Do different countries have different standards of how much fat can be removed?

Hi, thank you for your question.Each states has its own laws regarding the amount of liposuction that can be done in an outpatient vs hospital setting. Those laws are in place to protect the patient from injury. I recommend that you consult with a variety of board certified plastic surgeons to help you make your final decision.I hope this helps. Best of luck! 

U.S. regulations require a maximum of 5L removal. This is to ensure the lowest risk and highest possible safety measures. I suggest seeing a board certified physician for a thorough surgical consult to discuss your case. 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 and thank you for your question. In the US, up to 5 L of liposuction is considered to be safe in an outpatient setting. Ideal candidates for liposuction have a normal or
close to normal BMI,  they have stubborn areas of adiposity
that they can't get rid of despite adequate diet and exercise, and have a good
skin tone with no significant stretch marks. It is important to keep in mind
that liposuction is not a weight loss surgery, and is more of a tool to
re-shape the body. After liposuction, you should continue to have a healthy
life style with balanced diet and exercise to maintain your body
weight.  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

Many varieties of liposuction are available including ultrasonic, smart lipo, and conventional lipo. However, the results depend less on the method used and more on the surgeon and the postoperative care.For safety purposes in the US, 5000 cc is the generally accepted upper limit for liposuction aspirate in an outpatient setting, with the fat transfer being a volume less than that. (In a hospital setting the number of CCs can be larger.) This number might decrease based upon patient weight, surgeon experience, and intraoperative findings.   Patients should realize that the lipoaspirate is not all fat but contains fluid as well so the maximum is really more like 4 liters in most cases. Subcutaneous fat is removed from the body, but only from certain areas. It’s a cosmetic procedure that leads to smoother skin and a more sculpted figure, but it’s not intended to help someone who is obese lose weight. Proper diet and exercise are highly encouraged after recovering from the procedure to upkeep the intended results.
Patients should be aware that larger volumes of fluid and fat removed or shifted can lead to greater issues with fluid shifts and lung complications and even death.

In an outpatient setting (i.e. not a hospital OR), the limit is 5 liters (4 l in some states like Florida). When liposuction is done in combination with a second procedure, the limit is 1 liter.
These limits do not apply in a hospital setting. This is due to the fact that patients will be admitted and monitored overnight (thus allowing for better control of subsequent fluid shifts).
This will amount to approximately 11 lbs. Ultimately, it is important to remember that 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.Regardless of where your procedure is done, what is safe and what is not does not vary. Large volume lipo should not be performed outside of a monitored hospital setting.
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

Yes. In California a maximum of 5L of fat can be removed at once. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.
Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

To my knowledge the only state that has legal safety limits and liposuction volume is Florida.Most plastic surgeons in the United States follow safety guidelines offered by the American Society of plastic  surgeons which recommend limiting  fat aspirate removal to less than 5 L in outpatient settings. This is not a lot but a general safety guidelines. With the exception of Florida it’s up to each individual surgeon and what they feel is appropriate and safe medical care. The United States is a fairly regulated country. I would imagine developing countries have far less regulation in regards to training and oversight on how medicine  is practiced.5 L of fat removed is just under 10 pounds.Anyone who supersedes this by doubling the amount in an outpatient elective a setting should Perhaps be questioned in regards to ethics, judgment and commitment to safety.I don’t recommend anyone travel for elective surgical procedures and especially don’t recommend traveling to other countries.I personally managed to many patients of, from developing countries with a massive complications and heard too many stories of patients who have been refused emergency medical care including blood transfusions Unless they have cash in hand At the local hospital.Personally I’m grateful for living in a country that has the highest medical standards in the world. Traveling to a developing country with the goal of having a massive elective surgical procedure seems like an ill thought through idea.It’s a free world which I appreciate and each person is entitled to make their own decisions. There are talented surgeons in most countries in the world.  The United States does have the advantage of having the most extensive, rigorous and thorough training which sets the bar for the rest of the world to follow. That may sound arrogant but few physicians question the statement.Patients don’t appreciate the importance of in person consultations, having appropriate follow up, that complications do happen as well as the need for revision surgery.My Recommendation would be to stay with a well seasoned, talented board-certified plastic surgeon who is local and respects accepted safety parameters. Best, Mats Hagstrom MD