If you are living with advanced kidney disease, a kidney transplant may offer greater freedom, stronger day-to-day energy, and a life less defined by dialysis schedules. At Florence Nightingale International Hospital, our transplant pathway is designed to be medically rigorous, patient-centered, and supportive for both local and international patients.Considering transplantation? You can request an evaluation and …
Kidney Transplant: A New Chapter Beyond Dialysis
If you are living with advanced kidney disease, a kidney transplant may offer greater freedom, stronger day-to-day energy, and a life less defined by dialysis schedules. At Florence Nightingale International Hospital, our transplant pathway is designed to be medically rigorous, patient-centered, and supportive for both local and international patients.
Considering transplantation? You can request an evaluation and share your medical reports for an initial review by our transplant team.
What Is a Kidney Transplant?
A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor is placed into a person whose kidneys can no longer support the body’s needs. The transplanted kidney can take over essential functions such as:
- Filtering waste from the blood
- Regulating fluid and electrolyte balance
- Producing urine
Most people who are evaluated for transplantation have end-stage kidney disease, where kidney function is severely reduced and kidney replacement therapy (dialysis or transplantation) becomes necessary.
Why Choose Transplantation Instead of Long-Term Dialysis?
For many patients, a successful transplant can offer meaningful benefits compared with long-term dialysis, including:
- More flexibility in daily life (work, travel, social activities)
- Improved quality of life for many recipients
- Fewer dietary and fluid restrictions for many patients (based on medical advice)
- Improved anemia and energy levels in some patients
- Potential cardiovascular benefits compared with remaining on dialysis for years
Every patient is different. Your expected outcomes depend on your health status, donor type, and long-term follow-up and medication adherence.
Types of Kidney Transplant
Living Donor Kidney Transplant
A living donor kidney transplant uses a kidney donated by a living person—often a relative, spouse, or close friend. In accordance with Turkish legislation, transplantation from donors who are not related within the fourth degree of kinship may be permitted following evaluation and approval by the Ethics Committee. Living donation is carefully planned and includes thorough medical and psychological evaluation of both donor and recipient.
Common advantages may include:
- Shorter waiting time compared with deceased donor lists
- Ability to schedule surgery at an optimal time
- Often strong long-term kidney function
Kidney exchange (paired donation) may be an option when a willing donor is not compatible with their intended recipient. In a paired donation program, donor–recipient pairs can be matched with other pairs so that each recipient receives a compatible kidney.
Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant
A deceased donor kidney transplant uses a kidney donated after death, most commonly after brain death is confirmed and organ donation consent is in place. Recipients are typically registered on an official waiting list, and allocation considers factors such as blood type and medical compatibility.
ABO-Incompatible Transplant in Selected Cases
In selected situations, transplantation may be possible even when donor and recipient blood types are different. This requires specialized evaluation and desensitization protocols (for example, treatments that reduce antibody levels) and is not suitable for every patient. Your transplant team will explain whether this approach is medically appropriate in your case.
Is a Kidney Transplant Right for You?
Not every patient with advanced kidney disease is automatically eligible. Transplant candidacy is determined through a structured evaluation focused on safety, long-term success, and your ability to follow the post-transplant care plan.
Candidate Evaluation
Your evaluation may include:
- Blood tests (kidney function, compatibility testing, infection screening)
- Imaging tests (such as ultrasound or CT when needed)
- Heart assessment (such as ECG and echocardiography when indicated)
- Consultation with a multidisciplinary team (nephrology, surgery, anesthesia, nursing, and transplant coordination)
- Psychological and social support assessment to help ensure readiness for long-term medication and follow-up
When Transplant May Not Be Safe
Some conditions can make transplantation unsafe or unlikely to succeed at that time, such as:
- Active, uncontrolled infection
- Certain cancers that require treatment or a waiting period
- Severe, uncontrolled heart disease
- Uncontrolled psychiatric illness or inability to follow a treatment plan
Eligibility is individualized. If transplantation is not appropriate now, the team will discuss what can be optimized and what alternatives may be safer.
