When you get kidney transplantation, a healthy kidney is placed inside your body to do the work your own kidneys can no longer do.

On the plus side, there are fewer limits on what you can eat and drink, but you should follow a heart-healthy diet. Your health and energy should improve. A successful kidney transplant may allow you to live the kind of life you were living before you got kidney disease. Studies show that people with kidney transplants live longer than those who remain on dialysis.

On the minus side, there are the risks of surgery. You will also need to take anti-rejection medicines for as long as your new kidney is working, which can have side effects. You will have a higher risk for infections and certain types of cancer.

Although most kidney transplantation is successful and life expectancy is for many years, how long they last can vary from one person to the next. Many people may need more than one kidney transplant during a lifetime.