Liver Transplant in Turkey - Clinics, Costs, Surgeons (2026)

This guide was last reviewed and updated on January 16, 2026 in accordance with A-Medical’s editorial policy. All medical content, statistics, and clinical claims have been verified by licensed healthcare professionals and sourced from peer-reviewed journals, official transplant registries, and Ministry of Health data.

About Liver Transplant in Turkey

A liver transplant is a life-saving procedure where a failing liver is replaced with a healthy one. For international patients, liver transplant in Turkey offers a superior alternative to long waiting lists, combining world-class medical expertise with immediate availability.

Why choose Turkey for this procedure?

1. Global Leadership: Turkey ranks 2nd worldwide in living donor liver transplants (1,731 procedures in 2024).
2. High Success Rates: Accredited centers report 92–95% success rates, comparable to the Mayo Clinic.
3. Zero Waiting Time: Unlike Western countries, there is no waiting list for living donor transplants; surgery is scheduled immediately upon donor approval.
4. Proven Experience: Since 2011, over 3,000 international patients from 80+ countries have been successfully treated.

Types of Liver Transplant in Turkey

For international patients, liver transplants in Turkey are exclusively performed using Living Donors. However, depending on the patient's age and blood compatibility, different surgical techniques are applied:

1. Living Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT): The most common procedure. A portion of a healthy liver (right or left lobe) is surgically removed from a living relative and transplanted into the recipient. Both the donor’s remaining liver and the transplanted portion regenerate to full size within weeks.
2. ABO-Incompatible Transplant: Performed when the donor and recipient have incompatible blood types (e.g., A donor to B recipient). Turkey is a global leader in this complex method, using specialized plasma exchange treatments to prevent rejection.
3. Pediatric Liver Transplant: Specialized surgery for infants and children, often using a smaller portion of the donor's liver (left lateral segment). Turkish centers achieve over 95% success rates in these delicate cases.

Note on Deceased Donors: Cadaveric (deceased donor) transplants are reserved strictly for Turkish citizens on the national waiting list and are not available for international patients.

Who Is Eligible for a Liver Transplant in Turkey?

To qualify for a transplant, the donor must meet strict medical and legal criteria:

1. General Health: Donor must be aged 18–55, with a BMI under 30 and compatible blood type.
2. Spouse: Eligible if legally married for at least 2 years.
3. Blood Relatives: Must be within the 4th degree (Parents, children, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and first cousins).
4. Unrelated Donors: Close friends require Ethics Committee approval to prove a non-commercial bond.
5. Documentation: Official, apostilled proof of relationship is mandatory for all cases.

Blood Group Compatibility in Liver Transplant Surgery

1. Type O: The "Universal Donor." Can donate to any group but can only receive from O.
2. Type AB: The "Universal Recipient." Can receive from all blood types.
3. Type A: Can donate to A or AB; can receive from A or O.
4. Type B: Can donate to B or AB; can receive from B or O.

Unlike blood transfusions, the Rh factor (+ or -) does not matter in liver transplantation. A B+ donor can safely donate to a B- recipient. If a compatible donor is not available, Turkish centers can perform "ABO-Incompatible" liver transplants. This involves a specialized pre-operative process (plasmapheresis) to filter antibodies from the recipient’s blood, allowing for a successful transplant across different blood groups. Beyond blood types, surgeons perform a "Cross-Match" test to ensure the recipient doesn't have specific antibodies that would attack the donor's tissue.

How Is Liver Transplant Surgery Performed in Turkey?

1. Pre-Surgery: Medical records are evaluated remotely. Once approved, travel, hospital admission, and surgeon assignment are confirmed before the patient arrives in Turkey.
2. The Operation: Two surgical teams work at the same time. One team operates on the donor and the other on the recipient. Surgeons use advanced microsurgical techniques to connect the portal vein, hepatic artery, and bile ducts. Intraoperative Doppler ultrasound is used to confirm stable blood flow.
3. Surgical Duration: The operation takes between 8 and 12 hours depending on the case complexity.
4. Post-Operative Care: Patients are observed in a transplant ICU for one to two days. Immunosuppressive medication begins right away. Liver regeneration is monitored through imaging in both donor and recipient.

How Long Does Liver Transplant Surgery and Hospital Stay Take?

