Will the dead fat cell harm or overwork my 1 kidney? Is CoolSculpting safe for me?

Question

I'm 63 year old female about 220 lbs. I had 1 Kidney removed last year and my GFR is at 39. I do have some edema in my ankles and legs, other than that I'm in good health. I'm very uncomfortable with my belly size. It's very hard for me to reach my feet to put shoes on/ tie them, I feel like I'm 9 months pregnant all the time and nothing looks good on me. I had a consult with Sono bello for lyposuction but they use lanocane that is hard on kidney so they told me NO.

David L. Kaufman, MD FACS · Answer

CoolSculpting only affects the targeted fat cells, and will not harm any of your organs. Due to the fact thatCoolSculpting is nonsurgical, it can be a great fat removal option for people who are unable to have surgery because of existing medical and health conditions. However, there are limitations to what can be achieved. CoolSculpting is a great option for getting rid of excess fat in problem areas, yet itis not a solution for large scale fat reduction or weight loss.

Ramandeep Sidhu, MD · Answer

Excellent question. Coolsculpting will not put any extra pressure on your single kidney. Be mindful that coolsculpting is not a weight loss procedure though so if you are overweight I recommend loosing weight first and then proceed with aesthetic procedures. Coolsculpting will not help with intra-abdominal fat.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Yes, it should be fine to have Coolsculpting. You need to lose weight first before undergoing any cosmetic procedure to get the best outcome. For best results, it is recommended to be at your ideal or stable weight before getting Coolsculpting. Coolsculpting is for removing problem areas that cannot be removed with weight loss and diet / exercise alone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a bariatric doctor or dietitian. Best, Dr. Emer

James R. Koehler, MD · Answer

Because the process of fat cell elimination is very gradual and takes place over the span of several weeks, I don't think your kidney will be overstressed by the treatment. The best candidates for CoolSculpting are at or near their target weight and have a few isolated problem areas that they can't improve through diet and exercise alone.

Edward Stokes, MD · Answer

This is a great question. Actually, the good new is that CoolSculpting will have no effects on the kidneys, as the dead cells will be filtered out by the liver. And, even though the fat cells will be removed by the liver, it happens at such a slow rate over a period of months, that no damage is possible to the liver as well. CoolSculpting is a remarkably safe and effective way to permanently remove fat cells from the body. Good luck with everything!

Nicholas Gentry, MD · Answer

Cool sculpting is not a weight loss tool and debulking the abdomen can be difficult. However, the fat is cleared by the liver and should not affect your kidney at all.

Grant Stevens, MD · Answer

Generally speaking Coolsculpting is often a good option for patients that are not good surgical candidates because of other medical conditions.  That being said, Coolsculpting is not good for patients that are significantly overweight or have predominantly deep/visceral fat.  Coolsculpting is ideal for patients at or near their goal weight that have isolated, well defined areas of stubborn fat.  Though it would be safe, Coolsculpting may not be the most effective treatment for you.

Drew Varano, MD · Answer

Coolsculpting will not have any negative effects on your single kidney because the fat goes through apoptosis and is broken down without effecting blood values for electrolytes , cholesterol etc . Given your weight of 220, I would not recommend the treatment as your bmi is  likely above 30

William H. Jervis, MD, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

probably coolsculpting or its laser based non surgical fat reduction system competion SculpSure would be safe as the damaged fat slowly absorbs.  The problem would be that you probably would need multiple treatments which can get very expensive and could be a major investment in your time for multiple treatments.  At 220 lb you may be better off having liposuction, better yet with a laser or ultrasonic assisted device for enhanced skin tightening.  This needs to be preferably done under general anesthesia with medical clearance and with careful planning taking into account your medical condition.

Ramtin Massoudi, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi Dear
Great question, I like to get more history before I answer your question. The reason is that if you have edema in your legs there are other factors except kidney that causes edema like: Congestive heart failure (CHF), Lymphedema, Venous Insufficiency, ...
I would make sure you don't have any of these issues then I would recommend healthy life style.
Try to eat organic foods specially chicken with no hormones, no antibiotic, no dairy products, no white bread, no processed food, walk 1 hour a day, decrease your stresses
Then I would consider coolsculpting.
Thank you for your question.
Sincerely,
Ramtin Massoudi, MD

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Will the dead fat cell harm or overwork my 1 kidney? Is CoolSculpting safe for me?

Answers (10)

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