Liver resection
An operation to remove part of the liver, most often to take out a tumour while leaving enough healthy liver to work and regrow.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- It removes part of the liver, usually to take out a tumour, while leaving enough healthy liver to work and regrow.
- It is not always possible; it depends on the tumour, how well the liver works, and your fitness.
- It is major surgery with a real recovery, commonly several weeks, and a small but real risk to life.
- For cancer, surgery is one part of a wider plan involving a specialist team, scans, pathology and follow-up.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your surgeon will give you advice for your situation.
Can remove a tumour completely in suitable people
Too little healthy liver would be left, or the rest of the liver is too damaged (for example advanced cirrhosis) to cope.
You are watched closely, often in a high-dependency or intensive care area at first. You will have pain relief, fluids through a vein and sometimes a...
Care in an experienced hepatobiliary unit with high-dependency support available.
You are watched closely, often in a high-dependency or intensive care area at first. You will have pain relief...
Eating and drinking restart gradually and tubes and drains come out as you recover. People having keyhole surgery...
Energy slowly returns and the liver continues to regrow. Tiredness and reduced appetite are normal. You build up...
Most people return to normal activities with their surgeon's guidance. If the resection was for cancer, follow-up...
What is a liver resection?
A liver resection is an operation to remove part of the liver. It is most often done to remove a tumour — either a cancer that started in the liver, a cancer that has spread to the liver (for example from the bowel), or sometimes a non-cancerous growth that is causing problems. It is also used for some benign conditions.
The liver is unusual in that it can regrow. As long as enough healthy liver is left behind, and it is working well, the remaining part can grow back over weeks. Surgeons remove anything from a small wedge to a large section (such as the left or right half), depending on where the problem is and how much healthy liver they can safely leave.
Liver resection is major surgery and is planned carefully. The decision is usually made by a specialist hepatobiliary multidisciplinary team, using scans to map the tumour and the blood vessels, and tests to check the liver will cope. Whether all the targeted tissue has been removed, and exactly what it was, is confirmed by examining the removed tissue under a microscope afterwards.
Resection is not always possible. It depends on the size, number and position of tumours, how well the rest of the liver works, and your general fitness. When surgery is not suitable, other treatments may be offered instead.
Types & techniques
There isn't one single operation. The right approach depends on you — which is something to discuss with your surgeon.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
Wedge or small (non-anatomical) resection
Removal of a small piece of liver containing the tumour, with a margin of healthy tissue around it. Often used for small or well-placed lesions.
Segmentectomy
Removal of one or more of the liver's segments. The liver is divided into segments, each with its own blood supply, which helps surgeons remove disease while sparing healthy...
Hemihepatectomy (left or right)
Removal of the left or right half of the liver. A bigger operation used when disease is more extensive, relying on the other half to take over and regrow.
Keyhole or robotic resection
In selected cases, the operation can be done through small cuts using keyhole or robotic techniques, often with a shorter hospital stay. Suitability depends on the tumour and...
Preparing for your surgery
- Expect detailed scans (CT, MRI and sometimes specialised liver imaging) to map the tumour and blood vessels.
- Your case is normally discussed by a specialist hepatobiliary multidisciplinary team to confirm the plan.
- You will have tests of your liver, kidneys, heart and lungs to check you are fit for major surgery.
- Tell your team about all medicines, especially blood thinners and diabetes medicines, and any allergies.
- Stop smoking as early as possible and follow any advice on alcohol, as both affect the liver and healing.
- Sometimes a procedure to grow the future remaining liver is done first if too little would be left.
- Arrange help at home for several weeks, as this is a significant recovery.
What happens
The operation is done under general anaesthetic and usually takes several hours. Depending on the plan, the surgeon either makes a cut across the upper abdomen (open surgery) or uses small cuts for keyhole or robotic surgery.
They carefully free the liver, control its blood supply, and remove the planned part along with a margin of healthy tissue around the tumour. Modern techniques and instruments are used to limit bleeding, which is an important concern in liver surgery. The removed tissue is sent to the laboratory to be examined.
Afterwards you are looked after closely, often in a high-dependency or intensive care area for the first day or so. You will have pain relief, fluids and careful monitoring. Drains, tubes and eating and drinking are managed step by step as you recover.
Is this operation right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- Too little healthy liver would be left, or the rest of the liver is too damaged (for example advanced cirrhosis) to cope.
- The tumour involves vital structures, or there is too much disease, so removal would not help.
- You are not fit enough for major surgery and a long general anaesthetic.
- Cancer has spread widely, so a different treatment approach is more appropriate.
Delay surgery if…
- There is an active infection that should be treated first.
- Important heart, lung, kidney or nutrition issues have not yet been optimised.
- A procedure to grow the future remaining liver is needed before surgery is safe.
- Key imaging or staging is incomplete, or the multidisciplinary team plan is not yet finalised.
Alternatives to discuss
- Ablation (heat treatment) for small tumours in suitable people.
