How to Be a Liver Donor

Learn how part of your liver could save someone’s life.

Did you know that you can save someone’s life by donating a piece of your liver? In fact, any liver patient you save would have a ripple effect impacting hundreds, if not thousands, of people.

End-stage liver disease (ESLD) can be viral, autoimmune, alcohol-related or a type with no known cause. ESLD is fatal, but a liver transplant can save the patient’s life.

A liver can come from a deceased donor, but it can also come from a living donor. Many people find this news surprising, and it’s normal to have questions. The experts from the USC Transplant Institute, part of Keck Medicine of USC, are here to answer them.

What is a living liver donor transplant?

The liver is the one human organ that can regenerate. A person can lose up to half of their liver, and what remains will grow back to full size — typically in four months or less.

When a patient receives part of a living donor’s liver, the organ will start working and regenerating right away. Meanwhile, the donor’s remaining liver will keep working while it grows back to full size.

Living liver donors save lives

The need for donated livers is much greater than the supply. Patients often wait for months, or years, for a donated liver that may not arrive in time.

Living organ donation is making a difference. Each time a person gets a donated liver, everyone below them on the wait list moves up a slot. This means one living donor can cause a ripple effect that saves hundreds of lives, if not thousands.

And that’s not all. Livers from living donors have medical benefits such as immediate organ function, ample opportunity for doctors and patients to prepare for the surgery, greater longevity and reduced rejection risk.

Can you be a living liver donor?

Almost any adult in good health can be a donor, and national best practices have been developed to ensure donor and recipient safety.

When a person registers to be a living liver donor, they undergo a series of medical tests to assess their physical health and mental health. Those who pass will continue to get regular screenings until a matching recipient is found.

The donor can change their mind about donating at any time — no questions asked.

After surgery, the donor will spend a few nights in the hospital, then go home. While most living donors fully recover within a few months, follow-up appointments will allow doctors to monitor the donor’s health for the two years — just to be safe.

In addition to the benefits that living liver transplantation provides, the USC Transplant Institute offers the latest advances in surgical methods, as well as pre- and postoperative care designed to optimize the health of the donor and the recipient.

If you or a loved one is living with ESLD, or you want to help someone who is, the transplant team at Keck Medicine is here to help.

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