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Sugar Land Gallbladder Care
Gallbladder Surgeon in Sugar Land, TX
Dr. Murtaza Shakir: Gallbladder Evaluation and Laparoscopic or Robotic Gallbladder Removal for Fort Bend County
If you live in Sugar Land or elsewhere in Fort Bend County and have gallstones on an ultrasound, attacks of pain under the right ribs after eating, or a recent ER visit for your gallbladder, you can be evaluated by a board-certified surgeon at our Sugar Land office. The visit answers two questions: is your gallbladder causing the symptoms, and does it need to come out?
Dr. Murtaza Shakir, board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology, sees gallbladder patients at 17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320. He performs laparoscopic and robotic gallbladder removal at hospitals and surgical centers in Fort Bend County and southwest Houston. This page covers care through the Sugar Land office; the full medical background is on our main gallbladder surgery page.
Meet the Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir, MD, general surgeon and gallbladder specialist in Sugar Land, TX
- Dual board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
- Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery, 2026 (see listing)
- Highly reviewed: rated 4.9 stars on Google
- Specialized in laparoscopic and robotic gallbladder removal, follow-up after ER visits for gallbladder pain, and coordinated care with gastroenterologists for bile duct stones
Patient Reviews
Patient Experiences With Dr. Shakir
Rated 4.9 stars on Google. Real experiences from patients treated in Katy and Sugar Land.
Jump to a section
- At a glance
- Gallstones found on ultrasound
- After an ER visit
- When gallstones are removed
- Meet your surgeon
- Referred for gallbladder surgery?
- Conditions treated
- Your consultation
- Laparoscopic and robotic surgery
- Preparation and recovery
- Visiting the Sugar Land office
- Communities we serve
- Insurance and new patients
- Patient reviews
- Why choose us
- Insurance
- Locations
- FAQs
- Schedule a consultation
At a Glance
Sugar Land Gallbladder Care at a Glance
- Office
- 17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320, Sugar Land, TX 77479. Find the Sugar Land office on Google Maps.
- Hours and phone
- Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call 713-955-9191.
- Your surgeon
- Dr. Murtaza Shakir, MD, board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology.
- Conditions treated
- Symptomatic gallstones, gallbladder attacks, acute and chronic cholecystitis, bile duct stones, gallstone pancreatitis, biliary dyskinesia and gallbladder polyps.
- Surgery options
- Laparoscopic removal for most patients, robotic removal in selected cases, and open surgery only when a minimally invasive approach is not safe.
- Visits in Sugar Land
- Consultation, imaging review, pre-operative visit and follow-up. Surgery is done at hospitals and surgical centers in Fort Bend County and southwest Houston.
- Communities served
- Sugar Land, Stafford, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg and the rest of Fort Bend County.
- Go to the ER for
- Pain lasting several hours, fever or chills, yellow skin or eyes, or vomiting that will not stop. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Imaging Results
Gallstones Found on Ultrasound? What It Means
Gallstones on an ultrasound matter when they explain your symptoms. Stones that match pain after meals, nausea or repeated attacks usually lead to a recommendation to remove the gallbladder. Stones seen on a scan done for another reason, in someone who feels well, usually only need watching.
Ultrasound is the usual first test because it shows stones clearly and checks the gallbladder wall for inflammation. The report may also mention sludge (thickened bile), a thick gallbladder wall, fluid around the gallbladder or a widened bile duct. At the Sugar Land office, Dr. Shakir reads your report with you and explains what it means in plain language. For background, see gallstones: symptoms and treatment.
Symptoms That Point to the Gallbladder
- Steady pain under the right ribs or high in the middle of the abdomen
- Pain that often follows a meal, especially a large or fatty one
- Pain that spreads to the back or the right shoulder blade
- Nausea or vomiting during an episode
- Episodes that last from about 30 minutes to several hours
- Months of “indigestion” or “reflux” that never fully settled with treatment
Read what a gallbladder attack typically feels like and the early warning signs of gallbladder disease.
ER Follow-Up
Had an ER Visit for Gallbladder Pain?
