Why your donation matters
What makes someone an eligible liver donor?
Anyone who is generally healthy between the ages of 18 and 65 can be a liver donor. A medical evaluation will help you determine if you are healthy enough to donate.
Are there any long-term complications?
Other than a scar that fades in time, donors typically don't experience long-term complications following their recovery from surgery. The part of the liver donated is almost fully regrown in 8 weeks and works as good as new.
How long will I be in the hospital?
Donors typically return home from the hospital within one week after surgery.
Will I have to pay anything?
No. All medical-related costs are covered by the recipient's insurance. And we work with living donors to help close the gap on expenses that aren’t covered, such as travel and lodging.
Think you may be a good donor?
Frequently asked questions
Giving a part of yourself to save the life of a stranger comes with many questions. Here are some answers.
What is a living liver donation?
A patient with end-stage liver disease can receive a life-saving liver transplant in two ways – through a deceased or a living donor. With a deceased donor, the patient is put on a waitlist and it can take years while their disease progresses before an eligible match is identified. With a living donor, an eligible match could be made in a matter of months.
Under a living donation, the donor and the recipient usually undergo surgical procedures in adjoining operating rooms in the same hospital. This is advantageous since the donor liver can immediately be placed into the recipient, which improves outcomes. There is also the benefit of scheduling surgery before the recipient’s disease progresses, and at a time that is most convenient for both the liver donor and recipient.
Can I donate to a child? Or only an adult?
You can donate to someone who has the same blood type as you, which in some cases could be a child, as well as an adult. You do not need to be related to the patient.
How does a living liver donation procedure work?
Once a thorough medical evaluation determines the living donor is healthy enough to donate, the transplant team then assesses if a donation would work with a recipient of the same blood type.
Once the transplant team greenlights the donation, the donor and the recipient then receive lots of preparation before they undergo a surgical procedure at the same time in the same hospital. The entire process could take up to six months.
But don’t I need my liver to survive? How does this work exactly?
During the procedure, only about half of the donor’s liver will be surgically removed and placed into the recipient. The half of the liver that remains inside you will completely regenerate to its full size within 8 weeks. (And it does the same for the recipient!)
Why not get a liver from a deceased donor?
For people with only months to live, a living donor may be their only hope. With deceased donors, most people are put on a waiting list that could take up to 3 years to find an eligible liver with their same blood type.
Will I get to meet who I am donating my liver to?
In most cases, yes. But it is not an obligation.
How long does the procedure last?
Living liver donation surgeries last anywhere between 4 - 12 hours, depending on the health of the donor and the recipient.
Who pays for the procedure?
The procedure is usually covered by the recipient’s insurance and costs nothing to the donor.
Paying It Forward: A Two-Time Donor’s Story
When Jason McCluney decided to give two strangers the gift of life by donating a kidney and part of his liver, he didn’t expect the experience to be so rewarding. The positive impact of Jason’s donations inspired him to dedicate the next chapter of his life to finding future donors. Find out how Jason worked with UCSF Health to help save two patients in need.
Jason’s story >
Schedule an information
appointment
We’re here to help. Schedule your virtual information session today.
I want to donate
part of my liver
That is amazing news for someone who needs it. Let’s start the process.
Not for you?
Being a living donor isn’t for everyone, but you can still help. Consider registering as an organ donor as part of the national deceased organ donor registry. Or sign up for volunteer opportunities to get involved in organ donation education locally.