How can I prevent a fat embolism during and after gynecomastia surgery?

Question

I'm an otherwise healthy male with a normal BMI but I suffer from hypothyroidism and I suspect that my cholesterol and triglyceride levels are high.I have some fat on my chest and after consulting few plastic surgeons they said that it's mostly fat and the glandular component maybe very less and so suggested only liposuction without any gland excision, but I'm scared about two side effects namely fat embolism and skin necrosis, is there a risk of these in a chest liposuction? And how to prevent?

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  With an experienced surgeon the risks of either complication are very small.  Skin necrosis is only seen in cases of liposuction that involves heating of the tissues, such as VASER, while fat embolism can not be "prevented" but its development is fortunately rare.

Ankit Gupta, MCh, MS, MBBS · Answer

Fat embolism- extremely rare and unheard of so don't have to worry at all about it.Hypothyroidism- if your TSH is normal, you are as good as normal.Skin necrosis- only liposuction never causes skin necrosis.Information on gynaecomastia surgery in ddelhi
Hope I was able to answer to your queries.
Dr Ankit Gupta

Jeremy S. Hurren, BSc, MBBS, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Treated hypothyroidism is unlikely to have any serious consequences for liposuction surgery.Skin necrosis is most unlikely in a healthy inn smoking individual having liposuction for gynecomastia using conventional liposuction (i.e. not laser or ultrasonic). The main cause of significant skin necrosis for this type of surgery would be severe infection.Fat embolism occurs with with liposuction but is not normally clinically significant. It is when large volumes of fat are re-injected, such as with a Brazilian Butt Lift, that most serious fat embolism occurs. Fat embolism is most unlikely to be clinically significant in normal healthy individuals having liposuction to the breasts (gynecomastia).Best wishes.

David Azouz, MD, FACS, FRCS(C) · Answer

An efficient surgical time can be helpful in minimizing complications.  Choosing an experience plastic surgeon who routinely performs gynecomastia surgery also can help to lower the risk of complication.

J. Michael Morrissey, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Thank you for your question. The risk of fat embolism from liposuction for gynecomastia is exceedingly low. In fact, I have not heard of an instance. Fat embolism is more of a risk for the "Brazilian butt lift" where fat is injected into the buttock. This procedure, which is banned in some countries injects fat into an area which can find its way into a lacerated vein and cause a fat embolism. Suction, particularly of the chest, rarely if ever can cause this. Seek an experienced plastic surgeon in your area and feel free to ask plenty of questions.Best wishes,Dr. Morrissey

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