If an emergency room diagnosed a gallbladder attack or gallstones and sent you home, book a surgical follow-up rather than waiting for the next attack. Attacks tend to return, and a later one can bring complications such as cholecystitis, a blocked bile duct or pancreatitis. Many Fort Bend County patients, from Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford, Richmond and Rosenberg, first meet Dr. Shakir this way.
When you call 713-955-9191, mention the ER visit and your diagnosis, especially cholecystitis or pancreatitis. Bring your discharge papers, blood tests and imaging report. Read what happens after the ER finds gallstones.
Go Back to the ER for These Signs
A gallstone can block a bile duct and cause serious infection. Get emergency care for severe upper belly pain or pain lasting several hours, fever or chills, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or vomiting that will not stop. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Timing of Surgery
When Should Gallstones Be Removed?
Gallstones are usually removed once they cause symptoms or complications; stones that have never caused symptoms generally stay where they are. In practice, treating troublesome gallstones means removing the gallbladder, because the gallbladder is where the stones form. People live and digest food normally without it.
The timing depends on what the stones have already done:
If Your Stones Cause No Symptoms
Watching is usually the right plan for silent gallstones; learn the signs of an attack and call if they start. Dissolving medicines work only for some small cholesterol stones, take months to years, and stones may return, so they are generally kept for people who cannot have surgery. Read more: do gallstones always need surgery?
After Repeated Attacks
Planned (elective) removal after a consultation is typical. Surgery can be scheduled around work and family, though long delays leave room for another attack.
With Cholecystitis
An inflamed gallbladder usually needs hospital care, and it is often removed during that stay or soon afterward. Learn the symptoms of acute cholecystitis.
After Pancreatitis or a Duct Stone
Once gallstone pancreatitis settles or a duct stone is cleared, the gallbladder is usually removed during the same hospital stay or shortly after, to lower the chance of another episode.
Your Surgeon
Meet Your Sugar Land Gallbladder Surgeon
Murtaza Shakir, MD
Board-Certified General Surgeon & Surgical Oncologist
Gallbladder care at our Sugar Land office is led by Dr. Murtaza Shakir, who is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology.
Board certification
American Board of Surgery: General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
Medical degree
Aga Khan University
Residency
General Surgery, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Fellowship
Two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Surgical practice includes
Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery (2026). Learn more about our general surgery services.
Referrals Welcome
Referred for Gallbladder Surgery in Fort Bend County?
A referral usually means another doctor thinks your gallbladder may need to come out, and the next step is a surgical consultation. Patients reach the Sugar Land office by several routes, and each comes with records worth bringing to the first visit.
From Your Gastroenterologist
A gastroenterologist may find gallstones while investigating upper abdominal pain, or clear a bile duct stone with ERCP (an endoscopic procedure) and then refer you for gallbladder removal. Dr. Shakir coordinates with your gastroenterologist so tests are not repeated without need and the timing of surgery fits the duct treatment. Lydia, whose review appears on this page, was referred by her gastroenterologist for gallbladder removal.
From Your Primary Care Doctor
Your primary care doctor may have ordered an ultrasound and liver blood tests after weeks of pain blamed on indigestion. Bring those results. Because gallbladder pain and reflux can feel alike, compare gallbladder problems and acid reflux.
Calling on Your Own or for a Second Opinion
Many patients call on their own after repeated attacks, and new patients are welcome with or without a referral, though some plans, such as many HMO plans, require one. If another surgeon has already recommended removal, a second-opinion visit is welcome; bring your imaging, blood tests and visit notes.
Conditions Treated
Gallbladder Problems Treated at the Sugar Land Office
Dr. Shakir evaluates and treats the common gallbladder and bile duct problems at the Sugar Land office. Each has a fuller explanation on its own page or on the main gallbladder surgery page.
Symptomatic Gallstones
Stones that cause pain, nausea or attacks after meals. Once symptoms are established, removing the gallbladder is the usual treatment. See gallstones symptoms and treatment.
Gallbladder Attacks
Steady upper abdominal pain, often spreading to the back, that lasts from about 30 minutes to several hours and then eases. Also called biliary colic. Read what an attack feels like.
