A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which kidneys that do not work anymore are replaced with one functional kidney. You may get it from a living or a deceased person.
Kidneys are bean-shaped organs placed below the rib cage, on each side of the spine. They are vital organs that perform the essential function of filtering waste and producing urine.
For you to stay healthy, your kidneys should work well. Otherwise, it can become life-threatening. If your kidneys do not work, you may need to get dialysis done frequently. A kidney transplant can also help your body filter waste and get rid of toxins that accumulate in your body.
Kidney failure or end-stage renal disease often occurs due to causes such as uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure for a long time, polycystic kidney disease, and chronic glomerulonephritis.
If you are diagnosed with chronic kidney failure, you need to visit the healthcare provider frequently. To get an expert opinion, you can consult with a Nephrologist.
Why Do You Need A Kidney Transplant?
You will need a kidney transplant if both of your kidneys stop working. Compared with dialysis, often kidney transplant is a preferred option because a patient can stay healthy on a new kidney.
Dialysis takes several hours, several times a week, and it can cause complications. For many people, a kidney transplant gives a better quality of life than staying on dialysis.
With dialysis, you have to follow dietary restrictions. But with a transplanted kidney, your body can cope well. Sometimes the person gets a kidney transplant before going on dialysis- a procedure known as a preemptive kidney transplant. It is often done in chronic kidney failure when kidney functions deteriorate slowly.
However, certain factors that can prevent you from being eligible for a kidney transplant are:
- Older age with other serious health problems
- Severe heart disease
- Mental health problems that would make it hard to follow treatment after the transplant
- Dementia
- Recent cancer treatment
- Active cancer
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Other factors can affect undergoing the procedure safely and taking medications after that.
After a transplant, you need to take immunosuppressant medicines for life, because without them your body can reject the new kidney. Normally, whenever your body finds something foreign in your body, the immune system gets activated and tries to get rid of it with various mechanisms. So to cope with that, you need to take immunosuppressant drugs that suppress the normal functioning of your immune system. In this way, organ rejection may not occur.
You need to get only one kidney from a donor even when your both have failed. If you do not have any compatible donor alive who can donate the kidney, you need to wait for a deceased donor. For that, your name will be put on a waiting list. When a deceased donor kidney becomes available, it is matched to people on the waiting list by blood type, health, and other factors. In the meanwhile, you may need to get dialysis done.
What Are The Complications of Kidney Transplant Procedure?
Kidney transplant procedure carries a risk of complications, such as:
- Blood clotting
- Bleeding
- Blockage or leakage from ureters- a tube that carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder
- Kidney infection
- Rejection of the kidney or failure
- Heart attack or stroke
How long your donated kidney works well, no one can predict. Your healthcare providers can manage the complications well. To prevent organ rejection, they will administer immunosuppressant medications that help suppress the immune system.
What Are The Side Effects of Immunosuppressant Drugs?
The immunosuppressant drugs suppress your immune system, thereby putting you at risk of infections. Along with that, it can cause:
- Osteoporosis- bone thinning
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High blood cholesterol
- Hair loss
- Excessive hair growth
- Puffiness
- Weight gain or edema
The Bottom Line
Your healthcare providers can decide whether you need a kidney transplant or not. They may perform various tests of the donor and the recipient before the procedure.
If you have kidney disease, you must visit the healthcare provider frequently.
The Evaluation and Waiting List
Before a transplant, a patient goes through an evaluation at a transplant centre. Doctors check the heart, lungs, and overall health, and review the cause of kidney failure. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) notes that a patient must be healthy enough to have major surgery and to take medicines that suppress the immune system for life. In the United States, more than 90,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Waiting times vary by blood type, location, and health, and can last years.
Living Donor Versus Deceased Donor
| Donor Type | How It Works | How Long the Kidney May Last |
|---|---|---|
| Living donor | A healthy person donates one of their two kidneys | About 15 to 20 years on average, per the NKF |
| Deceased donor | The kidney comes from a person who has died | About 7 to 10 years on average, per the NKF |
| Preemptive transplant | Transplant before dialysis starts | Often better outcomes, per the NKF |
Living donor transplants can often be scheduled in advance, which means less time on dialysis. A living donor is usually a family member or friend, but strangers can also donate. Donors are tested carefully to make sure they are healthy enough to live with one kidney.
Recovery After a Kidney Transplant
The Mayo Clinic notes that most people stay in hospital for about a week after a kidney transplant. The new kidney often starts working right away, though some take longer to start working. Most people can return to normal activities within about eight weeks, but heavy lifting should be avoided for longer. Follow-up visits are frequent at first, with blood tests to check how the new kidney is working and to adjust medicines.
Life After Transplant: Medicines and Care
Immunosuppressant medicines must be taken for life, every day, at the same times. Missing doses can cause the body to reject the new kidney. The Mayo Clinic advises patients to avoid infections by washing hands often, avoiding crowds when advised, and staying up to date with vaccines as their doctor allows. Live vaccines are usually avoided after transplant. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and not smoking help protect the new kidney. Tell your transplant team about any new medicine, supplement, or herbal product before you take it, as some can interact with immunosuppressants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a kidney transplant?
It is a surgical procedure in which a kidney that no longer works is replaced with a healthy kidney from a living or a deceased donor.
Who can get a kidney transplant?
People whose kidneys have failed and who are healthy enough for major surgery and for lifelong immunosuppressant medicines. Severe heart disease, active cancer, or active drug or alcohol abuse can prevent eligibility.
How long does a transplanted kidney last?
According to the NKF, a living donor kidney lasts about 15 to 20 years on average, and a deceased donor kidney lasts about 7 to 10 years on average.
What are the complications of a kidney transplant?
Possible complications include blood clots, bleeding, infection, rejection of the kidney, and heart attack or stroke. Your transplant team monitors for these closely.
What are the side effects of immunosuppressant drugs?
They suppress the immune system, which raises the risk of infections. Other side effects include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, weight gain, and bone thinning.
Disclaimer: This guide gives general information only. It is not a substitute for medical care. Talk to your own doctor or transplant team about your own health. This guide gives no medical advice for readers.
Last Updated: 6 November 2026