Plaque is a mass made up of deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin. High cholesterol levels increase the risk of formation and increase the so-called "vascular plaques" The body sends white blood cells to trap cholesterol as it settles in the artery wall.
The cholesterol is then converted into foam cells that secrete more fat and cause more inflammation. It is not possible to completely clean the arteries of plaque, but the size of the plaque can be reduced.