Living-donor kidney transplant provides an alternative to the waiting list and allows people to receive a kidney transplant sooner.
Living-donor kidney transplant typically offers:
During a living-donor kidney transplant, a family member, friend, or even a stranger can donate one of their kidneys to a person in need of a transplant. The donor’s healthy kidney is removed and transplanted into the recipient to replace their failing kidney.
At UPMC Hamot, potential living donors are carefully evaluated to make sure that they can safely donate and are the best medical match for the person they are donating to.
Potential living-kidney donors must:
The process for living-kidney donors includes:
The donor's recovery time after living-donor kidney transplant surgery varies based on:
Typically, kidney donors can expect to be in the hospital for four to six days after donation.
Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise after surgery for several weeks. Living-kidney donors usually can return to normal routine four to six weeks after surgery.
Living-kidney donation does not affect life expectancy. Our kidney transplant experts at UPMC Hamot will explain potential risks at your living-donation evaluation.