Gallbladder Removal
Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is surgery to take out the gallbladder, the small organ beneath the liver that stores bile. It is the standard treatment for symptomatic gallstones — which cause pain, inflammation or blockage — and is usually performed by keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. The body works normally without a gallbladder, as bile simply flows directly from the liver to the intestine.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid the liver makes to help digest fat. Gallstones — hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder — are common and often harmless, but when they cause symptoms such as bouts of severe pain after eating (biliary colic), inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), or block the bile ducts, removing the gallbladder is the definitive treatment. Once symptoms occur, they tend to recur, and complications can be serious, so surgery is usually recommended.
Most operations are laparoscopic: through a few small incisions, the surgeon uses a camera and fine instruments to free and remove the gallbladder, often as a day case or with a single overnight stay. Occasionally open surgery is needed, for example with severe inflammation. If a stone has passed into the bile duct, it may be cleared with an endoscopic procedure (ERCP) before or around the time of surgery.
You can live a completely normal life without a gallbladder; bile simply flows continuously from the liver into the intestine. Some people notice looser stools or sensitivity to very fatty meals at first, which usually settles. International patients receive a coordinator who arranges surgery and follow-up and builds in a short recovery window, and our specialists can review your scans and reports remotely first.
Who is a candidate?
- People with gallstones causing recurrent pain (biliary colic) after eating
- Patients with inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis)
- Those who have had gallstones block a bile duct or cause related complications
- People with gallstone-related pancreatitis, once it has settled
- Patients seeking advice on whether their gallstones warrant surgery
What happens
- 1
Assessment
An ultrasound and blood tests confirm gallstones and any inflammation or duct involvement, and your surgeon confirms that removal is the right treatment.
- 2
Preparation
You are prepared for general anesthesia with instructions on fasting. The surgeon explains the keyhole approach and the short recovery, and the rare possibility of open surgery.
- 3
The operation
Through a few small incisions, the surgeon uses a camera and fine instruments to free and remove the gallbladder. If a stone is in the bile duct, it may be cleared endoscopically.
- 4
Early recovery
Most patients go home the same day or after one night and return to most activities within one to two weeks. Some notice looser stools or fatty-food sensitivity at first.
- 5
Follow-up
A follow-up confirms healing. International patients receive recovery advice and a short window before flying, with remote support available after returning home.
Benefits
- Definitively relieves the pain and complications caused by symptomatic gallstones
- Usually performed by keyhole surgery, often as a day case or one night
- Small incisions, meaning less pain and a quicker recovery than open surgery
- The body digests normally afterwards, as bile flows straight from the liver to the gut
- Prevents the recurrence of gallstone attacks and their potential complications
Risks & considerations
- The general risks of surgery and anesthesia — bleeding, infection and clots
- Looser stools or sensitivity to fatty meals at first, which usually settles
- Occasionally, conversion to open surgery if the gallbladder is severely inflamed
- Uncommon injury to the bile duct, which surgeons take great care to avoid
- Rarely, a retained stone in the bile duct needing an endoscopic procedure
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Obesity Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Gallbladder Removal — frequently asked questions
Because gallstones tend to keep forming in the gallbladder, removing the stones alone usually leads to recurrence. Removing the gallbladder is the definitive treatment, and the body digests food normally without it as bile flows straight from the liver to the intestine.
Most people return to a normal diet. Some notice looser stools or sensitivity to very fatty meals at first, which usually settles within weeks. Your team gives simple guidance for the early recovery period.
Yes, in most cases. Laparoscopic (keyhole) removal through a few small incisions is standard, often as a day case or one night. Occasionally open surgery is needed, for example with severe inflammation, which the surgeon explains beforehand.
Yes. Send your ultrasound and reports and our specialists confirm whether surgery is appropriate and what to expect before you commit to travel.
Keyhole gallbladder removal is often a day case or one night, plus a short recovery window of one to two weeks before flying — your coordinator confirms the plan. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing your case rather than a fixed online price.
Related treatments
Considering gallbladder removal?
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