Female gallbladder surgery time

How long it takes to recover from gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy) depends on whether you had a laparoscopic (keyhole) or open procedure.

Most people who have keyhole surgery are able to leave hospital on the same day as the operation.

It'll usually take around 2 weeks to return to your normal activities if you have a desk job, and longer if you have a more manual job.

After open surgery, you'll usually have to stay in hospital for 3 to 5 days, and your recovery time will be longer.

It can take around 3 to 4 weeks to return to your normal activities, and 6 to 8 weeks if you have a more manual job.

In either case, you'll need to arrange for someone to take you home from hospital.

Someone should also stay with you for at least 24 hours if you go home the same day as your operation, as you may still be feeling the effects of the anaesthetic.

Possible side effects of surgery

You can live perfectly normally without a gallbladder, so there aren't usually any long-term effects from gallbladder removal surgery.

Temporary

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