1. Surgery Duration: 8 to 12 hours depending on case complexity
2. Intensive Care Stay: 2 to 4 days after surgery
3. Hospital Room Stay: 10 to 14 additional days in a regular ward
4. Post-Discharge in Turkey: 2 to 3 weeks of follow-up and lab monitoring
5. Total Stay in Turkey (Patient): 4 to 6 weeks recommended
6. Living Donor Stay: 5 to 7 days in hospital, full recovery in a few weeks
7. A-Medical Support: Ongoing coordination and care throughout the entire stay

Risks and Possible Complications of Liver Transplant Surgery

1. Organ Rejection: The most common risk; usually managed with medication adjustments rather than re-operation.
2. Infection: Increased vulnerability due to immunosuppressants; mitigated by A-Medical’s sterile transfer and accommodation protocols.
3. Biliary Issues: Potential bile duct leaks or blockages; minimized through advanced microsurgical techniques.
4. Vascular Complications: Risk of blood clots in the connected vessels; monitored 24/7 via intraoperative and post-op Doppler ultrasound.
5. Immunosuppressant Side Effects: Long-term risks like kidney strain; managed by specialized hepatologists through regular blood panel monitoring.
6. Donor Safety: Minimal risks for the donor (e.g., minor wound issues), as the liver begins rapid regeneration immediately.

Survival Rates and Expected Outcomes After Liver Transplant

Liver transplant in Turkey offers world-class outcomes, with one-year survival rates between 92% and 95%, aligning with leading global centers in the United States (SRTR) and Europe (ELTR). Five-year survival rates typically range from 75% to 82%, supported by experienced surgical teams and structured post-op care.

Success rates are even higher in living donor liver transplants, thanks to early surgical timing and healthier organ quality. Over 90% of patients return to normal daily life within a year, while pediatric success rates in Turkey exceed 95%, confirming its global leadership in this field.

Life After Liver Transplant: Recovery and Long-Term Care

Most patients begin light walking within the first week, return to work after 3 to 6 months, and resume moderate exercise around the 12-week mark. Alcohol, raw meat, and unapproved medications remain permanently restricted.

How Much Does a Liver Transplant Cost in Turkey?

The average cost of a liver transplant in Turkey ranges from $55,000 to $90,000.

Waiting Time for Liver Transplant in Turkey

There is no waiting list for international patients seeking a liver transplant in Turkey. Unlike the US or Europe, where patients may wait 3 to 5 years for a deceased donor, Turkey primarily utilizes living donor transplants, allowing surgery to be scheduled immediately once a compatible donor is identified.

Patients booking through A-Medical benefit from expedited coordination, ensuring the surgery is scheduled within days of medical and legal approval.

Best Hospitals for Liver Transplant in Turkey

1. Memorial Hospital
2. Liv Hospital
3. American Hospital (Amerikan Hastanesi)
4. Medipol Mega University Hospital
5. Florence Nightingale Hospitals
6. Anadolu Medical Center
7. Acibadem Healthcare Group
8. Medical Park Hospitals
9. Hisar Intercontinental Hospital
10. Lokman Hekim Hospital

Best Liver Transplant Surgeons in Turkey

1. Prof. Abuzer Dirican: 29 years of experience, Florence Nightingale Hospital. Expert in surgical oncology and liver transplants. Authored key medical chapters.
2. Pekize Eker Balcioglu: 23 years, Hisar Intercontinental. Known for split-liver and living donor techniques. Trained in Europe.
3. Volkan Turunc: 25 years, Memorial Şişli. Uses all major transplant techniques. Experienced with international patients.
4. Murat Dayangac: 23 years, Medipol Mega. Trained at Mayo Clinic. Published over 70 transplant-related articles.
5. Mesut Pekmez: 23 years, Lokman Hekim. Active in national surgical associations.
6. Ayhan Dinçkan: 21 years, Liv Hospital Bahcesehir. Performed over 1,000 transplants, including combined organ operations.
7. Yildiray Yuzer: 41 years, Florence Nightingale. Over 4,500 transplants. Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

How A-Medical Can Help With Liver Transplant in Turkey

At A-Medical, we understand that for patients requiring a liver transplant in Turkey, every day counts. We eliminate the uncertainty and bureaucracy of medical travel, providing a direct pathway to the world's leading transplant surgeons.

1. Zero Waiting Time: We schedule your liver transplant in Turkey as soon as legal and medical approvals are in place, bypassing international waiting lists entirely.
2. Free Second Medical Opinion: Your medical records are reviewed remotely by leading JCI-accredited liver transplant surgeons in Turkey before you travel.
3. Full Legal and Ethics Committee Guidance: We handle the 4th-degree kinship verification or Ethics Committee applications required for living donor liver transplant in Turkey.
4. Access to High-Volume Transplant Centers: We work only with hospitals performing 100+ liver transplants annually, ensuring lower complication rates and better clinical outcomes.
5. Medical Visa Assistance: We issue official hospital invitation letters to support and speed up your medical visa process.
6. VIP Ground Transfers: Private vehicles are arranged for airport pickup, hospital visits, and hotel transportation, ensuring comfort and safety.
7. Medical Translation Support: Our certified interpreters assist during all medical consultations so that nothing is lost in translation.
8. Transparent, All-Inclusive Pricing: You receive a fixed-price pro-forma invoice covering surgery, ICU, hospital stay, medications, and aftercare with no hidden fees.
9. Remote Follow-Up Coordination: After returning home, we help you maintain communication with your liver transplant surgeon in Turkey for lab reviews and long-term care.