What is Living Kidney Donation?
If you’re in kidney failure, finding a living donor could be your best chance at getting a transplant sooner—and with better long-term results. However, many potential donors don’t even know that living kidney donation is possible.
Here’s what you need to know so you can help others understand what living kidney donation is, how it works, and why it’s worth considering.
What Is Living Kidney Donation?
Living kidney donation is when a healthy person donates one of their kidneys to someone whose kidneys no longer work well. The donor’s kidney is removed during surgery and transplanted into the recipient.
How is Living Kidney Donation Possible?
Most people are born with two kidneys but only need one to live a normal, healthy life. When someone donates a kidney, the remaining kidney adjusts and takes over the work of both. This makes living kidney donation safe for healthy people who qualify. This is also why you only need a single transplanted kidney.
Why Are Living Donors So Important?
There are over 90,000 people in the U.S. waiting for a kidney. Kidneys from living donors tend to last longer and work better than those from deceased donors, and they’re available much sooner. That’s why living donation is often the best option for patients who need a transplant.
Who Can Be a Living Donor?
Donors can be almost anyone: family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, or someone who has never met you but wants to help. To donate, they must go through medical and psychological screening to ensure it’s safe for them to proceed.
What Are the Benefits of a Living Donor Transplant?
- Better outcomes – Living donor kidneys generally function better over time and last years longer than kidneys from deceased donors.
- Faster transplant – While kidney patients typically wait years for a deceased donor kidney, a living kidney transplant typically only takes a few months.
- Scheduled surgery – You and your donor can choose a convenient time for the donation surgery and the transplant, allowing for planning, coordination, and recovery time—especially if you’ll be supporting each other afterward.
- Less time on dialysis – A living kidney donor transplant may enable you to reduce the time you spend on dialysis or avoid it altogether.
How Living Donation Works
- Testing – A potential donor will go through tests to check if they’re healthy enough to donate.
- Surgery – The donor’s kidney is removed (usually laparoscopically) in a minimally invasive procedure.
- Recovery – Most donors return to their regular routines in four to six weeks and go on to live full, healthy lives.
How Can Someone Become a Living Donor?
If you know someone who might consider becoming a living kidney donor, they can learn more and register here. There’s no commitment just for registering, and they can opt out at any time.