Can You Live Without a Liver? Understanding Liver Function and Survival
No — you cannot live without a liver. But you can survive with a portion of one, thanks to this remarkable organ’s unique ability to regenerate. If you're living with liver disease or worried about your liver health, understanding how the liver works and what happens when it fails can empower you to take the right steps.
In this article, you’ll learn exactly why the liver is irreplaceable, what happens when it starts to fail, and what your options are if you or a loved one is facing liver-related health challenges.
What does your liver actually do?
Your liver is the largest internal organ and performs over 500 essential functions to keep you alive and well. Think of it as your body’s multitasking powerhouse.
Here are just a few of its most important jobs:
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Detoxification: It filters harmful toxins, drugs, and alcohol from your blood.
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Metabolism: It helps process carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for energy.
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Bile production: It creates bile, which helps you digest fats.
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Storage: It stores essential nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, as well as iron and glycogen (a type of sugar your body uses for energy).
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Blood clotting: It produces proteins that help your blood clot properly after injury.
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Immune support: It helps fight infections by removing bacteria from your bloodstream.
Without a liver, these processes stop. Toxins build up, digestion is impaired, blood can't clot properly, and hormone balance is disrupted. Within days, this can become life-threatening.
Can You Live with Part of a Liver or a Damaged One?
Yes, you can live with just a portion of a liver even if it’s been damaged. The liver’s remarkable ability to heal and regenerate makes this possible. You only need about 25–30% of a healthy liver for it to perform its essential functions.
This is the foundation of living donor liver transplants: a donor can safely give a portion of their liver, and both the donor’s and recipient’s livers can grow back to near-full size and function within weeks to months.
Even if part of the liver is surgically removed in a procedure called a hepatectomy, often done to treat cancer or cysts the remaining healthy tissue can adapt and regenerate, as long as it's not severely diseased. This resilience is one of the liver’s most extraordinary traits.
What happens if your liver fails completely?
Liver failure means your liver can no longer perform its essential functions. This can happen suddenly (acute liver failure) or gradually over time (chronic liver failure).
Acute liver failure
Acute liver failure comes on quickly, often in people with no previous liver problems. It’s rare but extremely serious. Common causes include:
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Viral infections (like hepatitis A or B)
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Drug toxicity (especially from acetaminophen)
Symptoms may include:
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Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
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Nausea and vomiting
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Swollen abdomen
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Confusion or disorientation
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Sleepiness or tremors
Without immediate treatment, this can become fatal in just days.
Chronic liver failure
This develops over months or years, usually due to long-term damage and inflammation. Common causes include:
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Alcohol misuse
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Hepatitis B or C
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
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Autoimmune hepatitis
Symptoms may include:
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Ongoing fatigue
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Loss of appetite
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Muscle wasting
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Easy bruising or bleeding
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Jaundice
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Swollen legs or abdomen
Chronic liver failure can progress to cirrhosis, where scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, making regeneration more difficult.
What are the most common causes of liver failure?
Liver failure can result from a wide range of issues, but here are the most common:
1. Chronic liver diseases
These include:
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Fatty liver disease (NAFLD or MASH)
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Hepatitis B and C
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Alcohol-related liver disease
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Autoimmune hepatitis
2. Drug or toxin exposure
Overdoses of medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) are a leading cause of acute liver failure in the U.S.
3. Genetic conditions
Conditions like Wilson’s disease or hemochromatosis can lead to liver damage over time.
4. Cancer
Primary liver cancer or cancers that spread to the liver can also impair function.
Can your liver regenerate after damage?
Yes, as long as there’s enough healthy tissue remaining, your liver can regrow to its original size. Even after 65–90% of the liver is removed, it can regenerate in a few months.
However, extensive scarring from cirrhosis may block this process. In that case, the liver can no longer heal itself and a transplant may be the only option.
Learn more on: Can Your Liver Regenerate? Useful Diet, Lifestyle Changes, and Medical Support Liver Repair
Can any other organ or treatment replace the liver?
If your liver fails, there are very few options, but they can be life-saving.
Liver Transplant
This is the only long-term solution for complete liver failure. It involves replacing your failing liver with a healthy one from either a deceased or living donor.
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Living-donor transplants are possible because of the liver's ability to regenerate. A portion of a healthy donor's liver is transplanted into the recipient, and both the donor's and recipient's livers will regrow to their full size.
Artificial Liver Support
In some cases, temporary support systems like the Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) can help filter toxins and provide some support to the body while a patient waits for a transplant. These machines are not a long-term solution and cannot fully replicate the many functions of a real liver.
How long can someone survive with no liver function?
