A kidney transplant places a healthy kidney into your body from a deceased donor or from a healthy living donor. The new, donated kidney does the work that your two kidneys used to do.

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Due to the shortage of kidneys, patients on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney may wait many years.

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A kidney transplant is a treatment for kidney failure; it’s not a cure. You will need to take medicines every day to make sure your immune system doesn't reject the new kidney.

 

A working transplanted kidney does a better job of filtering wastes and keeping you healthy than dialysis. However, a kidney transplant isn’t for everyone. Your doctor may tell you that you’re not healthy enough for transplant surgery.

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