The operation

Kidney transplants are generally safe operations. 

The risk of death from a kidney operation is 1 out of 3500, which is very low. 

The transplant operation usually involves laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. This means that you will have several smaller scars and an 8 centimetre scar instead of one very big scar. 

The operation lasts about 3 hours.

You will probably be sent home from hospital 3–5 days after the operation. 

You may feel weak and unwell for some time after the operation. This is normal. After all, you were well before the operation. 

You will also have some pain after the operation, but you will be given medicine for the pain.