Without any liver function or access to emergency interventions like transplantation or intensive care support, a person can survive for only a few hours to a few days.
The exact time frame depends on factors such as:
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Overall health
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Cause of liver failure
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Access to emergency treatment
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Whether temporary support systems like MARS are available
It’s a very short window, which is why prompt hospitalization is essential in any case of suspected liver failure.
Signs your liver may be in trouble
The liver is a “quiet” organ; it doesn't often show symptoms until damage is advanced. That’s why it’s important to recognize the early warning signs, which may include:
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Fatigue
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Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
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Dark urine
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Swelling in the legs or abdomen
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Nausea or vomiting
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Loss of appetite
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Easy bruising or bleeding
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Mental confusion or trouble concentrating
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, especially more than one at a time, it’s important to seek medical care.
You may want to read in detail about the signs your liver is struggling
How Can You Keep Your Liver Healthy?
The good news is that your liver is incredibly resilient. Even if you have early signs of liver damage, you can often reverse or slow its progression with some key lifestyle changes
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Eat a liver-friendly diet: Focus on whole foods like vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins while limiting saturated fats, processed sugars, and fried foods.
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Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity is a leading cause of fatty liver disease.
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Reduce or eliminate alcohol: Alcohol is a major contributor to liver damage.
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Be mindful of medications: Avoid the overuse of medications like acetaminophen and always read labels carefully.
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Stay physically active: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week.
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Get vaccinated: Protect yourself from hepatitis A and B.
If you have risk factors for liver disease (such as diabetes or obesity) or are experiencing symptoms like fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), or swelling, talk to your doctor. Early detection and proactive care are your best defense.
When is a liver transplant needed?
A liver transplant may be recommended when your liver can no longer function well enough to keep you alive. Common reasons include:
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End-stage liver disease (such as cirrhosis)
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Certain types of liver cancer that meet strict transplant criteria
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Acute liver failure, where the liver suddenly stops working and doesn’t recover on its own
To decide who gets a transplant and when, doctors use a system called the MELD score (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease). This score helps prioritize patients based on how urgently they need a new liver. It takes into account:
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Kidney function
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Bilirubin levels (a marker of liver processing ability)
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Blood clotting ability
The higher your MELD score, the more urgent your need for a transplant.
Read more on what disqualifies you from a liver transplant should a second transplant be needed.
What’s life like after a liver transplant?
Many people go on to live full, active lives after a successful liver transplant. However, it requires:
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Lifelong medication to prevent organ rejection
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Regular monitoring for infections, cancer, or other complications
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Healthy lifestyle habits to protect the new liver
Most recipients can return to work, enjoy hobbies, and even travel once they’ve recovered.
Learn more on Liver Transplant Life Expectancy and Tips for Long-term Health
What Does the Future Look Like for People With Liver Failure?
While a liver transplant remains the only life-saving treatment for complete liver failure today, exciting breakthroughs are on the horizon. Researchers are exploring:
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Bioartificial livers that blend lab-grown liver cells with advanced machines to temporarily support liver function
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Stem cell therapy to regenerate damaged liver tissue and potentially restore function without surgery
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3D-printed livers, using biocompatible materials and patient-specific cells, as a long-term alternative to donor transplants
Though these innovations are still in development, they offer hope for more accessible, less invasive treatments in the years to come.
Final Thoughts
You can’t live without a liver but you can live with part of one, thanks to its incredible capacity to regenerate. That said, liver damage is serious, and ignoring early signs can lead to irreversible complications like cirrhosis or complete liver failure.
Your liver health is shaped by everyday choices: what you eat, how much you drink, the medications you take, and how closely you listen to your body. The encouraging news? Many liver conditions are manageable and even reversible when caught early and met with the right lifestyle changes and medical care.
If you're noticing symptoms like fatigue, jaundice, or swelling, or if you have risk factors like obesity or alcohol use, don’t wait. Talk to your doctor, ask about liver function tests, and take proactive steps now. Protecting your liver today can mean a healthier, longer future.
Worried about your liver health?
Ribbon Checkup’s at-home liver health test makes it easy to track key liver function markers—accurately, privately, and on your schedule.
Related resources
References
Christiano, D. (2018, November 30). Can You Live Without a Liver? Healthline; Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/can-you-live-without-liver
HealthMatch Pty Ltd. (2025). HealthMatch - easily find the right clinical trial. HealthMatch. https://healthmatch.io/liver-disease/can-you-live-without-a-liver#frequently-asked-questions
Liver Transplant. (2025, February 6). Hopkinsmedicine.org. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/liver-transplant
Villines, Z. (2022, January 31). Is it possible to live without a liver? Medicalnewstoday.com; Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-you-live-without-a-liver
