Quick answer. Gallstones are common hardened deposits (mostly cholesterol) that form in the gallbladder, the small organ that stores bile. Many cause no symptoms at all (silent gallstones, often found incidentally) and need no treatment, but symptomatic stones trigger biliary colic – episodes of severe upper-right abdominal pain, often after fatty meals, with nausea and pain spreading to the back or right shoulder. Gallstones are diagnosed mainly by ultrasound, and the standard treatment for symptomatic stones is keyhole removal of the gallbladder (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), which is MediSave-claimable and lets you live normally without a gallbladder. Fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) or severe persistent pain signal serious complications and need urgent medical care.
Gallstones are one of the most common digestive problems in Singapore, and many people carry them for years without ever knowing. This guide explains what gallstones are, who is at risk, the warning signs that need attention, how they are diagnosed, and what gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) involves – including typical costs and MediSave coverage in Singapore’s public and private hospitals.
At a glance
| Aspect | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | Hardened deposits (mostly cholesterol) in the gallbladder | The gallbladder stores bile; very common |
| Common symptom | Biliary colic – severe upper-right abdominal pain after fatty meals, with nausea | May spread to back or right shoulder |
| Silent stones | Often found incidentally; usually no treatment | Monitored rather than operated on |
| Main diagnostic test | Abdominal ultrasound; blood tests | CT or MRI/MRCP in selected cases |
| Standard treatment | Laparoscopic (keyhole) cholecystectomy – removal of the gallbladder | MediSave-claimable; live normally afterwards |
| Emergency signs | Fever, jaundice, or severe persistent pain | Cholecystitis, cholangitis or pancreatitis – seek urgent care |
What are gallstones?
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that sits under the liver and stores bile – a fluid that helps digest fat. Gallstones form when the bile becomes chemically unbalanced and substances within it (most commonly cholesterol, sometimes bilirubin) harden into stone-like deposits. They can range from grains the size of sand to stones several centimetres across.
Gallstones are very common, and importantly, most cause no symptoms at all. These so-called silent gallstones are often discovered by chance during an ultrasound or scan done for another reason. Because the risk of surgery generally outweighs the small chance of trouble, silent stones usually need no treatment and are simply monitored.
Who is at risk? (the "4 Fs")
Doctors often summarise the classic risk factors loosely as the “4 Fs”:
- Female – women are about twice as likely to develop gallstones, partly because oestrogen (including from pregnancy, the contraceptive pill or hormone therapy) raises cholesterol in bile.
- Fat / overweight – obesity changes bile composition and how the gallbladder empties.
- Forty – risk rises with age, particularly from middle age onwards.
- Fertile – pregnancy and its hormonal changes increase risk.
Other contributors include rapid weight loss (for example after crash dieting or bariatric surgery), diabetes, a family history of gallstones, and a high-cholesterol or high-fat diet.
Symptoms and warning signs
When gallstones do cause trouble, the typical symptom is biliary colic: episodes of severe pain in the upper-right abdomen, often coming on after a fatty meal. The pain may spread to the back or right shoulder blade and is frequently accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Attacks can last from minutes to a few hours and then settle.
Seek urgent medical care if a stone blocks a bile duct or triggers infection. Warning signs of serious complications include:
- Fever and chills with abdominal pain (suggesting cholecystitis – an inflamed, infected gallbladder, or cholangitis – bile-duct infection).
- Jaundice – yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, often with dark urine – suggesting a blocked bile duct.
- Severe, persistent upper-abdominal pain, which can signal gallstone pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
These are medical emergencies – go to a hospital emergency department promptly.
How gallstones are diagnosed
The main test is an abdominal ultrasound – a quick, painless scan that reliably detects stones in the gallbladder. Blood tests are often done to check liver function and look for signs of a blocked bile duct, infection or pancreatitis. In selected cases, doctors may use a CT scan or MRI/MRCP to assess the bile ducts in more detail.
Treatment: gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy)
For symptomatic gallstones, the standard and definitive treatment is surgical removal of the whole gallbladder – a cholecystectomy. Removing the stones alone is not done, because new stones would simply form again. Most operations are performed as laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery under general anaesthesia, through a few small incisions. It is a very common, safe procedure with low complication rates, and many patients go home the same day or after a short stay and return to work within about a week.
You can live normally without a gallbladder – bile simply flows directly from the liver into the intestine. Some people notice temporary bloating or looser, more frequent stools that usually settle within a couple of months. Medication to dissolve stones is rarely used and works only in limited cases. Asymptomatic (silent) stones are generally just monitored rather than operated on.
Cost and MediSave in Singapore
Cholecystectomy is a MediSave-claimable day-surgery or inpatient procedure in Singapore, and is subsidised in public (restructured) hospitals for eligible Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. Under MOH fee benchmarks for gallbladder cholecystectomy (procedure code SF801G):
- Public hospital, subsidised day surgery: typical bill around S$2,000 (roughly S$1,500-S$3,100).
- Public hospital, unsubsidised: typically around S$7,500-S$8,000.
- Private sector: MOH benchmarks suggest a surgeon fee of about S$6,500-S$9,200, plus hospital and anaesthetist fees.
MediSave and MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan can offset much of the bill; the exact amount depends on ward class, hospital and case complexity. Final figures should be confirmed with the hospital’s billing or financial counselling service.
Related guides
- Best Gastroenterology Clinics in Singapore — our editorial shortlist
- gastroenterology clinics directory
- Haemorrhoids (piles)
- Constipation
- Gastroenteritis & food poisoning
Sources
- SingHealth – Gallstones: Conditions & Treatments
- SingHealth – Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
- MOH – Fee Benchmarks & Bill Information: SF801G Gallbladder Cholecystectomy
- HealthXchange (SingHealth) – Are You at Risk for Gallbladder Disease?
- NUH – Bill Estimator: Gallbladder Cholecystectomy (SF801G)
See also
Related conditions & guides
Related conditions and guides you may find useful:
- Acid Reflux & GERD in Singapore
- Fatty Liver Disease in Singapore
- Gastroscopy & Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Screening in Singapore
- H. Pylori, Gastritis & Stomach Ulcers in Singapore
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