- Embolisation or chemoembolisation (TACE) to block a tumour's blood supply.
- Drug treatments, including targeted therapy or immunotherapy, for some cancers.
- Radiotherapy techniques such as SABR or SIRT in selected cases.
- Liver transplant assessment for some people with primary liver cancer and cirrhosis.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Anaesthetic choices
The safest option depends on the operation, your health, the facility and your surgeon/anaesthetist. Ask what is planned and why.
Benefits
- Can remove a tumour completely in suitable people
- For some cancers, offers the best chance of long-term control or cure as part of a wider plan
- Can relieve symptoms caused by a large or troublesome growth
- Allows the exact diagnosis and extent of disease to be confirmed by examining the tissue
- The liver can regrow, so a large amount can sometimes be removed safely
Risks & complications
- Pain and tiredness for several weeks after major surgery
- A wound, and often a temporary drain
- A slow return of normal appetite and bowel function
- A hospital stay of several days for open surgery
- Bile leaking from the cut surface of the liver
- Infection of the wound, chest or urine, or a collection inside the abdomen
- Bleeding needing a transfusion or, occasionally, a further procedure
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Fluid building up in the abdomen (ascites)
- The remaining liver not working well enough afterwards (liver failure), which is serious
- Kidney problems, sometimes needing temporary support
- Serious infection of the bloodstream (sepsis)
- Death, which is uncommon but a recognised risk of major liver surgery
The risks depend a lot on how much liver is removed, whether the rest of the liver is already affected by disease such as cirrhosis, and your general fitness. The most serious specific risks are bleeding, bile leak and the remaining liver not coping. These operations are safest in experienced hepatobiliary centres. Ask your surgeon about your personal risk and the unit's results.
Published figures to discuss
Risk after liver resection varies widely with how much liver is removed, whether the remaining liver is healthy or affected by disease such as cirrhosis, and the patient's fitness. A small wedge resection in a fit person carries far less risk than a major resection in someone with liver disease. Figures are best treated as ranges, and results are generally better in higher-volume centres.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death around the time of surgery | Often quoted around 2% on average, but lower for minor resections and higher for major resections or diseased livers | Strongly dependent on the extent of surgery, the health of the remaining liver and your fitness. | Perioperative management for hepatic resection — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure |
| Bile leak from the cut liver surface | Reported in a wide range, from low single figures up to around 20% in some series | Varies with the type and size of resection; many leaks settle with a drain. | Perioperative management for hepatic resection — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure |
| Failure of the remaining liver to cope | Uncommon overall, but more likely after major resection or with pre-existing liver disease | A serious complication; careful planning aims to leave enough working liver. | Perioperative management for hepatic resection — PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
Recovery — what to expect, and when
This is major surgery and recovery is gradual. Keyhole surgery often means a shorter hospital stay than open surgery. Most people feel back to themselves over a couple of months, while the liver regrows over weeks.
- Tiredness that lasts several weeks after major surgery
- A reduced appetite that slowly improves
- Some discomfort and numbness around the wound
- Changes in bowel habit while your system settles
- Needing to pace yourself and rest more than usual at first
Aftercare
- Take pain relief as prescribed so you can move, breathe deeply and recover well.
- Walk a little and often to lower the risk of blood clots and chest infection.
- Look after your wound as advised and watch for signs of infection or bile leak.
- Eat little and often as your appetite returns, following any dietary advice.
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity until your surgeon says it is safe.
- Restart blood thinners and other medicines only as directed.
- Keep all follow-up appointments, including scans and any cancer treatment.
- Know the warning signs and exactly who to contact if you become unwell.
- Help at home arranged for several weeks
- Comfortable clothing that does not press on the wound
- A clear list of medicines and pain relief
- Written wound-care and warning-sign instructions
- Follow-up appointment and scan dates noted
- Clinic and out-of-hours contact numbers saved
- Transport arranged, as you will not be able to drive at first
Scars and how they heal
Open liver resection usually leaves a scar across the upper abdomen, sometimes in an upside-down V or J shape, which fades over months but does not disappear. Keyhole or robotic surgery leaves several smaller scars. Numbness around the scar is common at first. Your surgeon can show you what to expect for the operation you need.
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- A high temperature, shivering or feeling cold and shaky (signs of infection)
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, with dark urine and pale stools
- Severe or worsening tummy pain or swelling
- Increasing redness, swelling or discharge from the wound
- Green or yellow fluid leaking from the wound or drain site
- A swollen, painful calf, or breathlessness or chest pain (possible clot)
- Confusion, severe drowsiness or being unable to keep fluids down
Who to contact: your surgeon or clinic first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A successful resection removes the targeted part of the liver, and the remaining liver takes over and regrows over weeks. For tumours, examining the removed tissue confirms exactly what it was and whether it was removed completely, including whether the edges (margins) were clear.
