Cholecystectomy (“koh-luh-sis-TEK-tuh-mee”) is surgery to remove the gallbladder and gallstones. The gallbladder stores bile made by your liver. The bile helps you digest fats. Gallstones are made of cholesterol and other things found in bile.
Your body will work fine without a gallbladder. Bile will go straight from the liver to the intestine. There may be small changes in how you digest food. But you probably will not notice them.