I have gallstones but mild symptoms. Must the gallbladder come out?

Not necessarily. Silent stones found incidentally are usually left alone. Removal is clearly indicated for repeated biliary colic, inflammation, stones in the bile duct or pancreatitis. If your pain pattern is atypical, surgery may not relieve it.

Can a hernia be left alone?

A small, soft, painless one can often be monitored, particularly in older or higher-risk patients. Repair it if it hurts, enlarges, or affects what you can do. Seek emergency care if it becomes hard, tender and cannot be reduced.

Is surgery better than staying on reflux medication?

Surgery works well for selected patients whose reflux is objectively proven and who respond to medication but do not want it lifelong. It works poorly when the diagnosis is uncertain. Proper testing before the operation is the difference between a good and a disappointing result.

Laparoscopic, robotic or open — does it change my outcome?

Keyhole approaches usually mean less pain and a faster return to work. Long-term recurrence and complication rates depend far more on the surgeon's volume in that specific technique. Ask which they do most.

General & GI

The most commonly proposed operations, and the most commonly avoidable

Gallbladders, hernias and reflux surgery are everyday procedures — which is exactly why the threshold for doing them drifts. A reviewer tells you whether your symptoms genuinely come from the thing being removed.

Operations we review in this specialty

Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy)
Inguinal and ventral hernia repair
Anti-reflux and hiatus hernia surgery
Bariatric and metabolic surgery
Colorectal resection for benign disease

72h

median time our GI reviewers say you can safely take

Submit a general case

Meet your reviewers

Specialists reviewing general & gi cases

You can request a preferred reviewer when you submit — your coordinator confirms availability before the service-level clock starts.

Dr. N. Kapoor

MS Gen Surg, FMAS, FIBC

Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery 16 yrs in practice

Bariatric surgeon focused on sleeve gastrectomy and bypass outcomes, redo surgery and long-term metabolic follow-up.

View profile & request this reviewer

Watch first

What patients ask us most — answered by the panel

Short vertical answers from specialists who perform these operations. Read the written answer, or press play.

Panel answer
I have gallstones but mild symptoms. Must the gallbladder come out?
Video answer filming soon
Dr. M. Shah
Laparoscopic GI surgeon · 15 yrs · 4,000+ cases
Not necessarily. Silent stones found incidentally are usually left alone. Removal is clearly indicated for repeated biliary colic, inflammation, stones in the bile duct or pancreatitis. If your pain pattern is atypical, surgery may not relieve it.
Panel answer
Can a hernia be left alone?
Video answer filming soon
Dr. M. Shah
Laparoscopic GI surgeon · 15 yrs · 4,000+ cases
A small, soft, painless one can often be monitored, particularly in older or higher-risk patients. Repair it if it hurts, enlarges, or affects what you can do. Seek emergency care if it becomes hard, tender and cannot be reduced.
Panel answer
Is surgery better than staying on reflux medication?
Video answer filming soon
Dr. M. Shah
Laparoscopic GI surgeon · 15 yrs · 4,000+ cases
Surgery works well for selected patients whose reflux is objectively proven and who respond to medication but do not want it lifelong. It works poorly when the diagnosis is uncertain. Proper testing before the operation is the difference between a good and a disappointing result.
Panel answer
Laparoscopic, robotic or open — does it change my outcome?
Video answer filming soon
Dr. M. Shah
Laparoscopic GI surgeon · 15 yrs · 4,000+ cases
Keyhole approaches usually mean less pain and a faster return to work. Long-term recurrence and complication rates depend far more on the surgeon's volume in that specific technique. Ask which they do most.

The decisions a verdict actually settles

Do the stones explain the pain

Gallstones are common and often silent. Classic biliary colic responds beautifully to surgery; vague upper abdominal discomfort frequently does not.

Watchful waiting for hernias

A small, painless hernia in an older patient can reasonably be watched. A hernia that hurts, grows, or cannot be pushed back should be repaired.

Mesh, technique and the surgeon

Open vs laparoscopic vs robotic changes recovery more than long-term outcome. Recurrence rates track with the surgeon's experience in the chosen technique.

Is it safe to ask?

Yes — and here is why

Routine does not mean risk-free

Every operation carries anaesthetic and wound risk. For an operation that is optional, a written independent verdict is a proportionate check.

Get the diagnosis nailed first

Most disappointing outcomes in general surgery come from operating on the wrong cause of pain, not from poor surgery.

Your fee is held, not spent

Payment sits in escrow until a quality-checked verdict reaches you, and a service credit applies automatically if we miss the clock.

Do not wait for a review

Seek emergency care now if you have

Severe constant abdominal pain with fever
Yellowing of the eyes or skin
A hernia that is hard, tender and will not push back
Vomiting with no bowel movement

A second opinion is for planned decisions. It is never a substitute for urgent treatment.

Before you submit

Records your reviewer will want

Complete records are the difference between a 48-hour verdict and a week of chasing. Bring what you can — our coordinator tells you what is missing before the clock starts.

Ultrasound, CT or MRCP images and reports
Endoscopy or pH study results if performed
Description of your symptom pattern and triggers
Surgical consultation notes and the proposed plan
Blood work including liver function

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Get your verdict in 48 hours