Acute and Chronic Cholecystitis
Acute cholecystitis is sudden inflammation, usually from a stone blocking the gallbladder outlet, with constant pain and often fever. Chronic cholecystitis follows repeated attacks that scar the gallbladder. Both are usually treated by removing it.
Bile Duct Stones and Gallstone Pancreatitis
A stone that slips into the common bile duct can cause jaundice, infection or pancreatitis. These are managed with gastroenterology, often with ERCP to clear the duct, followed by gallbladder removal when the acute problem has settled.
Biliary Dyskinesia
Typical gallbladder pain with no stones on ultrasound may come from a gallbladder that empties poorly. A HIDA scan measures how well it empties. Read about biliary dyskinesia.
Gallbladder Polyps
Small growths on the gallbladder lining, usually found by chance on ultrasound. Most are benign. Depending on size, growth and other findings, a polyp is either checked with repeat ultrasound or treated by removing the gallbladder.
Comparing surgical techniques? See laparoscopic gallbladder surgery in Sugar Land, robotic gallbladder surgery and our guide to robotic vs. laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
What to Expect
What Does a Gallbladder Consultation in Sugar Land Cover?
A gallbladder consultation confirms whether your gallbladder is the source of the pain, checks for complications and ends with a clear plan. Most patients already have an ultrasound, so the visit begins with your history, an abdominal exam and a review of your results. The consultation covers:
- Review of your ultrasound, CT, HIDA or MRCP results
- Blood tests for liver enzymes, bilirubin and lipase, if not already done
- Whether your pain pattern matches gallbladder disease
- Checking for bile duct stones, cholecystitis or pancreatitis
- Observation versus gallbladder removal, and how soon
- Laparoscopic or robotic surgery, with the reasons for the choice
- Where surgery would take place and whether you can expect to go home the same day
- A recovery and diet plan that fits your work and routine
- Insurance verification and scheduling
Tests That Are Sometimes Added
Not every patient needs more tests. A HIDA scan may be ordered when the pain sounds like the gallbladder but no stones are seen, and MRCP (a specialized MRI) or endoscopic ultrasound when a bile duct stone is suspected. Missing ultrasounds or blood tests can be arranged locally and reviewed with you in Sugar Land.
What to Bring to Your First Visit
- Photo ID and your insurance card
- Your referral, if your plan requires one
- A list of your medicines, supplements and allergies
- Ultrasound or CT reports, and the images if you have them
- Recent blood test results
- ERCP reports and ER or urgent care records
- Your questions, written down
New patient paperwork is on our patient forms page.
Surgery Options
Laparoscopic and Robotic Gallbladder Surgery
Most Sugar Land patients who need their gallbladder removed have a laparoscopic operation through small incisions. Robotic surgery is used in selected cases, and open surgery is kept for situations where a minimally invasive approach is not safe. Every technique removes the whole gallbladder (a cholecystectomy). Dr. Shakir chooses the approach based on your gallbladder, any previous abdominal surgery and your overall health.
Is Robotic Surgery Better?
Not automatically. Robotic surgery has not been shown to be safer than laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder removal, and some large studies have reported a higher rate of bile duct injury after robotic operations. Recovery after the two approaches is generally similar. Dr. Shakir recommends the technique that suits your gallbladder, anatomy and health, and explains his reasons. Compare them in robotic vs. laparoscopic gallbladder surgery and see how long gallbladder surgery takes.
Understanding the Risks
Gallbladder removal is one of the most common operations in the United States and is generally safe, but every surgery has risks: bleeding, wound infection, bile leakage, a stone left in the bile duct, pancreatitis, blood clots and reactions to anesthesia. Injury to the common bile duct is rare but is the best-known serious complication and can require further procedures. Dr. Shakir reviews the risks that apply to you before you decide.
| Feature | Laparoscopic | Robotic | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incisions | Three or four small incisions | Same kind of small incisions | One larger incision under the right ribs |
| Instruments | Camera and narrow instruments | Wristed instruments, magnified 3-D view | Through the larger incision |
| Often used for | Most gallbladders | Inflamed or scarred gallbladder, prior surgery | Cases where minimally invasive is unsafe |
| Going home | Most go home the same day | Often same day if uncomplicated | Hospital stay, longer recovery |
Typical patterns only. Dr. Shakir recommends an approach after your exam.
