Medically ReviewedWritten by Pooja Rawat, Medical Content Writer
Posted On: 18 Sep 2026, Updated On: 01 Jan 1970
A liver transplant success rate is conventionally defined by the percentage of recipients who survive after transplantation and by graft function. Available data suggest that liver transplantation is a viable, life-saving option for many patients with end-stage liver disease. Success rates vary by the recipient’s health and age, the severity of the condition, donor status, and post-transplant care. For instance, according to the NHS Blood and Transplant, the survival rate for liver transplant patients is 93% after one year and 83% after five years. These are average statistics, so individual results may vary.
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A transplant is a complex procedure that typically involves replacing the recipient’s diseased or damaged liver with a healthy donor organ or tissue. It is usually recommended for patients with end-stage liver disease, certain types of liver cancer, acute liver failure, or genetic conditions.
According to NHS Blood and Transplant, the survival rate for liver transplant surgery success rate is on average:
| Time after transplant | Patients alive |
| One year | 0.93 |
| Five years | 0.83 |
Meanwhile, according to the Mayo Clinic, the survival rate is 75% at five years and 60% at ten years. The discrepancy between the statistics is explained by differences in the study populations, the transplant centers involved, organ sources, and follow-up care. Liver transplant success rates vary significantly because of several contributing factors.
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The liver transplant success rate by age is also difficult to estimate, as older patients are often subject to additional risks and morbidities. Furthermore, age alone is rarely a restricting factor, as the transplant team considers a patient’s overall health and other relevant clinical indicators. According to the OPTN/SRTR 2023 Liver Annual Data Report, the five-year patient survival after liver transplantation among adult deceased-donor recipients was on average:
| Recipient age | Survival rate |
| 18–34 years | 94.20% |
| 35–49 years | 88.40% |
| 50–64 years | 82.50% |
| 65 years or older | 76.60% |
The five-year survival rates were 88.8% for 18–34 years, 83.4% for 35–49 years, 77.8% for 50–64 years, and 70.8% for 65 years or older. Again, these statistics describe the survival rate for a particular population, and individual results may vary. In addition, the transplant team will evaluate the recipient’s cardiac and pulmonary function, frailty, malignancies, kidney function, nutritional status, and ability to comply with post-transplant care.
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The partial liver transplant success rate implies the success rate of a living-donor liver transplant. A partial liver transplant is a type of transplant where a portion of the liver is removed from a living donor. A living-donor liver transplant is possible due to the liver’s unique ability to regenerate and grow after a transplant surgery. Both the donor’s and the recipient’s livers grow to the expected size and volume within a few months after transplant. According to the Mayo Clinic, living-donor liver transplants are generally associated with favorable short-term outcomes, though comparisons between donors are complicated by differences in wait-list times and illness severity.
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The liver transplant surgery success rate depends on the recipient’s pre-transplant health status, the donor’s health and graft quality, the transplant surgeon’s experience, and graft function after transplant. Any transplant surgery is a complex procedure and may be associated with a number of risks. A liver transplant surgery usually takes several hours. The possible transplant-related complications include:
The NHS Blood and Transplant transplant service highlights that any liver transplant recipient requires regular immunosuppressive therapy or therapy that suppresses the immune system to reduce the risk of organ rejection. Immunosuppressive therapy also increases the risk of infection and other transplant-related complications.
The cirrhosis liver transplant success rate is dependent on the stage of the liver disease and the associated complications. Ascites, varices, hepatic encephalopathy, renal failure, cachexia, and infections are additional risk factors that decrease the likelihood of a successful transplant. Cirrhosis staging and liver transplant prioritization are performed using the MELD-Na score, which indicates the severity of the liver disease and the expected survival without a transplant. The higher the score is, the more urgent the transplant is. However, the link between the MELD-Na score and the post-transplant survival is not absolute, as every patient’s transplant outcomes are different.
The transplant team will also consider the etiology of cirrhosis, the presence of concomitant malignancies, the alcohol or drug use history if applicable, cardiopulmonary function, infection status, and nutritional and body mass index, and compliance with the post-transplant care. Although a liver transplant can significantly improve the quality of life for patients with cirrhosis, the underlying disease is not cured by the surgery.
The live liver donor success rate and recipient outcome are related to the recipient’s health status, the experience of the transplant team, and the compatibility between the donor and the recipient. A live liver donor transplant is an option for eligible patients who wish to reduce the waiting time on the transplant list. In contrast to a cadaver liver transplant, a live donor transplant allows the recipient to avoid prolonged waiting. According to the NHS, a cadaver liver transplant success rate is excellent, though the transplant outcomes may be affected by the donor’s age, cause of death, and other factors.
The NHS highlights that donation after circulatory death (DCD) may be associated with higher risks for the recipient compared to other types of donation. However, the recipient’s age should not be used as the sole determining factor, as many older recipients have lower risks. On the other hand, most DCD donors are elderly, and the donation after circulatory death is associated with additional risks.
The recovery after liver transplant typically involves the care and monitoring in the hospital. During this time, the medical team will observe the functioning of the donor liver, test the blood, review the signs of infection or acute graft rejection, and adjust the immunosuppressive therapy, if necessary. The patient will also be encouraged to walk and move around as tolerated. Upon discharge, the liver transplant patient will need to adhere to the following aftercare guidelines:
Most patients will be able to resume their daily activities after a few months, depending on their individual recovery process. Some patients may experience transplant-related side effects, weakness, or other intercurrent morbidities, such as chronic kidney disease or diabetes. In addition, some patients may struggle to cope with the post-transplant immunosuppressive therapy and its side effects.
Q1: What is the success ratio of liver transplant?
A: The success ratio of liver transplant varies considerably depending on the recipient’s health and age, transplant center, the status of the donor, and post-transplant care. According to the NHS Blood and Transplant, the survival rate for liver transplant recipients is estimated to 93% at one year and 83% at five years. However, individual results may differ.
Q2: Is liver transplantation successful in older adults?
A: Yes, liver transplantation is successful in older adults. Although age is a crucial determinant of transplant survival, the older recipients’ physiology is not different from that of younger adults. Therefore, the primary transplant consideration is the recipient’s overall health and frailty. The transplant team will also assess the older recipient’s cardiac and pulmonary functions, kidney function, and other risk factors.
Q3: Is a living-donor transplant better than a deceased-donor transplant?
A: In general, a living-donor transplant is a better option due to the reduced waiting time. However, both procedures are associated with considerable risks. In addition, the outcomes between the two may not be comparable, as the recipient's health prior to transplant may affect the results.
Q4: Can cirrhosis return after a liver transplant?
A: Cirrhosis itself cannot recur after a liver transplant, as the procedure replaces the diseased liver with a healthier one. However, the new liver may develop cirrhosis if the underlying cause of liver damage persists, such as viral hepatitis or alcohol abuse.
Q5: How long can someone live after a liver transplant?
A: Many liver transplant recipients live for more than ten years after transplant. The survival rate depends on a variety of factors, including graft function, recipient’s age and health, the development of transplant-related complications, and the ability to comply with the post-transplant care.
A liver transplant is generally a successful procedure with excellent long-term survival outcomes for eligible recipients. Therefore, the single most important statistic is not the liver transplant success rate, but rather an individual assessment of the risks, the recipient’s health and prognosis. If you or your loved one is considering a liver transplant, consult your hepatologist and a transplant surgeon.
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