Anxiety 2 days before Liposuction, and concerned about fat embolisms. What is the actual cause?

Thank you for you question. It is normal to have anxiety before your surgery.  Make sure your surgeon is a board certified plastic surgeon.  Discuss your concerns with your surgeon for reassurance.  There is risks with any surgery.  Best wishes. 

Liposuction is extremely safe and your risk of a heart embolism is very rare. I recommend talking to your Dr. about your concerns in order to allay your fears so you can focus on healing and getting great results. Best, Dr. Emer

Liposuction is body-contouring procedure that uses suction to remove stubborn fat deposits from under this skin. Because there is a constant suction, fat embolism during liposuction is very rare. This is compared to fat transfer where the fat is injected into the tissues under pressure. During fat transfer, if fat is injected in the wrong location, the fat can end up in a blood vessel - causing a fat embolism. A frank discussion with your board certified plastic surgeon would be the next best step.For more info on Liposcution, see the link below.

Liposuction is a very safe procedure. The risk of fat emboli is exceedingly rare.With the rise of fat transfer and the "BBL," the phenomenon of fat embolus has risen to the forefront. Fat emboli technically refers to a situation in which adipose/fat tissue (which is normally extravascular or outside of the vascular/vessel space) is introduced into the intra-vascular space. This emboli can then travel within the vessel downstream causing an occlusion. This is a very serious complication which requires immediate medical attention. The risk of fat embolus is very, very low for liposuction alone, however, the risk is higher in the setting of fat transfer (in which fat is re-injected into an area rich with large vessels). Special care must be taken to ensure that there is no inadvertent intra-vascular injection. Some techniques include aspiration before injection, use of blunt cannulas for transfer and avoiding intra-muscular injection (lower incidence of vessel cannulation).As always, discuss your concerns with aboard certified plastic surgeon.

Hello and thank you for your question. If good technique is used, the risk of fat embolism is so extremely rare.  Liposuction is a very commonly performed procedure and is extremely safe if performed by a plastic surgeon board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Fat embolism is caused by introduction of fat into a blood vessel which then flows to a distant organ and causes a stroke or other problem. Its very very rare.  Liposuction is the most common plastic surgery procedure (after botox and fillers) and is done over 100,000 times a year. While complications can happen, I wouldn't lose sleep. Good luck

I am sorry to hear about your heightened anxiety and concerns regarding your upcoming liposuction.  I have been performing the procedure for approximately 35 years and have never had a fat embolism in a liposuction procedure.  Assuming you are not having fat transfer I think it really is an extremely minor risk that should not be cause for anxiety.  There have been reports of fat emboli from fat augmentation especially into the buttock area but if you are not undergoing this procedure I think I can allay your concerns.It is my feeling that your recovery and experience will be smoother and better if you can reduce your anxiety state before undergoing anesthesia.  If you feel you need to, contact your plastic surgeon to review all of your questions as soon as possible.  Rarely plastic surgeons prescribe an anti-anxiety medication to take the night before surgery to allow you to get some sleep and rest.Best wishes,Jon A Perlman M.D., FACSDiplomate, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)ABC-TV Extreme Makeover SurgeonBeverly Hills, California