Before and After
Preparing for Surgery and Recovering at Home
Your clinic visits stay in Sugar Land, while the operation takes place at a hospital or surgical center in Fort Bend County or southwest Houston, chosen for your situation and your insurance. Most patients having an uncomplicated minimally invasive operation go home the same day. An overnight stay is more likely after surgery for an acutely inflamed gallbladder.
Getting Ready
- Follow the fasting and medicine instructions in our pre-operative care guide
- Tell the team about blood thinners, diabetes medicines and supplements
- Arrange an adult to drive you home after surgery
- Plan a few days of light duty at home
- Keep simple, low-fat foods on hand for the first week
Do not stop a prescription medicine unless your care team tells you to.
The First Weeks After Surgery
- First few days: soreness at the incisions and some bloating, improving day by day; short walks start the first evening
- Shoulder ache: from the gas used during surgery, usually gone within a day or two
- Showering: usually after 24 to 48 hours
- Driving: not while you are taking prescription pain medicine
- Desk work: often within about a week
- Meals: small, low-fat meals for the first week or two; see our post-surgery diet menu
- Lifting: usually limited to about 15 pounds for two weeks
- Normal diet and full activity: usually within two to four weeks
Recovery after open surgery takes longer, often four to six weeks. Your follow-up visit is at the Sugar Land office. See gallbladder recovery time and our week-by-week recovery guide.
Our patient guide to gallstones and gallbladder surgery answers 20 common questions.
When to Call the Office
Call if you have a fever, abdominal pain or swelling that is getting worse, yellow skin or eyes, vomiting that keeps you from eating or drinking, redness or drainage from an incision, or pain that your medicine does not control. For trouble breathing, chest pain or another emergency, call 911. More detail is in our post-operative care guide.
Office Details
Visiting Our Sugar Land Office
Our Sugar Land office is at 17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320, Sugar Land, TX 77479, on the Grand Parkway (State Highway 99). Gallbladder consultations, imaging review, pre-operative visits and follow-up appointments all take place here.
Prefer Katy?
Dr. Shakir also sees gallbladder patients at 410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D, Katy, TX 77494. Choose whichever office is more convenient. See our Katy gallbladder surgeon page or all locations.
Address and Hours
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas
17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Phone: 713-955-9191
Before You Arrive
Parking at the building is free. For a first visit, please arrive a few minutes early or complete your patient forms beforehand. More about this office is on our Sugar Land office page.
Areas Served
Gallbladder Care for Fort Bend County Patients
The Sugar Land office serves Sugar Land and neighboring Fort Bend County communities. These are service areas, not separate offices; all visits take place at 17510 W Grand Pkwy S.
Sugar Land
Sugar Land residents can complete every clinic visit for gallbladder care close to home, from the first consultation to the final follow-up.
Stafford and Missouri City
Patients from Stafford and Missouri City are seen at the Sugar Land office for evaluation, surgical planning and follow-up after surgery.
Richmond and Rosenberg
Patients from Richmond and Rosenberg can choose the Sugar Land or Katy office. See our Richmond and Rosenberg patient pages and gallbladder care for Richmond and Fulshear.
Across Fort Bend County
Patients from elsewhere in Fort Bend County are welcome at either office; our staff can help you choose.
There is no office inside Houston city limits. Houston patients are seen in Sugar Land or Katy; see gallbladder care for Houston patients.
Coverage Questions
Insurance and New Patients in Sugar Land
New patients are welcome at the Sugar Land office, and the practice works with many major insurance plans. Coverage and benefits vary by plan, so call with your insurance card ready and our staff will verify your benefits before the visit. Many plans also require prior authorization for gallbladder surgery, which our team helps coordinate.
Carrier information: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare. For other plans, see our insurance information page and the list of accepted plans.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Surgical Associates of Southern Texas for Gallbladder Surgery in Sugar Land?
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology, with fellowship training that included liver and bile duct surgery.
