I have high cholesterol. Will liposuction cause fat embolism?

cholesterol has nothing to do with embolism risk. please speak to your surgeon.You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

Dear angelina8989,
Fat embolism and high cholesterol don't have any connection. The risk of fat embolism during liposuction is low. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Having high cholesterol will not cause fat embolism during liposuction.  Many varieties of liposuction are available including ultrasonic, smart lipo, laser lipo, vaser lipo, power assisted lipo, and conventional tumescent lipo.  The results depend very little on the method used and very much on the surgeon selected.  Be sure that your plastic surgeon is board certified and has a wealth of experience in performing liposuction.

If you are stable on your medications, your doctor will most likely clear you for surgery. Fat emboli can happen regardless of your serum cholesterol levels and are extremely rare. The best thing to do is have an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon.

AngelinaI appreciate your concerns, however higher cholesterol counts do not affect or increase chances of either fat or a blood embolism after liposuction. Generally speaking, there is a very low chance of fat or blood embolism after this procedure, especially  in healthy patients when appropriate precautions are taken. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in our area to address these concerns and greatly increase your chances for the best possible result. Good luck.

Thank you for posting your interesting question. Fortunately, fat embolism with liposuction is extremely rare today. An elevated cholesterol will NOT predispose you to have a fat embolism. I recommend that you have a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is experienced with liposuction. At the time of your consultation you can discuss your goals, safety concerns, answer all of your liposuction questions to your satisfaction, and view the surgeon's before and after liposuction results. Best wishes, Richard Wellington Swift, M.D., F.A.C.S. 

First the risk of a fat embolism is extremely rare when undergoing liposuction.  Second, it does not have anything to do with having high cholesterol.  Unless you have other contraindications, you are likely a candidate. You are best to be seen in person.

Fat embolism is unlikely during a high definition VASER liposuction procedure. Cholesterol does not make you more susceptible to fat embolism during an elective procedure. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing. 
Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Hyper cholesterolemia does not have an impact on the chance of having a fat embolism. Fat emboli are exceedingly rare from elective surgical procedures including Liposuction but have been described as a fairly common occurrence with gluteal fat transfer.I don’t know if anyone has statistics on fat emboli associated with Liposuction. My best guess is the incidence is probably around one in50,000. At worst. Compared to driving to work on a daily basis these are pretty good odds.If you’re not having a gluteal fat transfer and this is probably not something to be concerned about.Focus instead on what is likely to happen. What you should be concerned about is the aesthetic outcome, getting an assessment if you’re a good candidate and finding the best provider. These are the things that actually make a difference and will be actual concerns after the procedure.If your having a gluteal fat transfer procedure then you should have a thorough discussion with your provider about the risk of fat embolism and their technique.Best, Mats Hagstrom MD