Gallbladder Removal Surgery

As with every procedure, there are some risks associated with gallbladder removal.

Side effects are the unwanted but mostly temporary symptoms you may get after having the procedure, which may include:

• shoulder pain

• abdominal pain

• diarrhoea

Complications are when problems occur during or after the procedure. The possible complications of any procedure include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, excessive bleeding or developing a blood clot, usually in a vein in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT).

With this procedure, there’s a chance that during the operation, your surgeon may need to convert from a keyhole procedure to open surgery, making a bigger cut in your abdomen. This will only be done if it’s not possible to complete your operation safely using the keyhole technique. It’s likely to take you longer to recover from this type of surgery than keyhole surgery, and you may need to spend more time in hospital.

Other possible complications may include:

• pain in your abdomen, bloating, wind and diarrhoea

• accidental damage to your bile duct or other organs

• infection

• bleeding (haemorrhage)

• leakage of bile from your bile duct or liver

Your surgeon will explain everything you need to do to prepare for the surgery. For example, if you smoke, you’ll be asked to stop as smoking increases your risk of getting a chest and wound infection, which can slow your recovery.

Gallbladder removal using keyhole surgery is routinely done as a day-case procedure, under general anaesthesia. This means you will be asleep during your operation. If you’re having a general anaesthetic, you will be asked to follow fasting instructions. This means not eating or drinking, typically for about 6 hours beforehand. However, it’s important to follow your surgeon’s advice.

Your surgeon will discuss with you what will happen before, during and after your procedure, and any pain you might have. This is your opportunity to understand what will happen, and you can help yourself by preparing questions to ask about the risks, benefits and any alternatives to the procedure. 

Before the procedure, your nurse may check your heart rate, blood pressure and test your urine. You will likely be asked to wear compression stockings, which will help prevent blood clots from forming in the veins in your legs. You may also need to have an injection of an anti-clotting medicine called heparin, as well as, or instead of, wearing compression stockings.

After the procedure, you’ll be monitored by a nurse while you rest and the effects of the anaesthetic wear off. Once this has happened, you may need pain relief to help with any discomfort.

As a day-case patient, you will usually be able to go home when you feel ready, but you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. Try to have a friend or relative with you for the first 24 hours after your surgery.

Before you go home, your nurse will give you some advice about caring for your healing wounds. If your wounds are closed with metal clips or stitches, these will be removed by a nurse after about a week. Commonly, dissolvable stitches are used with this procedure. The length of time your dissolvable stitches will take to disappear depends on what type you have. However, for this procedure, they should disappear in about 2 weeks.

Once your gallbladder has been removed, your body can’t develop new gallstones. However, if gallstones have passed into your bile ducts and remain there after surgery, you may still get symptoms. Gallstones that have passed into your bile ducts can be removed with a procedure called ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography).

It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks to make a full recovery from keyhole surgery to remove your gallbladder, but this varies between individuals, so it’s important to follow your surgeon’s advice.

If you need pain relief, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Your surgeon may also give you painkillers when you’re discharged.

At Welbeck, our consultants and specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Booking private gallbladder removal surgery 

To book gallbladder removal surgery, you must be referred by either your GP or a consultant following a consultation with them. Self-referrals are not accepted for this test.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with a Welbeck specialist, please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

What are the alternatives to gallbladder Removal?

If you have gallstones but they aren’t causing any symptoms, or surgery to remove them isn’t suitable for you, there may be alternative treatments. Sometimes gallstones can be dissolved using medicines, however gallstones often come back after this type of treatment and it is therefore rarely used.

If gallstones are in your bile duct and not in your gallbladder, they can be removed during ERCP. An endoscope, which is guided using X-rays, is passed into your mouth and down to your bile duct. Special instruments can also be inserted inside the endoscope to allow your surgeon to remove the gallstones from your bile duct. ERCP can only be used to remove gallstones if they are found in your bile ducts. If gallstones are in your gallbladder itself, you may need gallbladder surgery as well. Your surgeon will discuss any possible alternative treatments with you.

How do I know if there is a serious problem after the surgery and what should I do if I feel unwell after I am discharged?

We would want you to return to the hospital if you have any of the following:

• severe abdominal or shoulder pains that are not alleviated by the painkillers you are discharged with after a few hours

• high temperatures or fevers and chills

• jaundice (when your skin and whites of the eyes become yellow and your urine becomes coca-cola coloured)

• repeated vomiting

• wound problems that your GP or GP nurse cannot manage

Will I experience changes in digestion after surgery?

It's quite common to notice changes such as bloating, gas, or loose stools after your gallbladder is removed. This happens because bile flows directly into your intestines instead of being stored, which can sometimes affect how fats are digested. These symptoms usually improve over time, and adopting a gentle, low-fat diet with smaller meals can help your body adjust more comfortably.

When can I safely return to exercise or my regular fitness routine?

It's best to start slowly after surgery. Gentle activities like walking are encouraged early on, but avoid heavy lifting or core-straining exercises for at least 6 weeks. You’ll consultant will provide tailored guidance before the procedure and also at follow-ups to help you return to your usual fitness level safely.