What happens during donor surgery?
Depending on which part of the donor’s liver is removed, the incision is usually in the shape of an inverted “T.” Typically for right lobe donation, the gallbladder needs to be removed. The donor’s liver is carefully split into two segments and one portion is removed for the recipient. The wound is then closed securely: the skin stitches typically being done with absorbable sutures which do not require removal. The liver begins to heal and regenerate itself, generally taking six to eight weeks for full regeneration.
