Surgery And Recovery

This section outlines what to expect before, during and after living kidney donor surgery. 

What happens during kidney donation surgery?

During surgery
On the day of surgery, you will meet your anesthesia and surgical teams. You will receive general anesthesia, which means you will be fully asleep and will not feel, see, or hear the surgery.


How the surgery is done
Most donors have minimally invasive surgery. This is done with a camera and special tools. Open surgery is rarely needed.


After surgery
You will wake up in a recovery area, where you will be closely monitored. Then you will go to the transplant unit of the hospital.


Going home
Most donors stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 nights under the care of the transplant team. You will go home with short-term pain medicine. You do not need lifelong medications after donation.

When will I return for my follow-up?

You will see your surgeon 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. This will be an in-person visit.

How long is the recovery period?

Most living kidney donors can expect a recovery period of approximately 6 weeks. During this time, the following restrictions will apply: 

  • No driving for 2 weeks. You must also be off pain medicine

  • No lifting, pushing, or pulling more than 15 pounds for 6 weeks

  • No stomach/ab exercises for 6 weeks

When can I return to work?

Most living kidney donors return to work in about 6 weeks. People with desk or remote jobs may return sooner. People with physical jobs may need to 8 weeks off. Your team will help you plan a safe return to work. 

Connect With MyUCDavisHealth

As a UC Davis Health patient, you can use MyUCDavisHealth to securely and confidentially communicate with your care team, review your medical record, and much more – all from your computer, tablet and smartphone. If you're new to UC Davis Health, please sign up to create a user account. Or log-in.

Patient speaking to doctor

News