Gallbladder & Biliary Surgery, Dubai and Sharjah
Minimally invasive gallstone treatment, from an experienced GI surgeon
If gallstones are causing pain after meals, repeated attacks, or a complication your doctor wants treated, you want a surgeon who does this operation often and knows when surgery is, and is not, the right call. Dr Arindam Ghosh is a consultant gastrointestinal and laparoscopic surgeon with 25+ years of experience and more than 5,000 gallbladder surgeries, practising at three hospitals across Dubai and Sharjah.
Quick answers
The short version
If you only read one section, read this one. The detail behind each answer is further down the page.
What are gallbladder stones?
Hardened deposits of cholesterol or bile pigment that form inside the gallbladder, the small organ under your liver that stores bile.
What symptoms do they cause?
Often none. When they act up: sharp right upper abdominal pain, pain after fatty meals, nausea, and vomiting.
When should you see a surgeon?
When attacks recur, or if you ever have fever, jaundice, or severe persistent pain, which can signal a complication.
Do all gallstones need surgery?
No. Silent stones causing no symptoms are usually monitored. Symptomatic and complicated stones are treated.
Is laparoscopic removal safe?
Keyhole gallbladder removal is one of the most commonly performed and well established abdominal operations worldwide.
How long is recovery?
Most people walk the same day, return to office work within 1-2 weeks, and reach full recovery by 3-4 weeks.
The basics
What are gallbladder stones?
Your gallbladder is a small, pear shaped organ that sits just under the liver. It stores bile, the fluid your liver makes to help digest fat, and releases it into the intestine after you eat. When the chemistry of bile tips out of balance, solid deposits can form inside the gallbladder. These are gallstones, and the medical term for having them is cholelithiasis.
Stones range from grains the size of sand to a single stone as large as a small pebble. Most are cholesterol stones, which are pale and the most common type. Pigment stones are smaller and darker and form from excess bile pigment. Many people carry gallstones for years without knowing, because the stones only cause trouble when they block the flow of bile or irritate the gallbladder wall.
Gallstone symptoms and warning signs
Severe pain, upper right abdomen
Intense, gripping pain below the right ribs that can spread to the back or right shoulder blade.
Pain after fatty meals
Discomfort that flares an hour or two after rich or oily food, when the gallbladder is asked to work hardest.
Nausea and vomiting
Feeling sick, with or without vomiting, often alongside an attack of pain.
Fever and chills
A raised temperature points to infection and needs prompt medical attention.
Jaundice, yellow eyes or skin
Yellowing of the eyes or skin suggests a stone may be blocking the bile duct.
Signs of a serious complication
Gallbladder infection and gallstone pancreatitis are the complications that turn a manageable problem into an urgent one.
If you are still trying to tell a gallbladder attack apart from ordinary indigestion, our guide on recognising the warning signs of gallstones walks through the pattern of pain in more detail.
Gallbladder stones vs kidney stones
These two are often confused because both are called stones and both can cause sharp pain. They are completely different conditions, in different organs, with different treatment. Here is how they compare.
| Gallbladder stones | Kidney stones | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Gallbladder, under the liver, on the right side of the upper abdomen | Kidneys and urinary tract |
| Typical symptoms | Right upper abdominal pain, pain after fatty meals, nausea | Severe back or flank pain, blood in urine, painful urination |
| Do they pass naturally? | Gallbladder stones rarely pass on their own | Small kidney stones often pass in the urine |
| Main treatment | Removal of the gallbladder when stones cause symptoms | Fluids, medication, or stone fragmentation; the kidney is kept |
| Is surgery usual? | Yes, for symptomatic stones, the gallbladder is removed | Often avoidable; surgery is reserved for larger or stuck stones |
Deciding on treatment
Do all gallstones need surgery?
No, and a good surgeon is as willing to advise against an operation as for one. The right answer depends on whether the stones cause symptoms and whether they have caused, or threaten, a complication.
