Transplant from a living donor
Why choose a living donor transplant?
Waiting time is shorter, and success rates are higher with living donor transplant.
Most people in the United States wait about
4 years
to get a kidney.
But with living donation, you can get a transplant in
1 year or less
once you find a matching donor. You may be able to get a new kidney before you start dialysis.
Benefits of living donor kidney transplant over dialysis:
- You don’t have to spend large amounts of time on dialysis
- You can eat more kinds of foods
- You’ll have more energy and time to do things you enjoy
- You can travel
- You’ll feel better and may live longer
Benefits of living donor kidney transplant over a transplant from a deceased donor:
- You’ll likely get a kidney sooner and spend less time on dialysis
- You may live longer
- Your new kidney usually starts working right away
- Your body is less likely to reject the kidney, especially if it comes from a relative
Leaders in transplant excellence
UNOS works with leading educational partners to provide accurate, trustworthy health information. Our educational partners include:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Duke University School of Medicine
Emory University
Johns Hopkins University
Mount Sinai Hospital
Northwestern University
Temple University
University of California, Los Angeles
Special thanks to our corporate sponsor for supporting excellence in transplant education: