The three puncture wounds require no stitches and may leave very slight blemishes. In the past, general surgery was the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones. Laparoscopic surgery is now possible in most patients. With general surgery there is a 3 to 6 inch incision in the right-upper abdomen and a 3 to 6 day hospital stay. There are instances in which this type of surgery is necessary.
Drugs are now available that dissolve cholesterol gallstones.
This treatment however, is not appropriate for every patient. For example, the gallbladder must be able to concentrate the medicine inside it. In addition, the stones should be free floating and not too large. Complete dissolving of gallstones can take from six months to two years with maintenance treatment sometimes being required afterward. Because of the speed and simplicity of laparoscopic surgery, this technique is by far the one most commonly used.