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

Question

I was very disappointed to see left over fat in the areas lipo’d and areas left untreated completely . How am I 5’9” and requested A lot of extra areas be liposuctioned yet my stomach sides and backs been untouched:( I didn’t plan on a tummy tuck ,but I went with their suggestion. like an empty bag hanging . Compared to other photos of theirs my work was minimal and sad looking to find out I had only 500cc transferred

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Versatile359164,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @JessicaJade84, thank you for your question. Every specialist has his own technique for performing every procedure. Also there will be different possibilities for improvement depending on the vision and approach of the treating physician. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science Member (IFATS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Gregory T. Lynam, MD · Answer

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!

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Cassie Nghiem, MD · Answer

Hi JessicaJade84, excellent question. Although I understand you're not satisfied, I think you have a very nice result. It's hard to answer your question without knowing more about your surgery, when it was performed, what was discussed with your surgeon, and whether it was done awake or under general anesthesia. Sometimes less can be removed with liposuction if done awake based on the maximum of lidocaine that can be used for numbing and patient comfort. I would return to your original surgeon and address your concerns. Hope that helps!

Romy Ahluwalia, MD · Answer

Excessive liposuction can result in loose skin and contour deformity. Your surgeon must balance this with fat removal

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

I'm sorry you are unhappy with the amount of fat removed during your procedure.  Unfortunately no one on this forum will be able to tell you why.  That is a question only your surgeon can answer.  When you signed your consent forms it should have listed the areas that were to be suctioned.  Your surgeon is not allowed to suction any areas that have not been agreed to in writing, so this may be a starting point to see what areas were to be addressed.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Your post is a bit confusing. You say 500 cc was transferred. no where else in your post do you mention having fat transfer or fat grafting.
It’s each patient responsibility to vet plastic surgeons thoroughly and properly before committing to having permanence any reversible body contouring procedures.
I recommend patients do this by having multiple in person consultations. During each consultation ask each provider to show you their entire collection of before and after pictures for every procedure you’re interested in scheduling.
An experience provider should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 sets are before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures such as a tummy tuck or liposuction of various areas.
Every area treated should’ve been assessed independently and you should’ve requested to see before and after pictures of every single area you were going to have treated.
Ask providers to show you examples of excellent outcomes, average outcomes and outcomes that didn’t turn out as well as they had hoped for.
Look very carefully at every area treated to make sure there are no contour irregularities and results look impressive consistently.
Make sure they show you pictures of previous patients who have similar body characteristics to your own in regards to candidacy for the procedure. This means the same amount of subcutaneous fat, the same amount of skin laxity etc. etc.
To make an assessment on the outcome of a procedure we always need to see proper before and after pictures.
Unless your goal is to just vent your frustration your post really isn’t going to do any good for you.
Your surgeon is responsible for the outcome of the procedure and you are responsible for choosing that surgeon.
If areas weren’t treated and they were paid for then that is a breach of contract and you are entitled to get a refund.
It may not be my practice but failure to fulfill what was contracted is a breach of contract.
Before you go down that road you should probably get a copy of your operative report and read exactly what was done.
If you want an assessment on the outcome of your procedure consider re-posting with proper before and after pictures. Alternatively schedule in person consultations for quality second opinion assessments.
For a second opinion consultations patient should come prepared bringing with them all before and after pictures and a copy of your operative report.
These are all available from your surgeons office upon request.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Jeffrey C. Hamm, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!
From your photos, I note that you are quite trim and as such there is limited excess fat available to harvest. Here in Florida, we are allowed by law to remove 1000 cc of fat during a TT / lipo combination procedure.  However, one must be vigilant of the "fatocrit", the percentage of actual fat in the aspirate. If it falls below 50 %, one is aspirating more blood than fat, and the procedure must be terminated to prevent significant anemia. 
I suggest you discuss your dissatisfaction with your plastic surgeon. 
Best wishes...

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

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