Kuwait has introduced new rules governing cosmetic procedures, with the Health Ministry setting a maximum limit for liposuction at same-day surgery centers and requiring additional medical safeguards for patients undergoing the procedure.
Health Minister Dr Ahmed Al-Awadhi issued Ministerial Resolution No. 232 of 2026, establishing controls for cosmetic interventions in both the public and private sectors. The rules cover liposuction limits, patient assessment, medical records, psychological evaluation and the management of possible complications.
5-litre limit for same-day liposuction
Under the new rules, no more than 5 liters of fat may be removed during liposuction at a same-day surgery center. The 5-litre limit applies regardless of the number of areas being treated, the patient’s gender or body size. If doctors need to remove more than 5 litres, the patient must remain in hospital for at least 24 hours.
The decision also states that the total amount of fat removed must not exceed 8 percent of the patient’s body weight without clothes. The calculation applies only to the amount of pure fat actually removed during the procedure.
Liposuction is not a weight-loss treatment
The Health Ministry stressed that liposuction is a cosmetic procedure and not a method of losing weight. The new rules also prohibit purely cosmetic procedures for patients whose body mass index (BMI) is above 35.
Doctors and healthcare facilities are required to record detailed information about every liposuction procedure in the patient’s medical file. This includes the patient’s weight, height and BMI before surgery, as well as the amount of fluids and fat removed, the areas treated and any complications that occur during the procedure.
The file must also include photographs taken before and after the procedure, along with the patient’s weight and BMI during follow-up.
Psychological assessment required in certain cases
The decision also places particular emphasis on the patient’s mental and psychological condition before cosmetic surgery.
Patients who show symptoms of, or have disorders that could affect their ability to make informed medical decisions must obtain an approved psychological report before undergoing the procedure.
This applies to conditions including body dysmorphic disorder, schizophrenia, severe depression, eating disorders and borderline personality disorder. The psychological report must be no more than three months old when the procedure is performed.
Doctors must be prepared for complications
The rules also require doctors performing liposuction to have adequate training and experience to carry out the procedure safely and deal with any complications that may arise.
The new controls are intended to strengthen patient safety and ensure that cosmetic procedures are performed according to clear medical requirements in both Kuwait’s public and private healthcare sectors.
