Should you follow a low-fat diet after having your gallbladder removed?

While there is typically no special diet prescribed after the surgical removal of the gallbladder, also known as a cholecystectomy, patients should limit fatty foods, advises Mayo Clinic. Small but frequent meals and an increase in dietary fiber are also recommended.

The gallbladder is the organ responsible for storing and concentrating the bile secreted by the liver, according to Education Portal. Bile emulsifies fats to make them easier for the enzymes in the pancreas to digest. Gallbladder removal means bile is no longer stored and concentrated and instead drains directly into the intestines. This new process can cause a laxative effect.