The Kidney Transplant Journey: Before, During, After
Before the Transplant
Preparation focuses on improving surgical readiness and supporting a safe recovery. Depending on your case, your team may recommend:
- Adjusting medications and reviewing all current treatments
- A personalized nutrition plan
- Smoking cessation support
- Physical activity guidance appropriate to your condition
- Planning for follow-up appointments and post-discharge care
International patients can also receive support with travel planning, accommodation guidance, transfers, and interpretation services.
During the Transplant
Kidney transplant surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The donor kidney is typically placed in the lower abdomen and connected to blood vessels and the bladder so it can begin producing urine. In many cases, the patient’s own kidneys remain in place unless there is a specific medical reason to remove them.
After the Transplant
After surgery, patients are closely monitored for kidney function, fluid balance, and early complications. Many patients stay in hospital for several days, depending on their recovery and clinical needs.
A key part of long-term success is immunosuppressive medicine, taken every day to reduce the risk of rejection. Your team will educate you on:
- How and when to take medications
- Possible side effects and how to manage them
- Your follow-up schedule and required blood tests
Life After Kidney Transplant: What to Expect
Many recipients return to normal, active, fulfilling lives after recovery. Ongoing care typically includes:
- Regular clinic visits and blood tests to monitor kidney function and medication levels
- Lifestyle guidance (nutrition, physical activity, heart health)
- Infection prevention strategies (including food safety and hygiene practices)
Because immunosuppressive medicines lower immune defenses, your care team will also help you recognize early signs of infection and know when to seek medical help.
Risks and Potential Complications
All major surgery carries risks. Kidney transplantation can involve:
- Bleeding, infection, clots, or anesthesia-related complications
- Rejection, which may be silent and detected only on blood tests
- Side effects from immunosuppressive medicines, which can include higher infection risk and metabolic or cardiovascular effects over time
Close monitoring and early intervention are essential. Your transplant team will provide a clear plan for follow-up and symptom reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the waiting period for a kidney transplant?
Waiting time varies based on donor type, blood type, compatibility factors, and organ availability. A living donor transplant can reduce waiting time because surgery can be scheduled after evaluation is complete.
What is the success rate of kidney transplantation?
Outcomes are generally strong in modern transplant medicine, but results vary by donor type, overall health, immune compatibility, and long-term adherence to medications and follow-up. The most meaningful estimate is personalized—your transplant team can explain what outcomes may look like in your specific case.
Will I need to take medication for the rest of my life?
Yes. Daily immunosuppressive medicines are typically required long-term to reduce rejection risk. Your team will guide you on safe use and monitoring.
How will I know if my body is rejecting the new kidney?
Some rejection episodes have no obvious symptoms and are detected by routine blood tests. Contact your transplant team urgently if you develop symptoms such as fever, pain near the transplant area, reduced urine output, sudden swelling or weight gain, or rising blood pressure.
How long will I stay in the hospital after the transplant?
Most patients remain in the hospital for several days, depending on their recovery progress and early medication adjustments. On average, donors stay approximately 3 days, while recipients typically remain hospitalized for about 5 days. Your medical team will confirm the expected length of stay based on your individual condition.
Can I live a normal life after a kidney transplant?
Yes. Many patients return to work, travel, and exercise after recovery. Long-term success depends on consistent medication use, follow-up visits, and healthy lifestyle choices.
Why Choose Florence Nightingale International Hospital?
Our kidney transplant pathway emphasizes multidisciplinary expertise, structured evaluation, careful surgical care, and long-term follow-up. With a long-standing experience in organ transplantation, supported by dedicated transplant subspecialties and well-established technological infrastructure—including advanced robotic surgical systems—our program is designed to deliver safe, effective, and patient-centered care.
For international patients, our coordination team provides comprehensive support with scheduling, transfers, accommodation guidance, and interpretation services, allowing you to focus fully on your treatment and recovery.
Next step: Request a transplant evaluation and share your medical reports for initial review.
