Skip to main contentLast updated: 07-Nov-2026
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Dr Harsh Shah
MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Registered with Gujarat Medical Council, Reg. No. G-38738
Gallbladder Surgeon
Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad · 18 years of experience
In short
For a gallbladder polyp, the operation is a keyhole removal of the whole gallbladder. It is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
The polyp is not taken out alone. The full gallbladder goes to the laboratory so the polyp and the wall can be checked in full.
Most people walk the same evening and go home the next day. You can live normally without a gallbladder.
Not sure whether you need surgery at all? Our gallbladder polyps page explains when to watch and when to operate. This post covers the operation itself.
A polyp sits on the gallbladder wall and cannot be cut off safely on its own. The gallbladder is also not a part you need to save.
Some polyps are harmless fatty bumps. A few are true growths that can slowly turn into cancer. A scan cannot always tell which is which. Only the laboratory can, and it needs the whole polyp with the wall under it.
Surgery is advised when a polyp is large, growing or looks worrying, or when it comes with pain or stones.
The choice rests on a few facts. These are the size of the polyp, its growth on repeat scans, its shape, the wall thickness and your age. A single small polyp with no symptoms is often just watched. The full guide is on the gallbladder polyps page.
You are asleep under general anaesthesia. The surgeon works through a few small cuts, using a camera, and removes the gallbladder in a bag.
| Step | What the surgeon does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Access | Makes a few small cuts and fills the belly with gas | Gives room to see and work |
| 2. Look first | Checks the gallbladder, liver and nearby organs | Confirms the plan and looks for anything unexpected |
| 3. Identify the ducts | Clears the tissue until the cystic duct and artery are clearly seen | Protects the main bile duct |
| 4. Seal and cut | Clips the duct and artery, then cuts them | Frees the gallbladder from its blood and bile supply |
| 5. Separate | Lifts the gallbladder off the liver | Takes the whole organ without opening it |
| 6. Bag and remove | Places it in a bag and draws it out through a cut | Keeps the polyp from touching the belly wall |
| 7. Check and close | Looks for bleeding or leak, then closes the cuts | Makes sure the area is dry and safe |
The bag matters more for a polyp than for a stone. We do not want the gallbladder to tear or leak, since a rare growth could then spill cells. This is one reason to choose a surgeon who handles gallbladder growths often.
Preparation is simple: a fitness check, blood tests, an empty stomach, and a list of your medicines for the surgeon.
You will usually have blood tests, a heart check if you are older, and your scans reviewed again. Blood thinners and some diabetes tablets may need to stop for a few days. Do not change any medicine until your surgeon tells you.
Most people walk on the evening of surgery and go home the next day. Full recovery takes a few weeks.
The cuts are small and sore for a few days. Shoulder-tip pain from the gas is common and fades in a day or two. Medicines keep you comfortable, and you can take light food once you are awake.
Walk daily from the first day. Desk work is often possible within one to two weeks. Hold off on heavy lifting and hard exercise for about a month, or as advised. You may notice loose stools for a few weeks. Small, light meals help, and this settles for most people.
Keyhole gallbladder surgery is routine and safe in experienced hands, but every operation has some risk.
The report tells you what the polyp really was. In most people it is a harmless polyp and no more treatment is needed.
The report comes back in about a week. A cholesterol polyp or an inflamed wall needs nothing further. If the report shows an early growth, we explain what it means. We tell you if it is fully removed or needs more surgery.
If the report shows cancer, we plan a second operation on the liver bed and nearby glands, and we explain the steps in detail. Read about gallbladder cancer treatment if you want to see how this is done.
A polyp cannot be taken out alone, and a small piece cannot tell us if it is safe. Removing the whole gallbladder gives the laboratory the complete polyp and wall to examine.
It often takes about an hour. It can take longer if the gallbladder is inflamed or stuck to nearby organs. Your surgeon will tell you what to expect after seeing your scans.
Most people go home the next day. You walk and sip fluids the same evening. Your surgeon decides the day of discharge after checking how you are.
Yes. The liver still makes bile, and it flows straight into the gut. Some people have loose stools for a few weeks, which usually settles. Most eat a normal diet.
This is uncommon in a small polyp, but it is why the lab check matters. If cancer is found, we explain the stage and plan any further surgery on the liver bed and glands. This is done only after a full discussion.
Yes. Keyhole is the usual route. If the gallbladder is badly stuck, bleeding is hard to control, or a worrying growth needs a wider operation, the surgeon may switch to a larger cut. This is a safety step, not a failure.
People with desk jobs often return within one to two weeks. Heavy lifting and hard exercise wait about a month. Your surgeon will give dates that suit your job.
For the full picture of polyp care, start at the gallbladder polyps page. For questions before you travel, call +91-63555-64601.
Dr Harsh Shah — Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad
Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Dr Jivraj Mehta Marg, Vasna, Ahmedabad 380007.
Consultations, review of reports and scans, operations and follow-up. OPD Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Appointments: +91-63555-64601 · +91-63590-11009 · Hospital 079-2663 6363
Directions to the hospital · WhatsApp +91-63555-64601
Told you need your gallbladder removed for a polyp? Dr Harsh Shah goes through your scans with you and explains why surgery is advised. He shows you each step of the keyhole operation before you decide. Bring your scans and reports to the consultation. You can also call, or message us on WhatsApp. Call +91-63555-64601 Ask on WhatsApp
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