Inside look at kidney transplant (GRAPHIC IMAGES)

A patient incision is stapled shut after having a donated kidney sewn in during a kidney transplant at Johns Hopkins Hospital June 26, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Patients can help prevent kidney rejection by taking your medicines and following your diet, but it's important to tell a doctor if a patient sees any signs of rejection-like fever or soreness in the area of the new kidney or a change in the amount of urine produced.

Credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images