“How many days is recovery after gallstone surgery?”

I usually tell my patients that by the 7-10day follow up you will be 90% back to normal. Normal means doing most of your activities of daily living and home chores and things like that. If your normal activity is being a construction worker, it could take longer. To be safe I recommend 2 weeks off as a standard work leave request. However my work-from-home types, software engineers, call center employees that sit and talk, they can go back to work sooner. I think it's a motivation factor too. I've had some patients that really hate missing work log back in for zoom meetings as early as 3 days after surgery. I've had others get the smoothest surgery for gallbladder without stones, tiny incisions, take the full two weeks "just because." My teachers, nurses, real estate agents who have to walk and sit and stand a lot, maybe push a patient or lift supplies, they usually need the full two weeks. Sometimes they go back to work sooner but with lighter duty obligations for a short period. Finally, my construction workers and bestbuy tv delivery people or roofing contractors, they may need the full two weeks or even longer like 3 weeks to make sure their movements aren't affected by the residual incision site pain. Keep in mind, some gallbladders with large stones require a pretty big incision and many deep stitches after removal. In that setting it may make sense to take a longer break. Also standard gallbladder surgery is laparoscopic or robotic and that's what I'm referring to. If you have a gallbladder emergency and get a big incision you'll definitely need longer to recover; like 4 weeks for a traditional "open" incision, but that's less than 1% of cases these days. There's so many variables here. However, my standard for 90% of patients these days is: 1. Take two weeks off, and can go back sooner after follow up if you're ready. 2. up and walking 3 hours after surgery and resume normal home activity (but heavy laundry lifting/yard work type activity) as soon as possible 3. Pain controlled usually without any narcotics. 4. Follow up in a week to ten days, and go from there. Hope this helps!

Typically for a routine uncomplicated outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy (a gallbladder day surgery), you should expect to be back to a non-physical job in about 1 week. Wesley Marquart, MD, DABS

Routine gallstone surgery is outpatient and laparoscopic. Uncomplicated surgery recovery is a breeze. Up and about after 2 weeks and can be back to work or normal activities as before surgery. Pain level is 5 in the scale of 1-10 and will not require narcotics after at least 3 days.

The standard of care for gallstones is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. For an uncomplicated cholecystectomy is a one day hospital stay for pain control then no lifting >10 lbs for at least 2 weeks. Full recovery is usually after 4-6 weeks in an otherwise healthy patient.

The recovery is very specific to each individual and the reason the surgery was performed. In general, I tell most patients that with a multimodal pain management plan you will experience expected post-operative pain that is controlled with medications and will gradually improve to only mild discomfort with certain movements of the course of 1-2 weeks. I keep my patients with weight lifting restrictions of no more than 20lbs for 2 weeks after surgery.

his is a general answer and may not directly apply to your. It is important to consult with your surgeon regarding your specific situation.

The body takes a minimum of 6-12 weeks to heal.