Liver Transplant

A liver transplant is a surgery that replaces a liver that is no longer working properly with a healthy one. The goal of the surgery is to give your body a working liver so it can do its job—removing toxins, helping you digest food, and making important proteins your body needs.

There are two main types of liver transplants:

Deceased donor transplant: The liver comes from someone who has passed away and donated their organs.

Living donor transplant: A healthy person donates part of their liver. The liver is unique—it can regrow in both the donor and the recipient over time.

During the operation, surgeons remove the diseased liver and connect the new one to your blood vessels and bile ducts. Most people stay in the hospital for one to two weeks after surgery to recover. Recovery continues at home, with close follow-up visits and medications to help your body accept the new liver.

People may be considered for a liver transplant when their liver is failing due to severe scarring or when it suddenly stops working.

Common reasons include:

• Cirrhosis from hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease, or fatty liver disease
• Acute liver failure, which can happen quickly from illness or injury
• Inherited or metabolic conditions that damage the liver
• Certain liver cancers when other treatments are not enough

Your care team reviews your overall health, blood tests, imaging, and how sick your liver is to decide if transplant is the safest, most helpful option. They also confirm you have support at home and a plan for medicines and follow-up—key parts of recovery.

1) Get Started

• Referral or self-referral: Your liver or primary care doctor can refer you, or you can contact a transplant center directly.
• Education videos: Learn about liver transplantation through our education videos and other trusted transplant center resources to better understand the process and what to expect.
• Speak with a transplant team: Talking with transplant professionals can help you understand your options and next steps. At UC Health, transplant coordinators are available to answer questions and guide you through the process.

2) Evaluation

• Team-based care: You’ll meet hepatology, transplant surgery, anesthesia, pharmacy, nutrition, social work, and financial counseling.
• Testing: Bloodwork, heart and lung checks, imaging, and cancer screening as needed.
• Timing: Many patients finish evaluation in about 30–60 days, but it varies by center and your health needs.
• Goal: Make sure transplant is safe and right for you—and that you’re ready for recovery.

3) Listing and Waiting

• Listing decision: Your case is reviewed by the transplant team. If approved, you’re listed with the hospital where you completed evaluation and added to the national waitlist.
• Dual (or multiple) listing: Dual listing at multiple transplant centers can broaden a patient’s options and may help them receive a transplant sooner.
• Understand requirements: Each center has its own evaluation and insurance requirements, and you must be able to arrive quickly if that center calls with an organ offer.
• Living donor transplant: If someone you know is willing to donate part of their liver, your transplant center can guide them through a separate medical and psychological evaluation. Living donor transplants can happen sooner than waiting for a deceased donor liver, since the timing can be planned in advance.
• While you wait: Stay reachable at all times, keep appointments, and follow your plan so you’re ready when an organ offer comes.
• Travel plan: Work with your team on how you’ll get to the hospital quickly. Some patients stay near the center; others remain at home with a solid plan.

4) Organ Offer and Admit

• The call: The center contacts you when a liver becomes available.
• Pre-op checks: On arrival, you’ll repeat labs and imaging to confirm everything is safe to proceed.

• Anesthesia and prep: You’ll meet your surgical and anesthesia teams, review the plan, and go to the operating room.
• The operation: Surgeons remove the failing liver and connect the donor liver’s blood vessels and bile duct. You’re asleep the whole time.
• After surgery: Most patients go to the ICU first for close monitoring, then to a regular unit as they improve.
• Lines and tubes: You may wake with a breathing tube (usually removed soon), IV lines, drains, and a urinary catheter—your team removes these step by step.
• Pain and prevention: You’ll get pain control, infection-prevention measures, and help with early movement.
• Medicines: Anti-rejection medicines start right away. Nurses and pharmacists teach you how and when to take them.

• Typical stay: Most patients stay about 7–10 days.
• ICU to regular unit: You start in the ICU, then move to a regular room as you get stronger.
• Getting moving: Nurses and therapists help you sit up, walk, and breathe deeply to prevent problems.
• Eating again: You’ll start with liquids and move to solids as your stomach wakes up.
• Lab checks: Blood tests show how the new liver is working.
• Medication teaching: You’ll learn about anti-rejection medicines, infection prevention, and what to do at home.
• Care partner: A family member or friend is encouraged to learn with you.

Tip: Bring a notebook for questions, medication schedules, and to-do lists for going home.

• First month: Expect clinic visits at least once a week and lab tests about twice a week.
• Months 2–3: Visits and lab checks slowly decrease as you heal.
• Months 4–6: Usually monthly in-person visits.
• Months 6–12: Often every 2–3 months, based on your progress.
• If you live far away: Many centers ask you to stay near the transplant hospital for 8-12 weeks after surgery so issues can be handled quickly.
• Daily life: Add light activity, protect your incision, avoid heavy lifting at first, and follow your food and medication plan.
• Staying well: Take medicines exactly as prescribed, keep all labs and visits, and call if you notice fever, new pain, more swelling, yellowing skin/eyes, or trouble taking medicines.

Learn more about the liver transplant process at UC Health: UC Health Liver Transplant Education

What are the main risks and benefits?

Benefits: A healthy liver can restore energy, appetite, and health.
Risks: As with any major surgery, there’s risk of bleeding, infection, blood clots, and rejection. You’ll take anti-rejection medicines and have close follow-up to keep you safe. Talk with your team about your personal risks and plan.

How does the waiting list work?

If the team approves you, you’re added to the national waitlist. Your place depends on how sick you are, organ availability, and matching. While you wait, keep your phone on, stay healthy, and follow your center’s instructions so you’re ready for an offer.

What is living donor liver transplant?

A healthy person donates part of their liver. Both livers can regrow. It may shorten wait time for some patients. Your team will explain who qualifies and how safety is protected for both donor and recipient.

Do I need to move closer to the hospital?

It depends on distance and your center’s plan. Many centers can coordinate so patients within driving distance don’t need to move before surgery. After transplant, some patients stay near the center for 8-12 weeks to manage early recovery.

When can I go back to work or travel?

This is different for each person. Many people return to light activity within weeks and to work in a few months, with their team’s guidance. Always ask before flying or long trips—early labs and checkups are important.

Choosing UC Health for a liver transplant means having access to nationally recognized experts right here in Greater Cincinnati. Our team works closely with you and your loved ones to make every step of the process as clear and supportive as possible—from evaluation through surgery and lifelong follow-up care. With shorter-than-average wait times and access to the latest transplant innovations, UC Health is here for you.

A liver transplant is a major step—but you won’t take it alone. With the right team, plan, and support, most patients move from evaluation to recovery with confidence. Submit an online referral or call us directly at 513-584-9999.