How can the gallbladder be removed without losing an essential part of the digestive system?

Question

I've heard that the gallbladder can be removed and, while some people can't eat foods high in fat afterwards without pain and/or vomiting, sometimes it doesn't effect the level of fat intake of a person. But how could a person eat any fat at all if the gallbladder is removed? Does the surgery involve rerouting bile from the liver or is there another substance that breaks down fatty substances?

Answer 1

What happens normally is that when we are fasting, the gall bladder fills up with bile which comes from the liver. It concentrates the bile by absorbing some of the water from it. When we eat, particularly a fatty meal, the gall bladder empties and releases the stored bile into the small intestine where it helps to digest the fats in the meal. When the gall bladder is removed, there is a continuous flow of bile into the small intestine instead of a large volume after a meal. This does not normally have much of an effect on digestion and in any case it would probably do you good if you don't completely digest the fat in your food.

Answer 2

The gall bladder doesn't create bile, it just stores and concentrates it. Bile is created in the liver, which you can't live without.

Answer 3

My best friend never really went into detail, but when she had hers removed, she made it seem as though they simply took it out.
Then she said,"I'm really sad because I can't take pills and drink, anymore."
Of course she was referring to drugs and alcohol.
She still takes pills. And drinks. And smokes pot.
She had the gallbladder taken out about five years ago.