if chronic hepatitis c damages your liver so severely that it no longer works well (end-stage liver failure ) you may need a liver transplant to extend your life. liver transplants are not common. surgery choices a liver transplant is the only surgical treatment that can help people with end-stage liver failure. what to think about liver transplantation is a risky expensive procedure. and donor organs are hard to come by. most of the time only people who are in good health (other than having liver disease) are considered for a transplant. you will not be considered if you are using alcohol or drugs or have certain mental health problems. after a liver transplant you will need lifelong follow-up care by a specialist. you also will need to take immunosuppressant medicine to keep your body from rejecting the new liver. this medicine may cause other problems. hepatitis c almost always infects the newly transplanted liver. recurring liver disease after a transplant can be a serious problem and may cause the new organ to fail. but most patients do very well after a liver transplant and are able to live normal lives. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
what surgery options do i have for hepatitis c?