I tell patients that the goal is to improve contour not to worry about the exact weight of fat removed. It varies so much from person to person. There are also safety issues to address as well, and this can limit the actual amount of fat removed during any single liposuction procedure.
Liposuction has been advanced by use of tumescent solution that both thins the fat but also has a vasoconstrictor (epinephrine) that reduces bleeding during, and bruising after liposuction. As a result more volume of fat can safely be removed than without use of this tumescent fluid. There is still a limit however to that amount that can be safely removed as an outpatient due to a physiological response known as "third-spacing". This is where your body replaces fat that has been removed with your own intra-vascular fluid (blood and serum). In order to ensure that you can drink enough fluids at home to maintain your intra-vascular volume (hence, blood pressure) the limit that I adhere to is 3000-5000cc depending upon body habitus. If more needs to be removed it is safest to do it in a series of procedures treating a different area each time. Have a full discussion with your board-certified plastic surgeon if this potentially is an issue.Best, Scott A. Brenman, M.D., F.A.C.S.Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
