Gallbladder Surgeon in Brisbane
Minimally-invasive keyhole gallbladder removal (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) by Dr Goutham Sivasuthan — for gallstones, cholecystitis and biliary pain across Brisbane, Redland, Moreton Bay and Logan.
Gallbladder assessment and keyhole surgery in Brisbane
Gallbladder surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is keyhole removal of the gallbladder, and it is the definitive treatment for symptomatic gallstones and gallbladder disease. Most patients go home the same day and return to work within 7–10 days.
When you need gallbladder surgery, you want a surgeon who performs this operation routinely, uses minimally-invasive technique so you recover in days rather than weeks, and treats you as a person — not a case. Dr Goutham Sivasuthan is an Australian-trained General Surgeon performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy at St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, Sunnybank Private and Mater Private Redland.
You will see Dr Goutham personally at every consultation and have direct access to him before and after surgery — not a registrar, not a triage line. From your first appointment through to recovery, the focus is on clear explanations, a plan built around your life, and the highest standards of surgical care.
What are gallstones — and who gets them?
Gallstones are small, hard deposits that form in the gallbladder — a pear-shaped organ tucked under the liver that stores and concentrates bile for digestion.
They form when bile becomes chemically unbalanced, with too much cholesterol or too much bile pigment (bilirubin). Most stones in Australia are cholesterol stones; less commonly they are pigment stones. They range from a grain of sand to several centimetres across, and you may have a single large stone or dozens of small ones.
Gallstones are common — affecting roughly one in six Australian adults — and many never cause any trouble. These “silent” gallstones are often found by chance on a scan done for another reason, and frequently need no treatment at all.
Who is more likely to develop gallstones? The risk rises with:
- Being female, and hormonal factors such as pregnancy or the contraceptive pill
- Increasing age (more common from your 40s onward)
- A family history of gallstones
- Being overweight, or losing weight very rapidly
- Diabetes and some blood disorders
Having risk factors does not mean you will develop symptoms — but it does make stones more likely to form.
Gallbladder conditions we treat
The gallbladder is a small organ that stores bile; when it forms stones or stops working properly, the result can be severe pain and serious complications. Dr Goutham diagnoses and treats the full range of gallbladder disease.
Gallstones (cholelithiasis)
Hardened deposits causing biliary colic, nausea, bloating and indigestion, and jaundice if a stone blocks a duct. Around 80% are cholesterol stones.
Cholecystitis
Acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder — persistent right-upper pain, fever and digestive upset after fatty meals.
Biliary dyskinesia
Poor gallbladder emptying that mimics stones, diagnosed on a HIDA scan. Learn more →
Gallstone pancreatitis
A stone blocking the pancreatic duct can trigger life-threatening pancreatitis needing urgent treatment.
Types of gallstones
- Cholesterol stones — the most common (~80%), formed from excess cholesterol or poor emptying.
- Pigment stones — dark stones made of bilirubin, linked to biliary infection and blood disorders.
- Mixed stones — a combination of cholesterol, calcium salts and pigment.
Who is at risk?
- Gender & age — women aged 20–60 are at higher risk due to hormonal influences.
- Weight — obesity and rapid weight loss both raise risk.
- Hormonal factors — pregnancy, the contraceptive pill and HRT.
- Other — diabetes, high triglycerides and a high-fat, low-fibre diet.
Do you need gallbladder surgery? Key symptoms
If you experience these signs, an assessment is worthwhile — untreated gallstones can lead to infection, abscess or emergency complications.
- Intense pain in the upper-right abdomen, often radiating to the back or right shoulder
- Pain after fatty meals, frequently in the evening
- Nausea, vomiting or persistent bloating and indigestion
- Dark urine or pale stools
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Fever and chills, which can indicate infection
Seek urgent care if severe pain is accompanied by fever, vomiting or jaundice — these can signal cholecystitis, cholangitis or pancreatitis.
Gallstone warning signs that need urgent care
Most gallstone pain settles within a few hours, but certain symptoms signal a complication that needs urgent medical assessment.