- Experience with inflamed gallbladders, duct stones and pancreatitis
- Care coordinated with your gastroenterologist
- Laparoscopic and robotic removal, open surgery when safer
- The same surgeon at every Sugar Land visit
- Consultations in Katy and Sugar Land
Insurance Coverage
Insurance for Gallbladder Surgery in Sugar Land
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas accepts many major insurance plans for gallbladder evaluation and surgery, including participating Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Our office can confirm whether your specific plan participates and whether a referral or prior authorization is needed before your visit.
Coverage, network participation, authorization requirements, and your share of the cost vary by plan. You can also review the insurance accepted for surgical care at our practice.
Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield are only some of the plans we accept. Plan-specific details are on our Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield pages. If your plan is not listed, contact our office and our team will help verify it.
Insurance participation and benefits vary by individual plan. Verification does not guarantee coverage, authorization or payment. Please contact our office and your insurer to verify benefits before treatment.
Our Locations
Two Convenient Fort Bend County Offices
Learn more about our Katy and Sugar Land practices, or view all locations.
Katy Office
410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D
Katy, TX 77494
Serves: Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cinco Ranch and West Houston
Sugar Land Office
17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Serves: Sugar Land, Richmond, Stafford, Missouri City, Fort Bend County and Southwest Houston
Approximate Drive Times
From West Houston (Energy Corridor): about 15 minutes to Katy, or 25 to 30 minutes to Sugar Land.
From North Houston: about 40 to 50 minutes to either office, depending on traffic.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Gallbladder Care in Sugar Land
Where is the Sugar Land gallbladder surgery office?
The office is at 17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320, Sugar Land, TX 77479, on the Grand Parkway (State Highway 99). Call 713-955-9191 to schedule.
Do I need a referral to see a gallbladder surgeon in Sugar Land?
Many plans let you book a surgical consultation without one, but some, such as many HMO plans, require it. New patients are welcome either way, and our staff can check what your plan needs.
Is my gallbladder pain an office visit or an ER visit?
Attacks that come and go, or stones found on a scan, can be handled with an office visit. Pain lasting several hours, fever or chills, yellow skin or eyes, or vomiting that will not stop need the nearest emergency department or a 911 call.
Can I have robotic gallbladder surgery in Sugar Land?
Yes. Laparoscopic and robotic gallbladder removal are both offered, and the approach is chosen by the condition of your gallbladder and your health. Robotic surgery is not automatically the better option.
Is gallbladder removal a same-day surgery?
For most patients having uncomplicated minimally invasive surgery, yes. An overnight stay is more likely after surgery for an acutely inflamed gallbladder.
When can I go back to work after gallbladder surgery?
Many people return to desk work within about a week. Jobs that involve lifting usually take longer, because lifting is typically limited to about 15 pounds for two weeks. See gallbladder recovery time.
What can I eat after gallbladder removal?
Small, low-fat meals for the first week or two, then a gradual return to a normal diet. See foods to eat after gallbladder removal.
Do I need surgery if my gallstones do not cause symptoms?
Usually not. Silent gallstones are generally watched. Dr. Shakir explains the exceptions and the symptoms that would change the recommendation.
What are the risks of gallbladder surgery?
The operation is generally safe, but risks include bleeding, infection, bile leakage and, rarely, injury to the common bile duct. Dr. Shakir reviews the risks that apply to you before surgery.
Does the practice accept my insurance?
The practice works with many major plans, including participating Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare plans. Coverage varies, so call 713-955-9191 to verify your benefits.
Sources and references
- Definition & Facts for Gallstones, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Treatment for Gallstones, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Gallbladder Removal Surgery (Cholecystectomy): Patient Information, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
- Cholecystectomy, patient education brochure, American College of Surgeons
Reviewed by the Review Team at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas.
Medical Disclaimer: This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For abdominal pain lasting several hours, fever or chills, yellowing of the skin or eyes, vomiting that will not stop, or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated October 16, 2026.
Schedule a Gallbladder Consultation in Sugar Land
Have gallstones, recurring pain after meals, an ER visit or a referral for gallbladder removal? Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Murtaza Shakir at our Sugar Land office, 17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320. We serve Sugar Land, Stafford, Missouri City, Richmond and Rosenberg. Call 713-955-9191 or request a consultation online.
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