Receiving a kidney is intended to suppliment your own kidney function and improve your health. When successful, a transplant should have a huge impact on overall quality of life with many of the dietary restrictions lifted and dialysis should no longer be required.

Transplanted kidneys do not last indefinitely. A kidney from a live donor is expected to last 20-25 years and 15-20 years from a deceased donor. However this varies depending on the health and the age of the recipient, this is why it is so important to lead a healthy lifestyle when you have a transplanted organ.

Some form of rejection is not uncommon however this can often be managed through steroids and immunosuppressants. However, these are are a trade off leaving the recipient vulnerable to ilness and infection. Acute rejection is rare.

For more information there's a list of FAQs on the NHS site or for a more American perspective there's Kidney.org.