How come only 500cc of fat was taken out during my tummy tuck and lipo 360, with arms and thighs, procedure?

You need to ask your surgeon this question since your surgeon did the surgery. Perhaps you had more skin than fat to be removed.

Thank you for your question regarding the amount of fat removed during your tummy tuck and lipo 360 with arms and thighs. Based on your description, it sounds like you were expecting more comprehensive results. Let me clarify a few important considerations that may explain the amount of fat removed and the overall approach to your procedure:

From your description, it sounds like you may not have had a significant amount of fat to begin with. Liposuction is not a weight-loss solution; instead, it is designed for contouring and sculpting. For someone of your height and body composition, the amount of fat available for removal may naturally be limited, especially in leaner patients.

The term "lipo 360" generally refers to circumferential liposuction of the midsection, including the abdomen, flanks, and lower back. However, the exact areas treated can vary between surgeons and procedures. It’s crucial to review the areas specified in your consent form, as this will detail the targeted zones. If certain areas were left untreated, it may have been because they were not included in the surgical plan.

When liposuction is combined with a tummy tuck, there are important limitations due to blood supply considerations. A tummy tuck involves significant surgical manipulation of the abdominal tissues, including muscle repair and skin removal. Aggressive liposuction in the same area can compromise blood flow and increase the risk of complications such as delayed healing, necrosis, or seromas. For this reason, surgeons may remove less fat during combined procedures to prioritize patient safety.

If 500cc of fat was transferred, it suggests that the removed fat was used for a secondary procedure, such as fat grafting. The amount transferred is often limited by the volume of viable fat available and the body’s ability to accept the fat in the recipient site. If your donor areas had minimal fat to begin with, this could also explain why the results appear less dramatic.

If you are unhappy with your results, I recommend scheduling a follow-up consultation with your plastic surgeon to:

Discuss the specific areas targeted during your procedure and review the consent forms to understand what was included.

Clarify whether additional liposuction in untreated areas might be an option for future refinement.
Consider whether a staged approach, addressing other areas in a second procedure, might better achieve your goals.

You might also seek a second opinion from a board-certified plastic surgeon to explore potential revision options. It’s important to communicate your concerns openly to ensure that your goals and expectations align with what’s surgically feasible.

I wish you the best.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

If you have minimal fat and some skin laxity then fat harvest of fat is not a great option. You appear thin to start. Your consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon would have gone over all of this. Talk with your doctor, Good Luck!