Frequently Asked Questions

People lead healthy lives with one kidney. After kidney donation, your remaining kidney will increase in size and take over the whole job of filtering your blood.

Health outcomes for living donors are excellent and 99 percent of donors say they would recommend living kidney donation. Some people have even found their quality of life increases, knowing they've saved a life.

Read Amy & Ann-Marie's story-https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/transplant-institute/living-donor-kidney-transplant/patient-stories/amy-story

The length of stay in the hospital will vary depending on the individual donor's rate of recovery and the type of procedure performed (laparoscopic vs traditional kidney removal) although the usual stay is 1 to 3 nights. Laparoscopic is the preferred type of surgery; as it’s less invasive and allows the donor to recover quicker. Since the rate of recovery varies greatly among individuals, be sure to ask the transplant center for their estimate of your particular recovery time. Many donors have reported feeling bloated and constipated, which are normal symptoms after any surgery due to the anesthesia. They’ll also feel itching and some pain around the incision as it continues to heal. Heavy lifting is not recommended for about six weeks following surgery. It is also recommended that donors avoid contact sports where the remaining kidney could be injured. It is important for the donor to speak with the transplant staff about the best ways to return to physical activity.

See more information here-https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/transplant-institute/living-donor-kidney-transplant/living-with-one-kidney#:~:text=Kidney%20Donation%20Follow%2DUp%20Care,at%20one%20and%20two%20years.