- Silent, asymptomatic stones. Found by chance and causing no trouble, these are usually watched rather than removed.
- Symptomatic stones. Once stones cause repeated pain, removal of the gallbladder is the definitive treatment that stops attacks coming back.
- Recurrent attacks. A pattern of biliary colic that keeps returning is a clear signal to treat rather than endure.
- Stones causing infection, jaundice or pancreatitis. A complication moves surgery from optional to necessary, sometimes urgently.
- Special situations. Large stones, diabetes, or other risk factors can tip the balance toward earlier surgery even when symptoms are mild.
Tablets that try to dissolve stones work slowly and stones tend to return, so they are reserved for the few patients who cannot have surgery. We cover the realities of non-surgical treatment for gallstones and where its limits lie in a separate guide.
Why me?
Causes and risk factors
Gallstones form when bile holds too much cholesterol or pigment, or when the gallbladder does not empty well. Several things make that more likely.
- Being female
- Being over the age of 40
- Obesity
- Rapid weight loss
- Diabetes
- A family history of gallstones
- Pregnancy
- High cholesterol
Not sure whether your symptoms point to gallstones? A focused consultation and an ultrasound can usually settle the question quickly.
How gallstones are diagnosed
01
Ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound is the gold standard first test. It is quick, painless, and reliably shows stones in the gallbladder.
02
Blood tests
Liver and inflammatory markers help show whether a stone is blocking bile flow or the gallbladder is inflamed.
03
MRCP
A specialised MRI scan of the bile ducts, used when a stone in the duct is suspected and needs to be mapped.
04
CT scan
Used in selected cases to look at the wider picture or to assess a complication.
05
Endoscopy and ERCP
If stones in the bile duct are suspected, ERCP can both confirm and clear them before gallbladder surgery.
An important distinction
Gallbladder stones and bile duct stones
Stones that stay inside the gallbladder cause cholelithiasis, the common situation described on this page. Sometimes a stone slips out and lodges in the common bile duct, the channel carrying bile to the intestine. That is choledocholithiasis, and it is more dangerous.
A stone in the bile duct can block bile completely, causing jaundice, infection of the bile system, or pancreatitis. When this is suspected, the duct usually needs to be cleared first, often by ERCP, before the gallbladder is removed. Spotting it early matters, which is why the signs of a blocked bile duct are worth knowing if you have gallstones.
What happens during laparoscopic gallbladder surgery
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, or keyhole cholecystectomy, removes the whole gallbladder through a few small cuts rather than one large one. It is the standard approach today because it means less pain, smaller scars, and a faster return to normal life than open surgery. Here is what the day looks like.
1
Anaesthesia
The operation is done under general anaesthetic, so you are fully asleep and feel nothing.
2
A few small incisions
Typically four keyhole cuts let the surgeon pass a camera and fine instruments into the abdomen.
3
The gallbladder is removed
The whole gallbladder, with its stones inside, is carefully detached and lifted out. The operation usually takes around an hour.
4
Same day or short stay
Many patients go home the same day or after one night, then return to a normal diet and to office work within a couple of weeks.
For a fuller walkthrough of preparation, the operation itself, and what to expect afterwards, see our patient guide to laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Recovery timeline after gallbladder removal
-
Day 1
Up and walking
Gentle walking starts on the day of surgery, which helps recovery and lowers the risk of clots.
-
3-5 days
Light activities
Everyday tasks around the home feel comfortable again as the soreness settles.
-
1-2 weeks
Back to office work
Most people return to a desk based job within one to two weeks.
-
3-4 weeks
Full recovery
Heavier activity and exercise resume as you reach full recovery by around three to four weeks.
These are typical milestones for keyhole surgery in a patient without complications. Open surgery, needed in a minority of complex cases, takes longer to heal from. Your own pace will depend on the operation and your general health, and we set expectations clearly before the day.
