Patient guide · Upper GI surgery
Cholecystectomy — gallbladder removal, plainly explained.
A biliary colic attack in the middle of the night is the sort of pain you don’t forget — and once it’s happened, the odds of another one keep it firmly on your mind. In the UK today, four out of five cholecystectomies are day‑case keyhole procedures; privately in London you can be under a consultant upper‑GI surgeon within days and operated on inside a month, with most patients home the same evening.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant upper GI surgeon, in theatre
Not a rotating trainee. A named upper GI or hepatobiliary surgeon who removes gallbladders every week, in a proper day-case theatre.
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The right operation, in the right order
If you have a stone in the bile duct, we say whether ERCP comes first or the gallbladder does — and why it matters for you.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private cholecystectomy costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A day-case keyhole cholecystectomy in our network: £5,500–£8,500, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (day case) | £5,500–£8,500 | 45–90 min | Same-day discharge |
| Single-incision laparoscopic (SILS) | £6,500–£9,500 | 60–100 min | Same-day discharge |
| Robotic cholecystectomy | £8,000–£12,000 | 75–120 min | Same-day / 1 night |
| Open cholecystectomy (when required) | £8,500–£13,000 | 90–150 min | 2–4 nights inpatient |
| ERCP for common bile duct stone | £3,500–£6,000 | 45–75 min | Day case |
| Consultation only | £200–£400 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by which surgeon does the case, by anaesthetic time, and by whether an on-table cholangiogram or an overnight stay is added. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right surgeon, the right sequence, the right day.
Gallbladder surgery is booked badly more often than it should be — a general surgeon rather than a hepatobiliary one, or a duct stone missed until the day of theatre. We make sure the sequence is right before you commit.
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Is a stone in your duct?
MRCP first if there is any suggestion. Clear the duct with ERCP, then remove the gallbladder — in that order, not the other way round.
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Volume matters here.
Bile duct injury rates fall sharply with high-volume surgeons who insist on the critical view of safety.
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Home the same day, properly.
Enhanced recovery — carbohydrate drink, local to the ports, minimal opioids. Not a two-night stay by default.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — including the recovery window.
Phase 1 · Before your operation
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Pain pattern, scans done, whether you have had jaundice, pancreatitis or fever.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right surgeon, whether an MRCP or ERCP is needed first, and an indicative price for the day case.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within one to two weeks. Bloods, ECG if needed, and a pre-assessment call to review medications and anaesthetic history.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Admission, consent and a chat with the surgeon and anaesthetist. Enhanced recovery from the start — carbohydrate drink, no long fast.
- 05
On the day
The operation itself
45–90 minutes under general anaesthetic. Four small keyhole ports, the gallbladder removed, dissolvable sutures, local anaesthetic to the port sites.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day
A few hours in recovery, written aftercare, and home the same evening for most patients. You will need someone to collect you.
- 07
After
Recovery and review
Back to a desk job within one to two weeks, driving at two weeks, full activity by four to six. A phone review is arranged and histology followed up.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to operation. Full recovery: 4–6 weeks.
When it helps
When a cholecystectomy is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the red flags that mean an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Symptomatic gallstones
Stones causing episodes of pain — the commonest reason for cholecystectomy in the UK.
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Biliary colic
Recurrent right-upper-quadrant pain after meals, often radiating to the shoulder blade.
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Acute cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gallbladder — usually offered surgery within a week of the attack under Tokyo Guidelines.
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Gallstone pancreatitis
A stone that has caused pancreatitis — the gallbladder is removed on the same admission or within two weeks.
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Choledocholithiasis (CBD stone)
A stone in the common bile duct — clear the duct with ERCP, then remove the gallbladder.
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Gallbladder polyps > 1 cm
Polyps larger than 10 mm carry a cancer risk and are usually removed even without symptoms.
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Porcelain gallbladder
A calcified gallbladder wall — historically linked to cancer risk and generally removed.
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Red flag: jaundice or sepsis
Yellow eyes, dark urine, fever and rigors are not clinic problems — they are same-day A&E.
Procedure options
Keyhole is the default — but not the only option.
What each approach on the table actually involves — and which fits which problem.
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Laparoscopic (keyhole)
The default. Four small ports, a camera, and the gallbladder freed from the liver and lifted out. Home the same day for most.
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Single-incision (SILS)
One incision hidden in the umbilicus. Cosmetically neat, technically harder, and only offered by surgeons who do them regularly.
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Robotic cholecystectomy
A robotic platform (usually da Vinci) doing the same keyhole operation with wristed instruments. Longer setup, similar outcomes.
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Open cholecystectomy
A subcostal cut is used when keyhole is unsafe — dense adhesions, severe inflammation, or an unclear anatomy at Calot’s triangle.
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Subtotal cholecystectomy
A bail-out when the anatomy will not declare itself safely — the fundus is left in place rather than risk a bile duct injury.
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Cholecystectomy with on-table cholangiogram
An X-ray of the bile duct during surgery to check for stones — useful if the ducts were not fully cleared beforehand.
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ERCP first, then cholecystectomy
For a known duct stone — the endoscopist clears the duct, and the surgeon removes the gallbladder days to weeks later.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether surgery is needed at all — some polyps and asymptomatic stones can be watched.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of upper GI surgeons, we picked them.
Consultant upper GI and hepatobiliary surgeons across central, north, west and south London. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every surgeon in our network.
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Consultant upper GI or hepatobiliary surgeons — high-volume gallbladder practice
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Enhanced recovery pathway with same-day discharge as the norm
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On-table cholangiography or intraoperative ultrasound available when needed
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Direct access to an ERCP endoscopist for common bile duct stones
Safety and recovery
The risks worth knowing — honestly.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe, common day-case operation. The risks worth planning around are bile duct injury, bile leak and a retained duct stone — all uncommon, all better handled by a high-volume team.
