The exact amount of fat that can be safely removed with liposuction varies depending on several factors, including your overall health, the areas being treated and specific surgical considerations. However, the general guideline is about 5 liters (approximately 11 pounds) of fat. This is true regardless of if your procedure is done under local or general anesthesia. In cases where a significant amount of fat needs to be removed, or if multiple areas are being treated at once, Dr. Hakimi might recommend dividing the procedure into multiple sessions to increase safety and improve your final result.