Gallbladder removal surgery is a simple and an important surgery. This involves some potential problems and may not be the best solution in particular circumstances. In an open surgery, the surgeon removes the gallbladder through an incision 5 to 8 inches long. In a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon makes several small incisions, which are 1 inch long. The surgeon then inserts a thin tube into the incision with a camera (laparoscope) and removes the gallbladder with small surgical instruments, guided by images in the camera.