Do I need my gallbladder?

The gallbladder is not an essential organ. As seen in the images, the gallbladder ‘hangs’ off the side of the bile duct which passes all the way from the liver to the bowel. The gallbladder is like a reservoir to store bile, a bit like a dam is a reservoir to a town water supply. When you eat foods containing fats/oils a signal is sent to the gallbladder to contract and so eject more bile to flow to the bowel to help digest the fats and oils in food. When you are not eating bile refills your gallbladder with only a trickle of bile passing down the bile duct to your bowel.

Removing your gallbladder means bile only flows down from your liver to the bowel down the bile duct. This still allows bile to act as it does, to help break down oils and fats in food. Most people notice no difference in their digestion or bowel habits. Sometimes people experience short term effects but almost all resolve so it is expected you will lead a completely normal life after this gallbladder surgery.