Liver transplantation is a surgical procedure whereby a diseased or failing liver is either removed and replaced by a whole new liver from a deceased donor, or where part of a healthy liver from a living donor is removed and inserted to the failing liver of the recipient to encourage and promote growth of new and healthy liver cells. This 2nd type of transplant is sometimes called a split-liver transplant.
The recovery time varies but generally takes around 3 months. Thereafter, most recipients can lead a normal and active life, though most will require drugs for the remainder of their life to prevent the body's immune system from rejecting the new liver.