Lack of recommendations for a short period of convalescence, pain and fatigue are important factors in explaining prolonged, convalescence of several weeks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, physiological changes are rapidly normalised after the operation and there is probably no pathophysiologic basis for recommending a postoperative convalescence of more than two to four days. Recommending a short period of convalescence may in itself reduce convalescence time by 50-60% to less than one week in otherwise healthy patients. For practical reasons a convalescence of one week is recommended for all patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, regardless of their type of work and leisure activities.