What is the maximum weight of fat and tissue that can be safely removed during a Tummy Tuck/Liposuction?

Question

William Andrade, MD · Answer

Generally the amount of fatty fluid removed during a single liposuction procedure is less than 5 litres.  In practice, during a tummy tuck I usually remove less than 1 litre of liposuction fluid (fat and fluid combined).  The weight of the piece of skin and fatty tissue removed during a tummy tuck varies, but is probably less than you might imagine.   For an average tummy tuck, only a few pounds of tissue are removed, and it is uncommon to remove over 10 pounds.

Mathew A. Plant, MD, FRCSC · Answer

There is no generic catch-all answer to this like there would be for straight liposuction (5 litres as an outpatient). It really depends on how much excess you have, how much would be removed during liposuction vs during the tummy tuck and how your overall health is. The only way to be sure is to get a consultation with a royal college certified plastic surgeon to be formally assessed. Best of luck!

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck specimen can range in weight.  Liposuction is typically limited to 5 liters in an outpatient setting.  I
would search for the board certified plastic surgeon who you feel is
most likely to give you the best results and who performs hundreds of
these procedures each year. I would look at patient reviews as well as
before and after photos on that surgeon's website.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

We have parameters as to how much fat can be liposuctioned in a single surgical procedure.  In terms of the amount surgically resected during an abdominoplasty, this is individualized to the patient's needs and there are no legal restrictions on the gram weight to be removed.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

In the US the standard limitation for liposuction alone is 5 liters.  Some states have lower limits, sometimes 4 liters. Others limit the liposuction amount to 1 liter if additional surgery is done at the same setting. As to tissue removal for a TT, there really is not an accepted limit. The amount depends on preop anatomy.  I have taken as little as a few hundred grams, as much as over 20 kilograms. The size of the patient may contribute to added risk, but the  amount resected does not. All the best.

What is the maximum weight of fat and tissue that can be safely removed during a Tummy Tuck/Liposuction?

Answers (5)

Answer: Amount to be removed in TT/liposuction

Answer: Amount to be removed in TT/liposuction

Answer: Limits of resection

Answer: Limits of resection

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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

What is the maximum weight of fat and tissue that can be safely removed during a Tummy Tuck/Liposuction?

Answers (5)

Answer: Amount to be removed in TT/liposuction

Answer: Amount to be removed in TT/liposuction

Answer: Limits of resection

Answer: Limits of resection

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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