What to Ask Your Gallstone Removal Doctor Before Surgery

Many people are able to live well with gallstones that cause no symptoms. Actually, you may only be referred to a gallstone removal doctor’s clinic like this one: https://drtansiongsan.com.sg/gallstones/ if you have intense upper-right abdominal pain (lasting hours), nausea, fever, jaundice or chills.

Now, gallstones are hard, pebble-like deposits that form inside your gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ under your liver that stores and concentrates bile.

Bile is a fluid your liver makes to help digest fats when you eat. Gallstones develop when the substances that make up bile become unbalanced.

Most gallstones are made of cholesterol, which can harden into stones if there’s too much of it or not enough bile salts. Others form from bilirubin, a pigment released when your body breaks down red blood cells.

As these materials build up, they clump together and gradually grow, much like sediment settling in a riverbed. A tiny grain can slowly turn into a stone the size of a marble or even a golf ball over months or years. You won’t feel them until they move or block the bile ducts, triggering what’s known as a gallbladder “attack.”

What are the Right Questions to Ask your Gallstone Removal Doctor?

If you have been diagnosed with gallstones, you might worry about pain, recovery or whether surgery really suits you. Gallstone removal involves taking out your gallbladder, usually through small keyhole cuts in your tummy.

So, you will want to ask the right questions before you go under anaesthetic to help you feel confident and prepared. That said, here are eight best questions to ask your gallstone removal doctor;

• Do I Really Need Surgery?

Your gallstone removal doctor may recommend gallstone removal if stones cause repeated pain, inflammation or infection. If a stone blocks your bile duct, you risk jaundice or severe infection called cholangitis.

Surgery often prevents these life-threatening complications. On the other hand, if you have silent stones which are usually found by accident but causing no symptoms, your doctor may suggest watchful waiting.

You’d return for scans if pain or other signs appear. Some patients try medication to dissolve small cholesterol stones.

These drugs take months or years to work and suit only a few cases. They also carry side effects and a high chance stones return once you stop treatment.

• What Type of Surgery will I Have?

Most gallstone removal doctors perform laparoscopic gallbladder removal. Here, the surgeon makes four tiny cuts and uses a camera plus instruments to remove your gallbladder.

You usually recover faster, with less pain and smaller scars. In some cases like severe inflammation, scar tissue from past operations or large stones, your surgeon may opt for open surgery.

That involves a larger cut under your ribs and a longer hospital stay. Recovery can take six to eight weeks rather than one to two.

Ask your doctor why they choose laparoscopic or open gallstone surgery for you. They should explain how your health, stone size and surgical risks influence the choice.

• What Risks or Complications Should I Know About?

Gallstone removal though helpful, carries some risks. The good thing is that serious complications are rare.

After treatment, you may face infection at incision sites, which usually clears with antibiotics. Bleeding during surgery can occur, but surgeons monitor and control it swiftly.

A small risk of bile duct injury may require a further procedure to repair leaks or strictures. Very rarely, you could have a hernia at the incision or a reaction to anaesthetic.

Discuss these possibilities to be able to give informed consent. A good surgeon will explain how they minimise each risk through technique and monitoring.

• What Can I Expect During Recovery?

After laparoscopic gallbladder removal, most people go home within a day or two. You may feel sore around the cuts and shoulder tip pain from trapped gas.

Simple pain relief and walking a few minutes every hour help ease discomfort and speed return to normal activity. Most people are able to return to light work in one week, though you avoid heavy lifting for four to six weeks.

If you have open surgery, expect a three- to five-day hospital stay. Your main wound may ache more, and you need extra time to rebuild strength.

Full recovery can take six to eight weeks. You’ll follow up with your doctor for wound checks and to discuss any dietary changes. Ask about realistic timelines for returning to work, driving and exercise.

• Will I Need to Change My Diet After Surgery?

Right after surgery, you start on clear fluids like water, broth or jelly to check your digestion. Over the next few days, you add low-fat foods like rice, lean chicken and cooked vegetables.

You will want to avoid fatty or greasy meals as they can cause bloating or diarrhoea when your body adjusts to life without a gallbladder. Most people return to a normal diet within two to four weeks.

However, some find high-fat or spicy foods still trigger discomfort. Your doctor or dietitian can suggest how to reintroduce fats gradually and spot personal triggers.

• Are There Long-Term Effects After Gallbladder Removal?

You can live well without a gallbladder as your liver will still be able to make bile, which drips constantly into your gut rather than storing in a pouch. This shift may cause mild diarrhoea or looser stools for some weeks to months.

It usually settles once your gut adapts to the steady bile flow. A few patients report bloating or mild indigestion after fatty meals.

These symptoms tend to fade over time or respond to simple diet tweaks. Ask your gallstone removal doctor about long-term changes you might expect.

• What will the Total Cost be?

Gallstone surgery costs vary considerably in Singapore. In private hospitals, laparoscopic gallbladder removal runs around SGD 6,000–15,000, excluding pre-op tests, surgeon’s fees and hospital stay.

Open surgery may cost SGD 12,000–18,000. Many private patients use MediSave up to SGD 3,500 for day surgery or inpatient procedures and top up with private insurance.

Public hospitals like often charge lower subsidised rates but waiting times can stretch several weeks, though emergency cases get faster slots. Ask for a full breakdown: surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s charge, hospital stay, consumables and tests.

Closing Thoughts

On the date of your appointment, bring a notepad or use your phone to jot down answers. It may also help to invite a companion to help you catch details.

Start your list with the questions here, then add any personal concerns about pain, scars or costs. When you leave the consultation, you’ll know exactly what to expect before, during and after surgery.

If you’re in Singapore and looking to book a consultation with a trusted gallstone removal doctor to get answers tailored to your case, please get in touch with us below. Our team of experienced surgeons uses the latest minimally invasive techniques, offers personalised treatment plans, supports you every step and ensures clarity on risks, recovery time and costs to help you feel confident and secure.

Tan Siong San Surgery

38 Irrawaddy Rd, #09-58 Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre,

Singapore 329563

Phone: +65 6970 8852