Top 6 Things to Consider When You’re Thinking About Weight Loss Surgery
Are you trying to decide if weight loss surgery is right for you? To make the decision, you need guidance from an excellent bariatric professional. We offer our insight here.
What Is Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery and When Might I Need to Have It?
If you have frequent gallstone attacks, nausea, or severe upper abdomen or back pain, you might need gallbladder surgery.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove the gallbladder. This small organ located beneath your liver stores bile, a digestive fluid that the liver produces and that helps break down fats.
While the gallbladder plays a role in digestion, it’s not essential for survival, meaning you can live a normal, healthy life without it.
At Eastside Bariatric & General Surgery in Snellville, Georgia, led by bariatric and general surgeon Dr. Aliu O. Sanni, you can rely on our expertise to know when it’s time to consider surgery. Here, we explain why it might be necessary and when.
When laparoscopic gallbladder surgery might be necessary
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is most commonly performed to treat gallstones, which are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in the gallbladder. Gallstones cause a range of symptoms, including:
Abdominal pain
Often felt in the upper right abdomen or center of your stomach, this pain can be sudden and severe, lasting from minutes to hours.
Nausea and vomiting
Gallstones can lead to digestive disturbances, including nausea, vomiting, and bloating, especially after eating fatty foods.
Jaundice
If a gallstone blocks one of the bile ducts, it can cause a buildup of bile in the liver, leading to jaundice — a yellowing of the skin and eyes.
In some cases, gallstones can lead to complications such as gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), or bile duct infections. These conditions often require immediate treatment and, in many cases, surgery to remove the gallbladder.
How laparoscopic gallbladder surgery works
Unlike traditional open surgery, which requires a large incision, laparoscopic surgery involves making 3-4 small incisions in the abdomen.
Through these incisions, Dr. Sanni inserts a laparoscope (a long, thin tube with a camera on the end) and surgical instruments. The camera projects images onto a monitor, giving him a clear view of the gallbladder and surrounding area.
Dr. Sanni then uses the instruments to detach the gallbladder from the liver and bile ducts. Once he frees your gallbladder, he removes it through one of the small incisions.
After the procedure, Dr. Sanni closes the incisions with sutures and/or surgical glue. You experience less pain and a quicker recovery than you would with open surgery.
Benefits of laparoscopic surgery
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery offers many benefits compared with traditional open surgery. Some of these benefits include:
Reduced pain
The smaller incisions result in less postoperative pain.
Faster recovery
Most patients can go home the same day or the next and return to normal activities within a week.
Lower risk of complications
The surgery's minimally invasive approach lowers the risk of infection and other complications.
Is laparoscopic gallbladder surgery right for you?
If you’re experiencing symptoms of gallstones or have been diagnosed with a related condition, we may recommend laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
Discuss your symptoms, medical history, and concerns with us so we can determine the best course of action for your situation. Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery has a high success rate, helping patients return to a pain-free, healthy life.
We’re here to answer your questions. Book an appointment today by calling 201-565-0876 or book online anytime, day or night.
You Might Also Enjoy...
4 Signs It's Time for a Hemorrhoidectomy
Are you having difficulty finding relief from painful hemorrhoids? If so, you might be a candidate for a hemorrhoidectomy, which can eliminate your discomfort. Here’s what you need to know.
Excess Weight Is Putting You at Risk of These 5 Serious Health Conditions
It is one thing to want to lose weight to feel better about your appearance, but the health benefits are even more important. Read on to learn which conditions you might be at risk for if you’re carrying excess weight.
If I Have Bariatric Surgery Will The Weight Stay Off This Time?
It’s exciting to think about the weight loss benefits that bariatric surgery offers, but what happens after you lose the weight? Will the scale creep back up? Here, we discuss how you can maintain your successful results.
Here's What to Expect During and After Your Heller Myotomy
A Heller myotomy can provide the relief you need if you suffer from achalasia, but you might not know what lies ahead. We’re here to prepare you so you can feel confident about what happens every step of the way.
How Often Should I Have a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy might be a procedure you’d rather dismiss. But you might need this simple procedure more than once in your lifetime. Regular screenings can even be lifesaving. Keep reading to learn more.