Live Liver Recipient Requirements & Qualifications

Is a Living Liver Transplant Right for You?

For those with advanced liver disease, a transplant may be the only cure. A liver transplant from a living donor can offer faster access to life-saving treatment and better outcomes.

Who Can Receive a Liver from a Living Donor?

  • Patients diagnosed with liver failure or advanced liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis, biliary atresia, acute liver failure)
  • Individuals medically cleared by their transplant team
  • People able to safely undergo surgery
  • Those with a supportive care team and recovery plan

Why Choose Living Donation?

The decision to become a living donor reflects immense compassion. Discover the meaningful advantages that come with it.

  • Reduces wait time on the transplant list
  • Allows for a planned procedure in better health
  • Improved post-transplant recovery

Finding a Donor

Your transplant team can help you determine what type of donor match you may need. LDP is here to help you share your personal journey through our Share Your Story platform, which empowers patients to raise awareness and connect with potential living donors.

Ready to Learn More?

Learn more About Finding A Donor
Contact Our Support Team

Liver Transplant and Donation FAQ

What are 6 early signs your liver is damaged?

Early liver damage may not cause noticeable symptoms, but warning signs can include:

  1. Fatigue
  2. Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes – called Jaundice
  3. Belly pain or swelling
  4. Dark urine
  5. Nausea or vomiting
  6. Bruising easily

You can read more about these symptoms from Mayo Clinic.

A liver transplant surgery generally takes 6 to 12 hours, depending on the complexity of the case and the patient’s condition. Post-operative care in the hospital may last several days to a few weeks. More details on procedure length and recovery are available from UPMC.

Wait time can vary greatly, depending on factors like blood type, geographic location, and urgency (MELD score). On average, it may range from 6 months to over a year. Learn more about transplant wait times and prioritization from Healthline.

As of recent estimates, over 10,000 people are on the liver transplant waiting list in the United States. You can view up-to-date data on the national waiting list from Statista or the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

Liver transplant recipients generally have strong long-term outcomes. According to clinical data, around 75% are alive at 5 years, and many live 10, 20, or more years post-transplant, especially if the new liver remains healthy and medications are managed well. The Cleveland Clinic offers more insights on survival rates and quality of life after transplant.