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What is Cholecystectomy or Gallbladder Removal?

A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder—a small, pear-shaped organ located just beneath your liver on the upper right side of your abdomen. The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid produced by the liver that helps digest fats.

At Advanced Bariatric & Surgical Specialists, Dr. Craig Chang specializes in minimally invasive (laparoscopic) cholecystectomies. This advanced approach allows patients to return to their normal lives faster and with significantly less discomfort than traditional “open” surgery.

Why is a Cholecystectomy Necessary?

The most common reason for gallbladder removal is the presence of gallstones and the complications they cause. You may need surgery if you experience:

  • Gallstones (Cholelithiasis): Hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can block the flow of bile. It’s worth noting that most of us have gallstones, they just never become symptomatic.
  • Gallbladder Inflammation (Cholecystitis): Often caused by stones, leading to severe pain and fever.
  • Bile Duct Obstruction: When stones move into the bile ducts, causing jaundice or infection.
  • Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas resulting from gallstones.
  • Biliary Dyskinesia: When the gallbladder does not empty bile correctly, even without stones.

Common Symptoms

Most patients will experience sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen. This can be particularly severe after a meal (especially if it is large or fatty.) Pain may also occur in the center of the abdomen, just below the breastbone or manifest as back pain between the shoulder blades.

Many patients will also experience nausea or vomiting.

For many, these symptoms can start as mild and begin to get progressively more severe. Many patients choose to live with the discomfort and modified their diet to minimize it. But because gallstones can create problems with the pancreas, particularly pancreatitis, it’s important that you be evaluated for any abdominal pain or discomfort

The Minimally Invasive Advantage

Dr. Chang utilizes Laparoscopic surgery for the vast majority of hischolecystectomy procedures. Instead of one large incision, Dr. Chang makes 3–4 tiny incisions (each less than half an inch) in the abdomen. A laparoscope (a small tube with a high-resolution camera) is inserted, allowing the surgeon to view the abdomen on a monitor and remove the gallbladder using specialized instruments.

Benefits include:

  • Shorter Hospital Stay: Most patients go home the same day.
  • Faster Recovery: Most people return to light activities within a week.
  • Minimal Scarring: The small incisions heal quickly and are barely noticeable.
  • Reduced Pain: Less trauma to the abdominal muscles compared to open surgery.

What to Expect

Before Surgery: We will conduct a thorough evaluation, which may include blood work and an ultrasound to confirm the presence of gallstones. You will be given specific instructions regarding fasting and medications.

During Surgery: The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes less than an hour. Once the gallbladder is removed, bile flows directly from your liver into your small intestine, which does not affect your ability to digest food though you may have some temporary changes in GI behavior.

Recovery: After a brief observation period, most patients are discharged the same day. You may experience some mild soreness, but this is usually managed easily with over-the-counter or prescribed pain relief. You will typically be able to resume a normal diet immediately, though we recommend starting with light meals.

The Weight Gain Myth

You may read about weight gain after a cholecystectomy. Some people believe this is due to the surgery itself and the absence of the gallbladder, but that is a myth. In actual fact, the reason why some patients start to regain weight after a cholecystectomy is because they are no longer constrained by pain after a large or fatty meal. They liberalize their diet and thus begin to consume more calories.

Gallbladder Removal: The “Need to Know” FAQs

Think of the gallbladder as a storage tank, not a factory. Your liver is the factory—it makes the bile. After surgery, the “tank” is gone, so the factory just pipes the bile directly into your small intestine via a “slow drip” instead of a “power surge” when you eat. Your body adapts to this new plumbing remarkably well.

This is the #1 fear. For about 90% of patients, digestion returns to completely normal. For the other 10%, there may be a period of “transit urgency” (diarrhea) if they eat a very fatty meal too soon. This is usually temporary as the body adjusts. If it persists, it’s easily managed with minor dietary tweaks or common medications.

Once the gallbladder is removed, you can no longer form “gallstones” in the traditional sense. In very rare cases, a stone can form within the bile ducts themselves, but the chronic “attacks” caused by the gallbladder are permanently resolved.

Actually, yes. During laparoscopic surgery, we use CO2 gas to inflate the abdomen so we can see clearly. Sometimes a little of that gas gets trapped and irritates the phrenic nerve, which sends a “hey, I’m annoyed” signal up to your right shoulder. It usually disappears within 24–48 hours and is best treated by walking, which helps the body absorb the gas.

While the skin incisions are tiny, the internal “repair” needs time. I generally tell patients:

  • Walking: Day 1. It’s the best thing you can do for recovery.
  • Driving: Usually within 3–5 days (once you are off all prescription pain meds).
  • Lifting (>10–15 lbs): Wait about 2–4 weeks to prevent a hernia at the incision sites.

Why Choose Dr. Chang?

Dr. Craig Chang is a board-certified general surgeon with fellowship training in laparoscopic surgery. His expertise in minimally invasive techniques ensures that your procedure is performed with the highest level of precision and care. Our mission is to alleviate your anxiety and help you return to health as quickly as possible.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you are experiencing abdominal pain or have been diagnosed with gallstones, contact our team to discuss your options.