that you will know if you were "overdone."  If you had an experienced surgeon, who does many of these cases, then most likely, you will look great.  Keep us posted with follow up photos, please.

Oscar A. Aguirre, MD, FPMRS · Answer

Without a photo it's impossible to comment on whether you were "overdone". 3 liters is a ball bark which also applies to much smaller women. You are a fit male who likely requested more definition and thus underwent Hi Definition Liposculpture and you got just that. The aspirate also contains tumescent fluid and is not all fat. Observe your results over time and ask your surgeon when you follow up with him/her. I'm sure you look great!Best of luck,
Oscar A. Aguirre, MD
Urogynecologist & Cosmetic Surgeon

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

Vaser liposuction removes fat comprehensively and to the desired amount. What you need to worry about is your outcome not the volume removed.  I have removed up to 8 Liters before from not so obese patients. 4 Liters is very routine for us Vaser surgeons !

Is 4 liters an appropriate amount of aspirate/fat removed from Vaser Lipo to pecs, flanks, love handles, arms and inner thighs?

Answers (5)

Answer: Was I overdone?

Answer: Was I overdone?

Answer: Liposuction volumes

Answer: Liposuction volumes

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Is 4 liters an appropriate amount of aspirate/fat removed from Vaser Lipo to pecs, flanks, love handles, arms and inner thighs?

Answers (5)

Answer: Was I overdone?

Answer: Was I overdone?

Answer: Liposuction volumes

Answer: Liposuction volumes

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Vaser Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.