Liposuction... 5 Liters is a Red Line

- The volume removed must not exceed 8% of the patient’s body weight... and 24-hour hospitalization is required if the limit is exceeded.

- Liposuction is not considered a procedure performed for weight loss.

- A ban on purely cosmetic surgeries for patients with a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 35.

In a move aimed at enhancing patient safety and regulating cosmetic procedures in both the public and private sectors, Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi issued a ministerial decision establishing guidelines for cosmetic interventions, as well as specific conditions for liposuction procedures, medical and psychological evaluations of patients, and management of complications.

Among the most stringent regulations for liposuction is the cap of 5 liters as the maximum allowable volume to be suctioned in same-day surgery centers, regardless of the number of treated areas, the patient’s gender, or body size. Health facilities are mandated to hospitalize the patient for at least 24 hours if the volume exceeds this limit.

According to Ministerial Decision No. 232 of 2026, the volume of fat removed must not exceed 8% of the patient’s body weight without clothing, with the volume measured based solely on the total net fat suctioned.

The decision emphasized that liposuction is not considered a procedure performed for weight loss, and it prohibited purely cosmetic surgeries for patients with a BMI exceeding 35.

The decision mandated health facilities and physicians to document all data related to liposuction procedures in the patient’s medical record, including: weight, height, and BMI prior to the procedure; the volume of extracted fluids and fat; the body area treated; complications encountered during the procedure; pre- and post-operative patient photos; and weight and BMI during follow-up visits.

While requiring that physicians possess adequate training and experience to manage the procedure and its complications, the decision placed special emphasis on the patient’s psychological condition. It mandated obtaining an approved psychological report prior to surgery for patients exhibiting symptoms or suffering from disorders that may impair their ability to make medical decisions, including body dysmorphic disorder, schizophrenia, severe depression, eating disorders, and borderline personality disorder. The psychological report must not be older than three months.