Have you ever heard of anyone having a lap gallbladder surgery and having a dozen or more surgical clips in them from surgery?

It is entirely possible.

Depending on how many incision sites and probes they used during surgery would depend on the amount of clips/stitches required.

Just for example: 5 entry points, depending on the size may equal 2,3 clips per site.

3 x 5 = 15 clips.