The classic symptom is biliary colic: a steady, gripping pain in the upper-right abdomen or just below the breastbone, often coming on after a fatty meal and sometimes spreading to the right shoulder blade. It typically builds over minutes, lasts from 30 minutes to a few hours, then eases.
Seek urgent care — or go to your nearest emergency department — if pain comes with any of these:
- Fever or chills with abdominal pain — a possible sign of an inflamed or infected gallbladder (cholecystitis) or a bile-duct infection (cholangitis)
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine or pale stools — which can mean a stone is blocking the bile duct
- Severe pain lasting more than a few hours, or pain with persistent vomiting
These features can point to cholecystitis, a blocked bile duct, or gallstone pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) — all of which need prompt treatment.
How gallstones are diagnosed
- Ultrasound — the first-line, non-invasive gold standard, detecting around 95% of gallstones.
- HIDA scan — measures gallbladder function (ejection fraction) when stones are not seen but symptoms persist.
- CT scan — assesses complications such as inflammation or duct obstruction.
- MRCP — detailed MRI mapping of the bile ducts before surgery.
- Blood tests — detect infection, liver dysfunction or inflammation.
When do gallstones need treatment — and when is watchful waiting reasonable?
Gallstones that cause symptoms or complications are usually best treated by removing the gallbladder, while silent stones found by chance can often simply be monitored.
When watchful waiting is reasonable. If gallstones are not causing symptoms and are discovered incidentally, surgery is generally not recommended. The chance of these “silent” stones ever causing problems is low, and that small risk is weighed against the risks of an operation. Your GP or surgeon may simply keep an eye on things.
When surgery is advised. Once gallstones cause biliary colic or a complication — such as cholecystitis, a blocked bile duct, or gallstone pancreatitis — removing the gallbladder (a laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is the definitive treatment, because symptoms and complications tend to return once they begin.
Some people are advised to consider gallbladder removal even with few symptoms — for example with very large stones, a calcified (“porcelain”) gallbladder, or particular risk factors. Dr Goutham will talk through your individual situation and what the evidence supports for you.
Treatment options for gallstones
Surgery to remove the gallbladder is the only permanent cure for symptomatic gallstones — and because you can live perfectly well without a gallbladder, removal is safe and well tolerated.
Non-surgical management
- A low-fat diet to reduce gallbladder contractions
- More fibre to support digestion
- Avoiding rapid weight loss
"While medications can dissolve some stones, around 70% of patients form new stones within five years," explains Dr Goutham. "Laparoscopic removal provides a permanent solution."
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gold standard)
- Four tiny incisions (5–10mm) instead of one 15cm cut
- Around 90% less post-operative pain than open surgery
- Return to work in 7–10 days, versus around six weeks for open surgery
The procedure, step by step: general anaesthesia delivered by specialist anaesthetists; carbon-dioxide gas gently inflates the abdomen for a clear view; a laparoscope (camera) and fine instruments are inserted; the gallbladder is carefully separated from the liver and bile ducts; it is removed through the umbilical incision; and the incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches. Occasionally, for safety, an operation must be converted to open surgery — this is uncommon and always in your best interest.
Risks and complications
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed and safest abdominal operations, but as with any surgery there are risks, which Dr Goutham will discuss fully with you. These can include bleeding or infection, a reaction to anaesthesia, injury to the bile duct or nearby structures (rare), bile leak, retained stones in the bile duct, and conversion to open surgery. Taking a careful history, optimising your health before surgery and operating with meticulous technique all keep these risks low.
Your Brisbane gallbladder surgery journey
Diagnosis & plan
- Ultrasound first-line
- HIDA scan for function
- MRCP to map ducts
- Clear plan agreed together
Day of surgery
- Admission 1–2h pre-op
- IV antibiotics
- 45–90 min keyhole surgery
- 1–2h recovery monitoring
Going home
- Usually discharged same day
- Simple oral pain relief
- Written aftercare instructions
- Follow-up review arranged
Recovery and life after gallbladder removal
Recovery from keyhole gallbladder surgery is usually quick. Walk gently each day to prevent clots, eat a light low-fat diet for the first week or two, and rely on paracetamol and ibuprofen for comfort. Avoid heavy lifting (over 5kg) for about two weeks, and most people return to work in 7–10 days.
