Liver transplant

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A liver transplant is surgery to remove an unhealthy liver from the body and replace it with a healthy liver from a donor. The donor liver is usually from a person who has died, but has given permission for their organs to be donated. This is called orthotopic liver transportation.

It is also possible for a living person to donate part of their liver for transplant, known as a living donor transplant or split-liver transplant. This is a less common form of liver transplant. It can be used to make new liver tissue in the unhealthy liver, as it will help the growth of new liver cells.

The first liver transplant was carried out in 1963. There are currently around 650 liver transplants every year in the UK.

Most people who have a liver transplant take around three months to recover, but then have a full and active life. Many will have to take drugs for the rest of their lives to ensure that their body doesnâ€™t reject the replacement liver.