Gallstones form in the gallbladder, they can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. Gallstones are hard, pebble-like deposits most commonly made of cholesterol or else made of bilirubin.
Gallbladder stones does not have alternative treatment options other than surgery. ESWL or lithotripsy procedure is rarely performed on gallstones, it is sometimes used on patients having chronic cholecystitis (inflammation of gall bladder) or who are not strong enough or fit for surgical procedure.