Living without a gallbladder: your liver continues to make bile, which flows directly into the intestine, so there are usually no long-term dietary restrictions. About one in five people notice softer or more frequent stools for a few weeks — easily managed by increasing fibre and reducing very fatty meals. These changes almost always settle as the body adapts.
Experience and continuity you can trust
- ✓Laparoscopic (keyhole) cholecystectomy — minimally invasive, less pain, quicker recovery.
- ✓Experienced surgeon — advanced training in laparoscopic technique.
- ✓Personalised care — a plan tailored to your condition and health.
- ✓Fast diagnosis — efficient imaging and blood tests.
- ✓Direct surgeon access — before and after surgery, every time.
- ✓Care close to home — across Brisbane, Redland, Moreton Bay and Logan.
Gallbladder surgery FAQs
Can I live a normal life without a gallbladder?+
Yes. The gallbladder only stores bile — your liver keeps producing it and it flows straight into the intestine. Most people eat normally afterwards, though some notice mild digestive changes for four to six weeks.
Is laparoscopic gallbladder surgery painful?+
Most patients have only mild discomfort managed with simple pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Keyhole technique causes around 90% less pain than traditional open surgery.
How long is recovery after keyhole gallbladder surgery?+
Most people go home the same day, return to light activity within a few days and are back at work in 7–10 days. Avoid heavy lifting for about two weeks.
What happens if I do not have my gallstones treated?+
Untreated symptomatic gallstones can lead to repeated attacks, gallbladder infection (cholecystitis), blocked bile ducts, jaundice or pancreatitis — some of which are medical emergencies.
Are there non-surgical alternatives?+
For selected high-risk patients, options such as a drainage tube (percutaneous cholecystostomy) or ERCP with stent placement may be considered, but surgery is the only permanent cure for most people.
What foods trigger gallstone attacks?+
Fried foods, full-fat dairy, processed meats and egg yolks are common triggers. A lower-fat, higher-fibre diet can reduce symptoms while you await treatment.
Will I need to stay overnight in hospital?+
Most laparoscopic cholecystectomies are day procedures, so you go home the same day. Some patients with more complex disease may stay one night for observation.
Can gallstones come back after surgery?+
Once the gallbladder is removed, you cannot form gallbladder stones again. Rarely, stones can form in the bile duct, which is why your ducts are carefully assessed before and during surgery.
How soon can I drive and exercise?+
Most patients drive within a few days once they can move comfortably and are off strong pain relief, and resume gentle exercise within two weeks, building up gradually.
What causes gallstones?+
Gallstones form when bile becomes chemically unbalanced — usually too much cholesterol, sometimes too much bile pigment. You are more likely to develop them if you are female, over 40, overweight, lose weight rapidly, are pregnant, or have a family history of gallstones.
Do gallstones always need surgery?+
No. Silent gallstones that cause no symptoms are often simply monitored and may never need treatment. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually recommended once stones cause pain (biliary colic) or a complication, because symptoms tend to recur once they start.
Can gallstones cause serious complications?+
Yes. Gallstones can lead to an inflamed or infected gallbladder (cholecystitis), a blocked bile duct with jaundice, a bile-duct infection (cholangitis), or gallstone pancreatitis. Warning signs include fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and severe lasting pain — these need urgent medical care.
Caring for South-East Queensland
Dr Goutham consults and operates across Brisbane, Redland, Moreton Bay and Logan — care close to home, wherever you are in South-East Queensland.
Trusted resources
Last medically reviewed by Dr Goutham Sivasuthan, specialist surgeon — June 2026.
Schedule a gallbladder consultation
If you have been referred for gallstones or gallbladder symptoms, book a consultation with Dr Goutham to discuss your diagnosis and whether surgery is appropriate. After consultation, the rooms can explain the next steps and provide a written quote. All costs are confirmed in writing before any procedure.