Most people who choose to become living kidney donors are motivated by the desire to help a loved one or friend who is in need of a kidney transplant. The process of donating a kidney is a deeply personal decision that requires careful consideration of both serious risks and benefits. Today, approximately 75% of people who receive a kidney transplant from a living donor maintain their kidney function for 10 to 20 years. Compared to the general public, most kidney donors have equivalent (or better) survival, an excellent quality of life, and no increase in end-stage renal disease (ESKD).
The majority of kidney donation surgeries are performed using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques and may include the use of robot-assisted technology. After surgery, most living kidney donors stay in the hospital for zero to one day. Depending on what you do at work, you can return to work as soon as two weeks or as late as eight weeks after surgery. You also shouldn't lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for the first six weeks after surgery.
The overall risk of developing significant kidney disease in the remaining kidney after donation is very low, occurring in less than one in 200 (0.5%) donors. This risk is much lower in kidney donors than in the general population (without screening) because all potential donors must undergo pre-screening to ensure they are healthy. Kidney transplants from a living donor offer several benefits to the recipient, such as fewer complications and greater survival of the donor's organ compared to kidney transplants from a deceased donor. Kidney exchanges allow incompatible donors to donate to unknown individuals, in exchange for a compatible kidney that can help loved ones or family members.
Kidney transplantation is often the treatment of choice for kidney failure, compared to lifelong dialysis. Current policy prioritizes living donors on the national waiting list if they need to receive a future kidney transplant.
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