How Much Fat Can be Removed with Liposuction?

Every patient we see has different expectations about what they want to achieve from liposuction. While some need help targeting those last few ‘hard to shift’ pounds, others view treatment with liposuction as a quick and easy way to lose weight.

No matter what your reasons for considering liposuction are, it’s important to understand the limitations of this popular procedure and whether it’s going to be right for you.

Here we discuss how much fat can be removed with liposuction to provide a realistic picture of what might be possible and help you determine whether you could be a suitable candidate.

Think ‘body contouring’, not ‘weight loss’

It’s common for patients considering liposuction to ask questions like “how much weight can you lose with liposuction” or “how many sizes do you lose with liposuction”, but it’s important to establish realistic expectations from the get-go.

The first thing those considering liposuction need to understand is that the procedure isn’t intended to be used as a weight loss method. Instead, liposuction should be viewed as a body contouring treatment which can be used to target stubborn fat deposits to achieve a more pleasing and sculpted physique, only after you’ve already done everything you can in terms of diet and exercise.

In many cases, patients are surprised at the excellent results we can achieve by focusing on improving the shape and contours of problem areas with only a modest amount of fat removal.

So how much fat can be removed with liposuction safely?

While liposuction isn’t intended for patients requiring a large amount of fat removal, there is no specific volume limit where liposuction becomes too unsafe to perform. Having said that, the larger the volume of aspirate removed, the greater the risk of complications such as lumpy or rippled skin, infection, blood clots, thermal burn or lidocaine toxicity.

For this reason, it’s generally accepted that no more than 5,000 cubic centiliters (cc’s) of total aspirate be removed during a single liposuction procedure. This roughly translates to around 10 or 11 pounds. It is however important to note that these figures relate to the combined volume of both fat and fluid removed during the procedure, rather than fat alone.

It’s also important to note that the ideal amount of fat that can be removed safely will depend on the individual patient and the treatment area. Liposuction that’s performed in conjunction with another procedure such as a tummy tuck will also affect the total volume of fat that can be removed.

Are you a suitable candidate for liposuction?

At Burbank Plastic Surgery, we would generally consider you to be a suitable candidate for liposuction if you:

●     are in good overall health

●     are a non-smoker

●     are already at or very close to your ideal weight, and

●     want to eliminate stubborn deposits of fat that won’t respond to a healthy diet and solid exercise regime.

If you fit these criteria and reside in the Burbank, Los Angeles, West Hollywood or Beverly Hills areas, it’s worth attending a consultation with Dr. Orloff at Burbank Plastic Surgery to obtain a personalized assessment of your suitability for liposuction.

With the weather warming up, there’s also no better time to schedule a liposuction procedure than right now. As the fastest and most effective way to shape and sculpt your body and achieve the figure you’ve been wanting, we’ll get you looking your absolute best so you can make the most of the warm summer months.

Find out more about liposuction at Burbank Plastic Surgery or contact us to request a consultation.