Unless it’s causing problems, most people pay little or no attention to their gallbladders or what this organ does for the body.

But if you experience pain from a diseased gallbladder or gallstones, it will quickly command your full attention.

Our New Jersey board-certified laparoscopic surgeons have performed more than 1,000 successful gallbladder removal operations since 2007.

Gallbladder removal is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures.

A small organ located in the right upper abdomen under the liver, it stores some of the bile produced by the liver, which digests and absorbs the fats in the food that we eat.

Gallstones sometimes form inside the gallbladder and block the outlet from while the bile is moved out, which can result in considerable pain. In some cases, the stones may move into the bile duct, causing jaundice or an inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

If you are suffering from stones in the gallbladder, you may experience intermittent pain in the right upper abdominal region. The pain typically starts after eating and may be cause nausea, vomiting or bloating. Fever may or may not be present.

People who have severe symptoms from gallstones (usually diagnosed on an ultrasound) frequently have their gallbladder removed through a minimally-invasive procedure called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Prime Surgicare Medical Director, board-certified laparoscopic, bariatric and general surgeon Dr. Seun Sowemimo, explains: