Liver Transplant

Living Donors

Preparation
Procedure
Recovery

Recovery

The average hospital stay for the donor after surgery is seven days. You will be given pain medication after the surgery, initially intravenously into your vein and later orally. You also will receive a pain medication prescription before you leave the hospital. Most donors experience discomfort for two to four weeks after surgery.

The liver begins to regenerate almost immediately. Most of the regeneration occurs in the first two weeks after surgery, followed by a slower phase of growth over the next year.

If you're interested in donating part of your liver to a friend or relative, please call the UCSF Liver Transplant Program at (415) 353-1888 for more information. The process is confidential. No obligation is incurred in making the call or in starting the evaluation process.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007