Gallbladder removal surgery is also known as a cholecystectomy. This is a common procedure that treats the pain and nausea of gallstones and prevents complications from developing.
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What is it for?
For the treatment of gallstones
Gallbladder removal consultation at The London Clinic
The gallbladder is a small organ that stores and collects bile to break down fatty foods and assist with digestion. It can become blocked and irritated by gallstones.
Specialist surgery can remove the gallbladder, resolve symptoms, and safeguard your health.
The London Clinic offers both a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and an open cholecystectomy by world-leading gastrointestinal surgeons.
The consultants operate in our state-of-the-art theatres using the very latest equipment.
Following your operation, the multi-disciplinary team will support your healthy recovery, monitor your digestive health, and offer expert dietetic guidance.
FAQs
Your recovery from gallbladder removal surgery will depend on your operation and your general health.Â
Following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, you may feel some shoulder pain. The anaesthetist will give you painkillers to maintain your comfort. You will usually be able to go home on the same day.
However, it can take around two weeks to get back to work and normal activities. After one month, you can gradually reintroduce vigorous exercise.
Recovery following an open cholecystectomy is longer. After around three days, you can go home from hospital.
However, it can take six to eight weeks to regain strength and fitness.Â
The London Clinic team will provide support and guidance during your recovery. After surgery, many patients prefer small, light, lower-fat meals.
The London Clinic provides specialist dietetic advice and care to help optimise your digestive health and wellbeing.
Gallstones are pebble-like collections of cholesterol or other materials that form in the gallbladder.
They are a common problem, especially in:
- women
- older people
- those who are overweight
- people who eat a high-fat diet.Â
Lots of people with gallstones have no symptoms or problems. However, they can cause pain in the upper right abdomen, especially after fatty meals.
Gallstones are linked to potentially serious complications, including:
- Biliary colic:Â If a stone gets stuck, it can block bile flow, causing sudden severe cramping abdominal pain.
- Cholecystitis:Â Gallstones can trigger inflammation in the gallbladder. This results in abdominal pain, yellow discolouration of the skin, dark urine and pale stools, and feeling feverish and unwell.
- Pancreatitis:Â Gallstones can get stuck in the narrow tube between the pancreas and the gallbladder, causing inflammation in the pancreas. This is a serious and painful complication that needs urgent, expert care.
If you’re worried about gallstones, see your GP or make an appointment with the gastroenterology specialists at The London Clinic. Surgery can reduce pain and protect you from dangerous complications.Â
When performed by experts, like the gastrointestinal surgeons at The London Clinic, a cholecystectomy is safe and straightforward.
People can live, digest food, and function well without a gallbladder.Â
The London Clinic offers two all-inclusive treatment packages for gallbladder removal surgery.
Your surgeon will take a detailed medical history, examine you, and order investigations to assess your gallbladder and your fitness for surgery. They will then recommend the best surgery for your needs. This could be:
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Most people can have minimally-invasive surgery to remove the gallbladder. Keyhole surgery offers a smaller scar, quicker discharge, and a faster recovery.
An open cholecystectomy
Open surgical removal of the gall bladder is the traditional treatment for gallbladder disease. The surgeon makes a single incision in the upper abdomen to remove the gallbladder.
This approach may be recommended if you’ve had multiple previous surgeries, if the gallbladder is inflamed, or if there are problems during the laparoscopy.Â
There are risks with any operation. The experienced surgeons and staff at The London Clinic work hard to minimize these and support your safe recovery.
Your consultant will discuss any problems associated with surgery and take time to answer your questions and address any concerns.
Consultants
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
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We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.