Our detailed notes on gallbladder surgery recovery cover wound care, pain relief, and the small diet adjustments that make the first fortnight easier.
After surgery
Life after gallbladder removal
You can live a completely normal life without a gallbladder. Once it is removed, bile simply flows straight from the liver into the intestine instead of being stored first. For most people, digestion is unaffected.
- Some people notice looser stools at first, which usually settles as the body adjusts.
- Easing back gradually on very rich, fatty meals in the early weeks helps comfort.
- There is no special long term diet for most patients, and no lasting limit on normal foods.
- The long term outlook after gallstone removal is excellent.
Why patients choose Dr Arindam Ghosh
25+
Years of experience
12,000+
GI surgeries performed
5,000+
Gallbladder surgeries
FACS
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
High volume, focused expertise
More than 5,000 gallbladder operations, plus deep experience in complex and redo biliary surgery, the difficult cases that less specialised surgeons refer on.
Advanced laparoscopic care
A strong minimally invasive focus means smaller scars and faster recovery, with open surgery kept for the cases that truly need it.
Three hospitals, Dubai and Sharjah
Consultations at Emirates Hospital Jumeirah, Emirates Speciality Hospital DHCC, and NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah, so care is close to where you live.
Insurance and international patients
Major UAE insurers including DAMAN, BUPA Arabia, AXA Gulf, and Oman Insurance are accepted, and patients travelling from abroad are supported with medical visa and travel arrangements.
Cost and insurance
What gallbladder surgery costs in Dubai
There is no single fixed price for gallbladder removal. The cost depends on whether the operation is laparoscopic or open, which hospital you choose, the complexity of your case, and what your stay and anaesthesia involve.
Because gallbladder removal is usually a medically necessary procedure, it is often covered by health insurance. The clearest way to know your own figure is a consultation, where the procedure, the hospital, and your insurance cover can be confirmed together before anything is booked.
Frequently asked questions
Is laparoscopic gallbladder surgery safe?
Keyhole gallbladder removal is one of the most commonly performed abdominal operations and is very well established. As with any surgery there are risks, which your surgeon will explain. In experienced hands, and with more than 5,000 of these operations behind him, Dr Ghosh keeps those risks low and reserves open surgery for the minority of cases that genuinely need it.
Can I live a normal life without my gallbladder?
Yes. The gallbladder stores bile but is not essential. After removal, bile flows directly from the liver into the intestine, and most people digest food normally. A few notice looser stools early on, which usually settles within a few weeks.
How soon can I go back to work?
Most people return to office work within one to two weeks after keyhole surgery. Walking begins on the day of surgery, light activities resume within three to five days, and full recovery is usually reached by three to four weeks.
Do gallstones go away without surgery?
Gallstones rarely disappear on their own, and tablets that try to dissolve them work slowly with a high chance the stones return. For stones that cause symptoms, removing the gallbladder is the treatment that reliably stops attacks coming back.
What is the difference between gallbladder stones and bile duct stones?
Gallbladder stones sit inside the gallbladder. Bile duct stones have moved into the common bile duct and are more dangerous, because they can block bile flow and cause jaundice, infection, or pancreatitis. Bile duct stones often need to be cleared, frequently by ERCP, before the gallbladder is removed.
Will I need to follow a special diet afterwards?
For most patients there is no strict long term diet. Easing back on very rich, fatty meals in the first few weeks helps comfort while your body adjusts, after which normal eating usually resumes without lasting restrictions.
Does insurance cover gallbladder removal in the UAE?
Because gallbladder removal is usually medically necessary, it is often covered. Major insurers including DAMAN, BUPA Arabia, AXA Gulf, and Oman Insurance are accepted. Your specific cover is confirmed at consultation.
Get a clear answer on your gallstones
Book a consultation with Dr Arindam Ghosh in Dubai or Sharjah to find out whether your stones need treatment, and what the right option is for you.
We bring the years, global experience, and stamina to guide our clients through new and often disruptive realities.
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