Can a person live without a liver?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Anshul Maheshwari

General Practitioner

MBBS
5+ Yrs

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No, you can not live without a liver. A person can function well on half liver too, moreover, liver can regenerate by itself. It means that even if a person donates half a liver, it will grow back to normal size within few months.

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Answered 04/07/2025

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Living Without a Liver:
- It is not possible to live without a liver as it performs essential functions like detoxification, protein production, and digestion.
Liver Transplant:
- Survival is possible with a liver transplant if the original liver fails.
Recommendation:
- Consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice on liver health.

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Can the liver repair itself?

Liver can regenerate by itself. It means that even if a person donates half a liver, it will grow back to normal size within few months. Liver is very resilinet and can develop new cells, but prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate.

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