Gallstone attacks often hit after a heavy meal. They bring intense pain in your upper right belly that can last for hours and may come back again and again. When attacks keep returning, gallbladder removal surgery is the usual way to treat them.
Dr. Deborah Martin is a board-certified general surgeon who has cared for patients in the Atlanta area for more than 30 years. Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, which uses several small cuts instead of one large one, is one of the operations she performs most often.
If gallstones are disrupting your meals, your sleep, or your plans, you can request an appointment at our Alpharetta office. Dr. Martin will review your symptoms, talk through your options, and explain what to expect if surgery is the right step.
Surgery is usually recommended when gallstones cause symptoms, such as repeated gallbladder attacks. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) explains that gallstones that cause no symptoms, called silent gallstones, usually do not need treatment.
A gallbladder attack happens when a stone blocks a bile duct, which is a small tube that carries digestive fluid. The pain usually shows up in the upper right belly and sometimes lasts for several hours. NIDDK notes that if you have had one attack, more will likely follow.
Removal also becomes the right call when stones lead to complications. These can include a swollen gallbladder, an infection in the bile ducts or liver, or gallstone pancreatitis, which is swelling of the pancreas. About a quarter of the nearly 1 million people diagnosed with gallstones each year need treatment, usually surgery.
At your consultation, Dr. Martin will go over your symptoms, your health history, and any imaging you have had.
The medical name for gallbladder removal is cholecystectomy. In a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon removes your gallbladder through several small cuts in your belly. NIDDK reports that almost all surgeons now perform this operation with laparoscopy.
A laparoscope is a thin tube with a camera and a light. The surgeon places it through one small cut and uses it to see inside your belly. Special tools go through the other cuts and are used to take out the gallbladder. You will receive general anesthesia, which means you sleep through the procedure.
After the gallbladder is gone, bile flows from your liver straight into your small intestine instead of being stored first. Your body does not need the gallbladder to digest food.
Some patients need an open cholecystectomy, which uses one larger cut. NIDDK says surgeons choose it when the gallbladder is badly inflamed, infected, or scarred from past operations, or when problems come up during laparoscopy. Dr. Martin has experience with both laparoscopic surgery and open techniques, and she will recommend the safest approach for you.
Most laparoscopic gallbladder removals let you go home the same day. Here is what the day typically looks like.
You will meet with Dr. Martin for your consultation at our Alpharetta office. That visit is a good time to ask which type of stay to expect.
NIDDK says most people can return to normal physical activity about a week after laparoscopic gallbladder removal. The MedlinePlus guide to recovery after laparoscopic gallbladder removal adds that it can take several weeks to feel your usual energy. After open surgery, recovery takes about a month.
For food, MedlinePlus recommends a high-fiber diet and 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. You may want to avoid greasy or spicy foods for a while. Dr. Martin will give you a plan that fits your recovery.
You can live normally without a gallbladder, according to NIDDK. The organ helps with digestion but is not essential.
A small number of people have softer, more frequent stools after surgery, because bile now reaches the intestine more often. These changes are usually temporary. Some patients also notice gas, heartburn, nausea, or trouble with fatty foods. Small changes to your meals usually settle these symptoms. If they last, talk with Dr. Martin.
Gallbladder surgery complications are very rare, according to NIDDK. Still, every operation carries some risk, and Dr. Martin reviews yours with you before your procedure.
The most common complication is an injury to the bile ducts, which can cause infection. You may need one or more additional operations to repair the ducts. Sometimes a laparoscopic surgery has to be switched to an open one if problems come up during the procedure.
MedlinePlus advises calling your provider if you have any of these after surgery. Call our office at (770) 844-2144 if you notice:
Dr. Martin accepts most major insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Humana, Medicaid, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare. Our insurance information page has the full list.
What you pay depends on several factors. These include your plan's deductible and coverage, the type of surgery, the surgical facility, and anesthesia. Our team can help you understand what to expect before you schedule.
Some plans ask for a referral from your primary care provider before you see a surgeon. To check what your plan needs, call (770) 844-2144.
The medical information on this page comes from NIDDK, part of the National Institutes of Health, and from MedlinePlus, the health library of the National Library of Medicine. Dr. Martin applies that guidance to your own health history, so your plan is built around you.
You can read what patients say about their care on our testimonials page.
Deborah A. Martin, M.D., F.A.C.S is board certified in general surgery through the American Board of Surgery. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and has been a surgeon for more than 30 years. She trained at the LSU Department of Surgery, Charity Hospital of New Orleans, and was one of the first female surgeons in the Atlanta area.
The Medical Association of Georgia gave Dr. Martin its Jack A. Raines, M.D. Humanitarian Award in 2014. Patients often say she is thorough and takes time to explain each step.
A laparoscopic gallbladder removal typically takes a couple of hours, including time to prepare for surgery. Dr. Martin will give you a closer estimate after your consultation. You can also read about gallbladder surgery on our main gallbladder page.
It is a common operation with a strong safety record. NIDDK lists gallbladder removal as one of the most common operations done on adults in the United States, and serious complications are very rare. Dr. Martin explains the risks before surgery so you can decide with confidence.
Sometimes, but only in special situations. NIDDK says doctors may try medicines or other treatments for cholesterol stones when a serious health condition makes surgery unsafe. These treatments can take months or years, and gallstones can come back.
Many people can drive after about a week if they are not taking strong pain medicine and can react quickly without pain. Mount Sinai's discharge guide says some people return to a desk job after a week. Ask Dr. Martin about your own job.
Scheduling is easy, and online scheduling is available. You can request an appointment any time or call (770) 844-2144. Our team will help you find a time that works. We look forward to seeing you!