[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/11\/living-organ-donation-questions\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/11\/living-organ-donation-questions\/","headline":"Living Donor Liver Donation Q&A with Dr. Ganesh","name":"Living Donor Liver Donation Q&A with Dr. Ganesh","description":"Find out all there is to know about living donor liver donation from Dr. Ganesh at UPMC Transplant Services.","datePublished":"2017-11-30","dateModified":"2026-04-15","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/transplant","name":"Transplant Services","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/transplant","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/transplant-services\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/STARZL_MONTEFIORE_TRANSPLANT_20250826_35-e1776280893692.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/STARZL_MONTEFIORE_TRANSPLANT_20250826_35-e1776280893692.jpg","height":866,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/11\/living-organ-donation-questions\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Transplant"],"wordCount":868,"keywords":["cirrhosis","liver disease","liver transplant","surgery"],"articleBody":"Every year, an estimated 1,000 people die waiting for a liver transplant.As a result, living-donor liver transplant has become a powerful, lifesaving option. At times, it can be a confusing process. If you’re on the waiting list for a liver transplant or are thinking about donating, you will likely have questions.Click here to learn more about receiving a liver transplant. Contact UPMC.Fill out the form below or call 833-683-3555 for more information. We sat down with Swaytha Ganesh, MD, the medical director of UPMC’s Living Donor Program, to answer some of those questions.UPMC has performed more liver transplants than any other transplant center in the country. And through our UPMC Complex Care Connect\u2122 program, we extend our expertise to hospitals across the country. Learn more at the\u00a0UPMC Complex Care Connect\u2122 program website.For the DonorQ: Do living donors have to be related to the recipient?A: No. If you’re thinking of donating or if you’re looking for a living donor, it’s important to remember that donors don’t have to be related. Potential donors can be anyone who meets the appropriate qualifications and has an unselfish desire to help. Donors can include family members, friends, spouses, coworkers, and neighbors.Learn More About the Transplant Process.\u00a0Q: Who can be a living liver donor?A: Donor safety is very important. Potential donors will be carefully evaluated to make sure it’s safe for them to donate and confirm they are the best medical match for the recipient. A potential donor must:Be between the ages of 18 to 60Have a BMI less than or equal to 32Not engage in ongoing drug or substance useBe in good general health with no history of HIV, pulmonary hypertension, liver disease (including cirrhosis and hepatitis B or C), active cancers, or other significant diseases involving the lungs, heart, or kidneys.Q: I have heard that the liver can regenerate. Is that true?A: Yes. The liver has the unique ability to regenerate, or regrow, back to normal size within a few months after surgery. Because of this, living donation is a lifesaving option for those needing a liver transplant.Q: How much of my liver is removed?A: The percentage of the liver that’s removed from the donor depends on the age and size of the person receiving the transplant. Typically, with adult-to-adult donation, about 50 to 60 percent of the liver is removed from the donor and transplanted into the recipient. If you’re donating to a child, about 25 percent of the liver is removed.RELATED:\u00a0Life After Receiving a Liver Transplant\u00a0Q: Do I need to have the same blood type as the recipient to donate?A: No. Having a compatible blood type is no longer required.Q: How long does it take for a donor to recover from a transplant?A: Once donors are discharged from the hospital, they typically return to their normal daily activities, including showering and getting dressed, within about one week. Most donors can return to work within six to 12 weeks; after three months, donors tend to be back to their former level of health. However, throughout the recovery process, you will return to the hospital for routine check-ups.To register to be a living donor and save a life, please visit our website.For the RecipientQ: How do I know if I am eligible to receive a liver transplant?A: At UPMC Transplant Services, you will go through a series of evaluations to determine if you’re a candidate for liver transplant. You will need to bring a caregiver with you to these evaluations. A caregiver can be any loved one who will provide support throughout the transplant experience.For more information regarding liver transplant evaluations and what to expect as a potential recipient, please visit the our website.Q: If I was turned down from another center, will UPMC still evaluate me?A: Even if you have been turned down by other centers, our experts will review you. While we can use results from testing at other transplant centers, we ask that you be reviewed by our doctors.Q: Who is a part of UPMC Liver Transplant Program? Will I have help and support as I go through the process?A: The UPMC liver transplant team will guide and work with you every step of the way. The team consists of a:Transplant nurse coordinatorTransplant surgeonLiving donor advocateTransplant hepatologistTransplant psychologistTransplant social workerTransplant nutritionistTransplant pharmacistQ: How often are follow-up appointments after liver transplant surgery?A: Follow-up depends on your rate of recovery. To ensure the best outcome possible, most patients visit UPMC’s post-transplant clinic:Once a week for the first monthOnce every two weeks after two monthsOnce a month after six monthsYour doctor will determine how often you\u2019ll need to visit after nine months.For more information about living donation, contact the UPMC Liver Transplant Program at 412-647-5800 or email transplant@upmc.edu.Join the conversation about living donation. Like us on Facebook today. Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 30, 2017, and was last reviewed on April 15, 2026."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2017","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Living Donor Liver Donation Q&A with Dr. Ganesh","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/11\/living-organ-donation-questions\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]