Laparoscopic cholecystectomy after-care: Day Surgery Unit

About the procedure

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy means gall bladder removal via keyhole surgery.

We perform a gall bladder removal through three or four small incisions (cuts). We make these cuts just below your umbilicus (tummy button), below your breastbone, on the right of your abdomen (tummy).

We remove the gall bladder through your umbilicus and close the wound with dissolvable stitches.

Recovery at home

Do the following when you get home.

• Go to bed and rest as soon as you get home. For the first night, only get up to go to the bathroom when you need to.
• The morning after your operation, we advise you to be as mobile as feels comfortable. This will help you to avoid complications such as blood clots and constipation.
• Drink plenty of fluids and eat normally.
• We may prescribe painkillers for you to take home, or you can buy them over-the-counter (for example paracetamol or ibuprofen).

You may feel tired for up to 10 days.

Care of wound protection

Traditional dressings

If we use traditional dressings on your wound, they will not be waterproof. 

• Keep the wound clean and dry for up to 48 hours.  This will help with recovery.
• If you shower, we advise you to cover the dressings carefully, to keep them dry.
• You can remove the dressings after 5 to 10 days.

Skin glue

Follow this advice if we have used a type of skin glue on top of your wound, instead of a dressing.

• After 24 hours, you can shower and gently pat the wound dry.
• Do not pick at the glue.  It will gently flake off after 10 to 14 days.

Everyday activities

• You can resume your normal everyday activities when you feel comfortable to do so. For most patients, if the activity does not hurt, it will not do any damage.
• If an activity does hurt, we advise you to stop and try again after a day or two.
• You can drive when you feel up to it, but be aware that it takes some people up to 10 days to feel ready. Check your insurance policy before you start driving after the procedure.

Follow-up

• Most patients do not need a follow-up appointment after this procedure.
• Your stitches will dissolve after 14 days.
• Make an appointment with your GP if you want them to check the recovery of your wound.