Does Florida prohibit plastic surgeons from removing a certain amount of fat during lipo? (Photo)

Question

I’m looking for a doctor to perform lipo and a tummy tuck but I haven’t seen what I think most people say is “aggressive lipo”. I would love to get my surgery done in the states over going to the DR but for the price you pay in the states you don’t get the results. Correct me if I’m wrong. I’m 5’2, 162 lbs. I lost 20lbs already.

Gregory Lakin, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos. Florida allows for 4L of liposuction alone or 1L of liposuction if combined with another procedure. This is for safety reasons. It looks like you would benefit from a tummy tuck with 1L of liposuction of the flanks (sides), followed by a second surgery of 4L of liposuction alone of you belly, flanks, and back. I recommend you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your goals, examine you, do a virtual consultation if you are out of town, and show before/after pictures of previous patients to give you an idea of what type of result you can expect to get. Good luck!

David Hansen, MD · Answer

There have been a lot of problems with cosmetic surgery in florida over the years by both board certified and nonboard certified surgeons.  The regulations in florida are so prohibitive to doing quality liposuctions that I would not recommend getting it done there at all. This may be just some bad apples spoiling the pot for the majority of other good docs there but florida put in these regulations and florida is stuck with them.

John L. Burns Jr., MD · Answer

It is never advisable to remove more than 5 liters in a single liposuction session.  Overly aggressive volume removal can lead to serious complications.

Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSC · Answer

Yes - it is true.  the Florida Board of Medicine & Office Surgery Rules limit  the volume of liposuction that can be done.  When liposuction is done as a sole procedure, the limit is 4 liters of "floating fat" that can be removed.  Think of a 2 liter coke bottle, 2 of them, full of fat.  That is the limit.When you do other procedures, such as TT, the lipo limit drops down to only one liter.However, if your surgery is done in the hospital, more liposuction can be performed, as they are in a different category.

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

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 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 limit is FL is 4 liters.
In your case, I would recommend continued weight loss until you are within striking distance of your goal weight followed by an abdominoplasty (to address the aforementioned skin laxity).
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Yes, there is a limit to how much fat can be removed. You 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. With skin laxity, a tummy tuck or lifting procedure could be performed at the same time. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a bariatric doctor or dietitian. Best, Dr. Emer

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

Yes, there is a limit by Law in Florida to the amount of fat that can be removed at one setting to 4000cc without a primary procedure such as an Abdominoplasty.  If the patient chooses to have a primary procedure such as Abdominoplasty then by Law- we're limited to 1000cc. Furthermore, I would suggest that you might consider a significant weight loss prior to your decision making process. You might find that an Abdominoplasty with limited lipo may benefit you the best . Board Certified Plastic Surgeons in the USA are required to perform their procedures at licensed and Certified and Inspected facilities -unlike you may find outside the country. When you leave America for Cosmetic Surgery - you do it at your own risk, because the requirements for quality outside the USA- are variable. Good luck!

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  First and foremost, your safety during surgery must be placed as the most important priority.  According to ASPS safety guidelines, the maximum amount of liposuction should be 5L.   Based on your
photograph, you are a great candidate for a tummy tuck with liposuction.  This can be done through a low and short
incision, all completely below the bikini line. 
The belly button can be designed to look natural and have no scars on
the exterior.   Your muscles can also be
plicated resulting in a flat abdomen. 
Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of
real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate
their results.  The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are
comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified
board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Joshua A. Halpern, MD, PA · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss. It’s very important that you pick a good board certified plastic surgeon that performs surgery in a certified surgical  facility. You would be a good candidate for a tummy tuck and liposuction. Unfortunately I do not know what areas of your body you want liposuction of. A new liposuction machine recently came available called the Vibrastat. I feel that it is the best technique for performing aggressive liposuction. I developed a tummy tuck where typically patients wake up in no pain. Recovery is quicker compared to traditional techniques. Most importantly patients enjoying showing off their new tummy in a bikini. I hope you find this information useful. For more information please watch the enclosed video.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS · Answer

There is a state law on the amount of fat that can be removed that are in place to ensure the safety of the patient. There is additional limitation if you combine liposuction with a tummy tuck. Some disreputable centers try to circumvent the state law. If you hear at a consultation of an attempt to circumvent the law, run as it is not worth endangering your health.  Consult in person with an experienced and expert board certified plastic surgeon to understand your options.

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