Plastic Surgery
Burn Scar and Contracture Reconstruction in Nigeria
Tight burn scars that pull a joint, the neck or the face out of position are released, and the gap is filled with a skin graft or with nearby skin moved across as a flap. The aim is movement and function first, then appearance. The price is a written quote after examination, because the size, site and number of stages vary too widely for one number.
Also called: Burn contracture release, Skin grafting, Flap reconstruction, Burn scar surgery
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
How the price is set
Written quote after consultation
Consultant plastic surgeon opinion: ₦35,000
Your price is a written quote after the consultation, because it depends on the size and site of the scar, whether a graft or a flap is needed, and how many stages the repair takes. It does not move without your written agreement.
What your written quote covers
- The surgeon, the anaesthetist and the theatre
- Your bed for the stay the plan needs
- Dressings and splints after surgery
- Reviews until the graft or flap has healed
Not in the quote
- Care for a fresh burn, which needs an emergency department or burns unit
- Pressure garments and silicone after healing
- Physiotherapy and hand therapy
- Later stages of a staged repair, each quoted in writing before it is booked
What decides your quote
- A flap rather than a skin graft
- Tissue expansion before the repair, which adds a stage
- The hand, the face or the neck, where the work is finer
- The number of stages the repair needs
HMO plans vary on reconstructive surgery after burns. Prior authorisation is filed by the desk once the written quote exists, and what you would pay is confirmed before anything is booked.
Who this is for
- A scar contracture that limits movement of the neck, armpit, elbow, hand, knee or ankle
- A tight scar pulling the mouth or an eyelid out of shape
- An old burn scar that keeps breaking down, or a sore in one that will not heal, which needs a biopsy
- A child whose burn scar is holding back growth or movement of a limb
When it is not the right answer
- A fresh burn, which needs an emergency department or burns unit today
- A scar still red and maturing, usually within twelve to eighteen months of the burn, unless it threatens function
- A raised scar that is a keloid rather than a contracture, which has its own treatment
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Consultation with a plastic surgeon₦35,000
Movement, the scar, the skin available nearby, and what matters most to you.
- 2
Scar treatment first
Pressure garments, silicone, splints and physiotherapy, which improve many scars and prepare the rest for surgery.
- 3
Written plan and quote
The operation, the number of stages, and the price of each, in writing.
- 4
Surgery
The scar is released, and the gap closed with a skin graft or a flap. Hours and stay depend on the site.
- 5
Dressings, splints and therapy
A splint holds the new position while it heals.
- 6
Reviews until healed₦25,000
Then garments and therapy to stop the scar tightening again.
Recovery, realistically
Week 1
The graft or flap is protected and kept still while it takes.
Week 2 to 6
Dressings change less often. Splints and therapy begin.
Months 3 to 12
Pressure garments and splints at night while the new scar matures.
Risks you should be told about
- Part of a graft or flap not taking, sometimes needing a further procedure
- The contracture tightening again, which splints and garments are there to prevent
- Scarring at the skin graft donor site
- Infection
- Keloid, in skin prone to it
Every operation carries risk. A surgeon who lists none is not being straight with you. Yours will go through these with you before you consent.
Questions people ask
When is the right time?
Usually once the scar has matured, a year or more after the burn. Sooner when the scar is pulling an eyelid open, blocking a joint, or holding back a growing child.
Will the scar disappear?
No. The aim is a scar that moves and looks better. You will see photographs of what is realistic for a case like yours.
Will I need more than one operation?
Often, yes, for large burns. The written plan sets out each stage and its price before the first.
Why do I need splints afterwards?
Burn scars contract as they heal. Splints and garments hold the release while the new skin settles, and skipping them is the commonest reason a contracture returns.
Prices shown are in naira and were last checked on 11 October 2026. A “from” price is the all-in starting price for the standard case. Every operation is confirmed in a written quote after your consultation, because the right operation for you, and its cost, depend on what the surgeon finds.