Selena Gomez shows kidney transplant scars in powerful Instagram photo

4 November 2022, 17:26

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By Sam Prance

Selena Gomez had a life-saving kidney transplant in 2017 due to her lupus.

Selena Gomez has opened up about her kidney transplant, her scars and her insecurities in a powerful, new Instagram post.

Fans of Selena Gomez will already know that the My Mind & Me star had a kidney transplant in 2017 following complications with her lupus. Selena was diagnosed with lupus in the early 2010s and, by 2017, the autoimmune disease had affected her body so much that she needed a kidney transplant to survive. Selena's close friend Francia Raisa donated her a kidney.

The transplant left Selena with multiple scars and now Selena has shown fans what they look like in a candid new photo.

Why did Selena Gomez have a kidney transplant?

Taking to Instagram, Selena divulged: "When I got my kidney transplant, I remember it being very difficult at first showing my scar. I didn’t want it to be in photos, so I wore things that would cover it up. Now, more than ever, I feel confident in who I am and what I went through... and I’m proud of that. T - Congratulations on what you’re doing for women, launching @lamariette whose message is just that...all bodies are beautiful."

In the photo, Selena wears a La Mariette swimsuit, created by her friend Theresa Marie Mingus, and you can see a scar on her right thigh. During her transplant, one of Selena's arteries broke and the surgeon had to take a vein from her right thigh to build a new artery. The emergency surgery saved Selena's life.

View this post on Instagram

When I got my kidney transplant, I remember it being very difficult at first showing my scar. I didn’t want it to be in photos, so I wore things that would cover it up. Now, more than ever, I feel confident in who I am and what I went through...and I’m proud of that. T - Congratulations on what you’re doing for women, launching @lamariette whose message is just that...all bodies are beautiful.

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Sep 24, 2020 at 9:57am PDT

Selena also has a scar on her stomach, which she showed fans in 2017, when she first opened up about the transplant. She wrote: "I’m very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn’t promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of. So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health."

She continued: "I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you. Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery."

Selena shared a photo of herself in the hospital with Francia alongside a photo of her scar.

View this post on Instagram

I’m very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn’t promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of. So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health. I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you. Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery. And finally, there aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis. Lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made. For more information regarding Lupus please go to the Lupus Research Alliance website: www.lupusresearch.org/ -by grace through faith

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Sep 14, 2017 at 3:07am PDT

Selena ended the post by writing: "And finally, there aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis. Lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made."

Selena also spoke about her transplant on the TODAY show with Francia Raisa. She said: "I had arthritis. My kidneys were shutting down. My mentality was just to keep going. I guess I got to the point where it was really kind of life or death."

Selena Gomez’s Extended Interview With Savannah Guthrie About Her Kidney Transplant | TODAY

She continued: "As soon as I got the kidney transplant, my arthritis went away. My lupus – there’s about a 3-5 percent chance it'll ever come back. My blood pressure is better. My energy, my life has been better."