A traditional open cholecystectomy is a major abdominal surgery in which the surgeon removes the gallbladder through a 5-10 cm incision. Patients usually remain in the hospital at least 2–3 days and may require several additional weeks to recover at home. This procedure will therefore leave a right-sided subcostal scar. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has now replaced open cholecystectomy as the first-choice of treatment for gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder unless there are contraindications to the laparoscopic approach. This is because open surgery leaves the patient more prone to infection. Sometimes, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy will be converted to an open cholecystectomy for technical reasons or safety.