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Bile duct injury
The most feared complication. Modern rates are around 0.3%. A high-volume surgeon and a critical view of safety at Calot’s triangle are the best protection.
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Bile leak from the cystic duct
A small percentage of cases — usually settles with a drain or a temporary ERCP stent. Pain and fever in the first week is the tell.
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Retained common bile duct stone
A stone left behind in the duct — dealt with by ERCP after surgery. Rarer if the ducts were imaged pre-op.
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Port-site hernia
A late bulge at one of the port sites, usually the umbilicus. Uncommon, and repaired if it happens.
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Post-cholecystectomy syndrome
Ongoing right-upper-quadrant pain or indigestion in a small minority. Investigated with MRCP and sometimes a Sphincter of Oddi study.
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Bile acid diarrhoea
Loose stools after fatty meals in some patients. Usually settles; if not, colestyramine helps most people.
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Wound infection and VTE
Standard operative risks. Antibiotics at induction and TED stockings plus low-molecular-weight heparin reduce both.
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Anaesthetic and cardiac risk
Assessed at pre-op — an ECG, bloods and honest history. A cardiology opinion is arranged first if needed.
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Red flags after discharge
Yellow eyes, dark urine, fever, severe pain, or vomiting bile are not normal — call the ward or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever technique was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and approach
Why the gallbladder was removed — symptomatic stones, cholecystitis, pancreatitis — and whether it was done laparoscopically or open.
- 02 Technique
Ports, dissection and cholangiogram
The number and position of ports, the critical view of safety achieved, and whether an on-table cholangiogram was performed.
- 03 Findings
Gallbladder, cystic duct and any spillage
Notes on inflammation, stone burden, any spillage of bile or stones, and the histology that will follow.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, return to work, red flags
Read this first: expected recovery, when to return to driving and work, and the exact reasons to call the ward.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for cholecystectomy is usually straightforward when medically indicated. We confirm cover with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about cholecystectomy.
Quick answers on keyhole vs open, ERCP timing, recovery, and life without a gallbladder.
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How soon can I have a private gallbladder removal in London?
Most patients are seen by a consultant upper‑GI surgeon within a week of enquiry and operated on inside two to four weeks — sooner if attacks are frequent or you’ve been admitted with pancreatitis or jaundice. It’s a day‑case keyhole procedure for the vast majority, with same‑evening discharge and a desk job doable inside two weeks.
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Laparoscopic or open — which will I have?
More than 95% of cholecystectomies in the UK are laparoscopic (keyhole). Open surgery is reserved for cases where keyhole is unsafe — usually dense scarring or unclear anatomy. Your surgeon may start keyhole and convert to open, and that is a good-judgement move, not a failure.
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Do I need an ERCP before surgery?
Only if there is a stone in the common bile duct. If your bloods, ultrasound or MRCP show a duct stone, the endoscopist usually clears it with ERCP first, and the gallbladder is removed days to weeks later. If the duct is clean, surgery is done on its own.
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How long does the operation take?
A straightforward laparoscopic cholecystectomy takes 45 to 90 minutes. Robotic or single-incision cases are a little longer. Very inflamed gallbladders can take longer still — the surgeon takes the time needed to stay safe.
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Is it really a day case?
Yes, for most patients. Enhanced recovery pathways, careful anaesthesia and local anaesthetic to the port sites mean the majority of patients go home the same evening. Some prefer or need one night in hospital, and that is arranged if needed.
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How much time off work will I need?
One to two weeks for a desk job, two to three for physical work. Driving is safe once you can perform an emergency stop without hesitation, usually at around two weeks.
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Can I live without a gallbladder?
Yes. The liver keeps making bile and it drips into the small intestine directly. Most people notice no difference. A minority develop looser stools after fatty meals — usually manageable, and treatable if persistent.
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What is post-cholecystectomy syndrome?
A small group of patients have ongoing right-upper-quadrant pain, indigestion or bile acid diarrhoea after surgery. Most causes are treatable — a retained duct stone, a bile leak, or a functional problem — and worth investigating rather than living with.
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How serious is a bile duct injury?
It is uncommon (around 0.3%) but serious. It is the single strongest reason to insist on a high-volume consultant surgeon who routinely achieves the critical view of safety at Calot’s triangle before dividing anything.
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When should I call the ward or A&E after surgery?
Yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, fever, severe or worsening pain, or vomiting bile are all reasons to seek same-day medical help — not to wait for the routine follow-up.
Related tests
Looking for something else?
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HIDA scan
Functional imaging of the gallbladder and biliary tree.
Learn more -
Gastroscopy
Camera test of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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Hypertension
Related condition guide.
Learn more -
Type 2 Diabetes
Related condition guide.
Learn more -
Blood Tests
Related diagnostic test.
Learn more -
Health Assessments Select
Related diagnostic test.
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In practice, in London
Booking cholecystectomy privately in London — what actually happens
For cholecystectomy, the private London route is mostly about consultant fit and hospital choice rather than raw waiting time. Public provision for cholecystectomy is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.
A typical private booking for cholecystectomy in London starts with a consultant conversation — sometimes in person on Harley Street or Marylebone, sometimes on video if that suits better. Any imaging or diagnostics happen at a nearby CQC-registered facility, and reports usually land within 24 to 72 hours. The whole loop, from first call to written report, is often done inside a fortnight. For cholecystectomy in particular, we bias towards consultants who do this every week rather than every month.
The value of going through a concierge for cholecystectomy isn’t access — anyone with an insurer or a credit card can get a private appointment in London. The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.