For cancer, surgery is one part of the picture. Even a complete removal does not guarantee the cancer will not return, which is why staging, clear margins, any additional treatment and ongoing follow-up all matter. Your team will explain what your particular results mean and what happens next.
How long the benefit lasts depends on why the resection was done. For benign conditions, removing the problem may resolve it for good. For cancer, the outlook depends on the type and stage, whether the margins were clear and the health of the rest of the liver, and there is always a chance of the cancer returning. The regrown liver can usually work normally, but pre-existing liver disease such as cirrhosis affects long-term liver health.
Combining with other procedures
Liver resection is often combined with other treatments, especially for cancer. This can include chemotherapy before or after surgery, ablation (heat treatment) of small areas, or surgery on another organ at the same time (for example the bowel). It may also be combined with bile duct or blood vessel reconstruction for complex tumours. Your specialist team will plan the order of treatments.
Follow-up & long-term care
You will be followed up to check the wound, your recovery and your liver. For cancer, this usually includes regular scans and blood tests over a planned period to watch for any return of disease, and any additional treatment is arranged. You should know who is co-ordinating your care and how to get help quickly if you become unwell.
- Regular follow-up scans and blood tests after cancer surgery to watch for recurrence.
- Monitoring of liver function, especially if the rest of the liver is affected by disease.
- Any additional treatment, such as chemotherapy, as planned by the team.
- Healthy lifestyle and alcohol advice to protect the remaining liver.
- Prompt review if jaundice, fever or new symptoms develop.
Revision and secondary surgery reality
- For cancer, the disease can return in the liver or elsewhere, sometimes needing further treatment or surgery.
- A bile leak or collection may need a drain or a further procedure.
- If too little liver would be left, a staged approach or a procedure to grow the remaining liver may be needed first.
- Ongoing scans and blood tests are part of long-term care after cancer surgery.
Ask your surgeon for their own revision rate, what counts as a revision, and what is included in the written aftercare policy.
What good aftercare looks like
- Care in an experienced hepatobiliary unit with high-dependency support available.
- A named contact and out-of-hours route for fever, jaundice, bleeding or worsening pain.
- A clear, written follow-up plan with scans and blood tests, especially after cancer surgery.
- Joined-up care with oncology, your GP and other specialists as needed.
- Honest discussion of recovery, the chance of recurrence and realistic long-term results.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- The extent of the resection and the complexity of the tumour and its position
- Whether keyhole, robotic or open surgery is used
- The surgeon's and specialist team's fees
- Theatre time and the facility (hospital) fee
- The general anaesthetic and the anaesthetist's involvement
- Length of hospital stay, including any high-dependency or intensive care
- Imaging, pathology and any additional treatment such as chemotherapy
- The surgeon's fee and the facility (hospital) fee
- The anaesthetic cost
- An estimate of the hospital stay, including higher-dependency care if needed
- Imaging, pathology (tissue analysis) and results reporting
- Follow-up appointments and scans, and any additional cancer treatment
- What happens, and what it costs, if a complication occurs
- The cancellation policy
On the NHS? Liver resection is carried out on the NHS in specialist hepatobiliary centres when clinically indicated; private care may be used for choice of surgeon, speed or a second opinion, but complex liver surgery should always be done by an experienced team.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Not being told that resection for cancer does not guarantee a cure.
- Underplaying that this is major surgery with a small but real risk to life.
- No clear discussion of how much liver will be left and whether it will cope.
- No mention of alternatives such as ablation, embolisation or other treatments.
- Not being told why specialist-centre experience matters.
Marketing red flags
- Promising a cure from surgery for cancer.
- Describing major liver surgery as routine or low-risk.
- Pushing surgery without the multidisciplinary team, full staging and imaging.
- Not discussing the health of the rest of the liver or alternatives to surgery.
Choosing a surgeon safely
- Check your surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they practise at a CQC-registered location, and look for membership of bodies like BAAPS or BAPRAS.
- You're entitled to a two-stage consent process with time to reflect (a cooling-off period). The surgeon who will operate must consent you — not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers, discounts or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including aftercare and any revision — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.
- How much of my liver are you planning to remove, and how much healthy liver will be left?
- Is keyhole or robotic surgery an option for me, or is open surgery needed?
- What is my personal risk of bleeding, bile leak or the remaining liver not coping?
- If this is for cancer, will I need treatment before or after surgery, and what are the chances it returns?
- How experienced are you and your unit with this type of liver surgery?
- What does my follow-up involve, and how will you check for any return of disease?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the surgeon who carries out my operation, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this operation not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
How much of my liver can be removed safely?
Can liver surgery be done by keyhole?
How long will recovery take?
If this is for cancer, does surgery cure it?
What if surgery is not possible for me?
Does the liver really grow back?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: Cancer Research UK — Surgery for liver cancer Cancer Research UK — Problems after liver cancer surgery NHS — Liver cancer (treatment) Perioperative management for hepatic resection — PMC AUGIS — Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery of GB and Ireland
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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