Is it safe to have full body liposuction?

Hi there! That is a great question. The maximum amount of fat that can safely be removed with liposuction in one session is between six to eight pounds (three to four liters).
So to answer your question, yes, if guidelines are followed, this is safe.

Reminder that liposuction is a body contouring procedure, not a weight loss procedure!

Thank you for your question regarding whether it’s safe to have liposuction of the inner, outer, front, and back thighs and the abdomen and the back. Safety is multifactorial. Before your surgery, I would highly suggest your internist clear you. That means your internal medicine doctor or general practitioner will closely examine you and ensure it’s safe to perform the surgery. Multiple labs, EKGs, and x-rays should be obtained to provide your heart and lungs are healthy. If all of these are normal and your internist and plastic surgeon feels confident, I think the procedure can be made safe. Intraoperative concerns would be the application of sequential compression devices to minimize the clots and early ambulation after the surgery. In addition, I would suggest the compression garment be worn for a good 6-8 weeks and for you to have lymphatic massages for several weeks, approximately two weeks after a liposuction procedure. Antibiotics should also be given for about one week. All in all, liposuction is generally a safe procedure and a healthy patient. Thank you for your question regarding the safety of liposuction.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best. The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heats the skin with radiofrequency devices such as Renuvion (J-Plasma), InMode BodyTite, and ThermiRF to heat the undersurface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HI-DEF VASER Liposuction and can only be done by a well-trained body contouring specialist. At the same time, fat should be harvested and purified, with PRP and stem cells added, and then injected into muscles, indentations and cellulite to get body shaping and contouring. For a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), we inject the fat into the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face. Cellulite should also be treated with a combination of QWO or Cellfina, subcision, and/or fillers such as Bellafill, Renuva synthetic fat, or Sculptra. If skin is very loose before surgery, then it will need to be removed: tummy tuck/abdominoplasty for lower abdominal skin; breast lift for excess breast skin; and/or a brachioplasty for loose arm skin.

Overall, you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer.

If you are healthy and the amount of fat removed isn't too high this should be safe. The three hours of surgical time is considered within a safe time frame. I encourage you to speak to your surgeon about the risks and benefits of doing these areas in one stage. She/He is most familiar with the details of your surgery and health history.

Dear Philosophical85412,
some plastic surgeons may want to split this into two operations depending on the time needed. Its best to see a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine your options and whether it would take too long, more than 4 hours, to do all.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery