Liver Transplant, Dubai
Liver transplant care, planned and supported from Dubai
A liver transplant procedure replaces a failing liver with a healthy whole organ from a deceased donor or a portion of a liver from a living donor. Dr Arindam Ghosh assesses candidates in Dubai, plans the route to surgery, and stays involved through recovery, so families do not have to navigate the decision alone.
- Consultation and candidacy assessment available in Dubai
- Living donor liver transplant (LDLT) expertise
- Coordination with a transplant centre for the surgery itself
Candidacy
Who needs a liver transplant?
A transplant is considered when the liver can no longer do its job and other treatments have run their course. Early warning signs are easy to dismiss, which is why yellowing of the skin or eyes, swelling, confusion, or persistent fatigue deserve a specialist review. If jaundice is part of the picture, it helps to understand the signs of a blocked bile duct as well, since bile flow problems can mimic or accompany liver failure.
Liver cirrhosis
Long-term scarring from alcohol, viral hepatitis, or fatty liver disease that has reached end-stage failure.
Hepatitis B and C
Chronic viral infection that progressively damages liver tissue and can lead to failure or cancer.
Fatty liver disease
Fat buildup that drives inflammation and scarring, an increasingly common cause across the UAE.
Acute liver failure
A sudden collapse of liver function, often from infection or a medication reaction, that needs urgent assessment.
Liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma confined to the liver, where transplant can treat both the tumour and the underlying disease.
Biliary atresia in children
A blocked or absent bile duct system in infants, one of the most frequent reasons children need a transplant.
The procedure
The liver transplant procedure, step by step
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Step 1
Consultation
A detailed review of your liver disease, history, and goals to decide whether transplant is the right path.
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Step 2
Evaluation tests
Blood work, imaging, and organ function checks confirm you are fit for surgery and rank the urgency of your case.
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Step 3
Donor matching
Matching a compatible deceased-donor organ, or assessing a willing living donor for blood type and liver volume.
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Step 4
Transplant surgery
Under general anaesthesia, the diseased liver is removed and the donor liver is connected to the blood vessels and bile duct. The operation commonly takes between six and twelve hours.
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Step 5
ICU care
The first days are spent in intensive care, where the new liver, blood tests, and vital signs are watched closely.
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Step 6
Recovery and follow-up
A staged return to normal life with anti-rejection medication, regular blood tests, and scheduled reviews.
Living donor liver transplant
Living donor versus a deceased-donor wait
The liver is the one organ that regenerates: a partial graft from a healthy living donor regrows to a working size in both the donor and the recipient within a few months. That biology makes adult-to-adult right-lobe living donor liver transplant (LDLT) a real option in the region, and it is a core part of Dr Ghosh's work alongside his wider hepatobiliary surgery practice.
Waiting for a deceased donor
- Time on a waiting list, with the condition able to worsen meanwhile.
- Surgery timing depends on when an organ becomes available.
- The graft may take longer to settle after being preserved.
- Limited control over scheduling for the family.
Living donor liver transplant
- Surgery can be planned before health deteriorates further.
- A living-donor graft can begin working straight away.
- Both donor and recipient livers regenerate to full size.
- Donor safety is assessed thoroughly before anything proceeds.
What we cover
Liver transplant services
Every patient arrives at a different point: some need a full transplant work-up, others want a careful read on whether surgery is even necessary yet.
- Living Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT)
- Adult Liver Transplant
- Liver Failure Management
- Cirrhosis Evaluation
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma Assessment
- Second Opinion for Liver Transplant
Why Dr Ghosh
Why choose Dr Arindam Ghosh as your liver transplant surgeon
More than 25 years in surgery
Over two decades of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgical experience, with a consultant practice across Emirates Hospital and NMC in the UAE and a specialist interest in transplantation.
Multidisciplinary team
Hepatologists, anaesthetists, radiologists, and transplant coordinators working from the same plan.
International patient support
Help for families travelling to the UAE for care, from records review to follow-up arrangements.
Honest second opinions
A clear read on whether a transplant is needed now, later, or not at all, with the reasoning explained.
Credentials
Dr Arindam Ghosh's qualifications
A surgeon's track record matters when the decision is this big. Here is what stands behind the care, grounded in his training and practice in the UAE.
- More than 25 years of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgical experience
- Consultant practice across Emirates Hospital and NMC in the UAE
- Specialist focus on liver, pancreas, and bile duct (hepatobiliary) surgery
- Living donor liver transplant (LDLT) expertise
- Multidisciplinary transplant pathway, from assessment to long-term follow-up
- International patient support for families travelling to the UAE
Dubai
Not sure if you or a family member needs a transplant yet? Start with an assessment.
In Dubai
Liver transplant consultation in Dubai
Most of the transplant journey can begin close to home. The assessment, the decision, and a large part of the after-care are handled in Dubai, while the operation itself is carried out at a partnered transplant centre.
- Initial assessment in Dubai: a full review of your liver disease and whether transplant is the right step.
- Coordination with the transplant centre: referral, scheduling, and sharing of records handled for you.
- International patient support: practical help for families arriving from outside the UAE.
- Follow-up care: ongoing monitoring and medication review once you return to Dubai.
After surgery
Liver transplant recovery
Recovery is gradual and closely supervised. Most patients spend the first days in intensive care, then a further week or two on the ward before going home. Gentle walking starts early, and energy returns over the months that follow.
- Anti-rejection medication is taken for life to protect the new liver.
- Frequent blood tests in the first weeks catch any rejection or infection early.
- Many people return to work within three to six months.
- Near-normal activity is common by six to twelve months, with the team's sign-off.
Cost guidance
Understanding liver transplant cost in the UAE
There is no single price for a liver transplant, because the figure depends on your case. Rather than quote a number that may not fit your situation, it is more useful to understand what actually moves the cost, then get an estimate built around your own details. You can work through the variables with the practice's cost calculator and refine it during consultation.
What drives the cost
Living versus deceased donor, the severity of your liver disease, the hospital tier, the length of post-transplant care, and immunosuppressant medication all shift the total.
What an estimate covers
Pre-operative evaluation, the surgery and ICU stay, donor assessment, initial medication, and follow-up monitoring, so there are fewer surprises later.
FAQ
Liver transplant: common questions
Who is a candidate for a liver transplant?
People whose liver can no longer function adequately, usually from cirrhosis, hepatitis B or C, advanced fatty liver disease, acute liver failure, or liver cancer confined to the liver. Children with biliary atresia are another common group. A transplant is considered once other treatments have been exhausted, and candidacy is confirmed through a structured evaluation.
How long does liver transplant recovery take?
Expect the first days in intensive care, then roughly one to two weeks in hospital. Light activity resumes early, many patients are back at work within three to six months, and most reach near-normal activity within six to twelve months. Anti-rejection medication continues for life, with regular blood tests to keep the new liver safe.
What is the difference between a living donor and a deceased-donor transplant?
A deceased-donor transplant uses a whole liver from a registered donor, which can mean time on a waiting list. A living donor liver transplant uses a portion of a healthy person's liver, both parts regrow to full size, and the surgery can be planned before the recipient's health declines. Dr Ghosh has particular expertise in living donor liver transplant.
Is the liver transplant performed in Dubai?
The consultation, the evaluation, and much of the follow-up care are handled in Dubai. The transplant operation itself is carried out at a partnered transplant centre, with referral, scheduling, and records coordinated for you so the journey stays joined up.
How much does a liver transplant cost in the UAE?
Cost varies with the type of donor, the severity of the liver disease, the hospital, the length of post-transplant care, and ongoing medication. Because of this, a personalised estimate is more reliable than a headline figure. The cost calculator and a consultation give you a number built around your own situation.
Can I get a second opinion before deciding on a transplant?
Yes. A second opinion for liver transplant is one of the services offered, including an honest view on whether a transplant is needed now, can wait, or is not the right option yet. It is a sensible step before committing to major surgery.
How long does the transplant surgery take?
The operation commonly runs between six and twelve hours under general anaesthesia, depending on the complexity of the case and whether the graft comes from a living or deceased donor. You are then moved to intensive care for the first stage of recovery.
Talk through your options with a liver transplant specialist
Bring your reports, your questions, and your concerns. You will leave with a clear understanding of where you stand and what comes next.
We bring the years, global experience, and stamina to guide our clients through new and often disruptive realities.
Surgeries
- Esophagus
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- Onco (Cancer)
- Bariatric
- Hepatobiliary
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- Liver Transplant
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