Safety is the most important consideration. Liposuction is usually limited to 5 liters or about 10-12 lbs. Removal of larger volumes are discouraged due to increased risks. Safety standards require limits on the amount of fat removed and the number of areas treated at one time due to a risk of excessive surgical trauma and prolonged exposure to general anesthesia. Liposuction is not designed to be a weight loss procedure. Rather the goal is body contouring. Each patient is evaluated based on their anatomy, fat distribution, goals and expectation.