Gallstones After Bariatric Surgery
What you need to know about gallstones after bariatric surgery.
Gallstones are a common health issue worldwide. In the general population, 10–15% of people develop gallstones during their lifetime. After bariatric surgery, the risk of gallstones increases — around 35% of patients may develop gallstones due to rapid weight loss and changes in bile composition.
Understanding the risks, symptoms, and treatment options can help you stay safe and prevent complications.
Why Gallstones After Bariatric Surgery Form?
Rapid and significant weight loss — especially within the first 6–12 months after bariatric surgery — can disrupt the balance of bile salts and cholesterol in the gallbladder. This makes stone formation more likely.
Factors That Usually Increase the Risk of Gallstones
🔹 Ageing, especially in middle-aged women
🔹 Women after pregnancy
🔹 High cholesterol, elevated bilirubin, or low bile salts
🔹 Rapid weight loss after gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery
🔹 Family history of gallstone disease
🔹 High-fat diets or irregular eating patterns after surgery
👉 Ultrasound Check After Bariatric Surgery
To monitor your gallbladder health, we recommend a routine abdominal ultrasound 6–8 months after your bariatric surgery.
If gallstones after bariatric surgery are found — especially if they cause symptoms — it is better not to delay treatment, as stones can move into the bile ducts and cause:
- inflammation (cholecystitis)
- bile duct obstruction
- infection
- pancreatitis
Timely treatment helps prevent these complications.
👉 Common Symptoms of Gallstone Disease
If you notice any of the following symptoms, please contact your doctor:
♦️ Sudden, intense pain in the upper abdomen
♦️ Pain radiating to the back or between the shoulder blades
♦️ Right shoulder pain
♦️ Nausea or vomiting
♦️ Fever
♦️ Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
These signs may indicate inflammation or blockage, which requires medical attention.
👉 How Gallstones Are Treated
- The only effective treatment for gallstones is surgery — laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder).
- This is a minimally invasive keyhole procedure and is considered safe, fast, and highly effective, even for bariatric patients.
👉 Life After Gallbladder Removal
- Life remains completely normal. Your liver continues producing bile to digest food — the only change is that bile flows directly into the digestive system instead of being stored in the gallbladder.
- Most patients return to normal eating patterns within a few weeks.
Gallbladder Surgery in Latvia
At Weight Loss Latvia, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed by General and Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Olegs Kozlovskis at Sigulda Hospital, an EU-certified general hospital known for high-quality care and modern surgical techniques.
If you suspect gallstone disease or need treatment, we are here to help.
📩 info@weightlosslatvia.com
📞 Ilva Urbanovica: +371 29148884
p.s. about Gallstone disease by NHS
