What to Expect After Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Removal)

General symptoms:

• Pain, numbness, mild swelling, and mild redness, mild bruising along the incisions

• Subtle ridge of tissue just deep to the incisions

• Most of the above should settle with time; raise them with your surgeon at the time of your postoperative clinic visit

Pain:

• It is normal to experience pain up to 4-6 weeks after surgery; and some degree of discomfort may continue beyond this time period and for several months more. These symptoms and others can be reviewed at the time of the postoperative clinic visit, usually at the 4-6 week mark from surgery.

Wound care:

• If you have staples, these will be removed by your GP or at our GDC area in 7-10 days.

• If glue is used this will peel off on its own in about 7-10 days. No other care is required.

• In both cases you can shower on the same day; try to protect the incision from excessive water/pressure

Diet:

• There are no dietary restrictions. Some patient may experience loose stools after intake of fatty meals for the first few week postop. This should settle. In a very small number of patients this issues persists in the long-term

When to refer to the emergency department:

• Chest pain / shortness of breath

• Fever in the first few days postop

• Worsening pain despite taking pain medications

• Bleeding from the incisions

• Jaundice (yellow eyes / skin)

Please call our clinic any time with any questions or concerns.