General and Laparoscopic Surgery
Gallbladder Removal in Nigeria
The gallbladder is removed, usually because gallstones are causing repeated attacks of pain. You live perfectly well without one. Most people stay a single night.
Also called: Cholecystectomy, Gallstone surgery
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed 3 October 2026. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Published price
₦750,000
Fixed all-in case rate, open cholecystectomy
One night in hospital included.
What the price covers
- Surgeon and assistant fees
- Anaesthetist and theatre time
- Standard consumables for the operation
- Your bed for the expected stay
- Routine medication while you are admitted
- The post-operative review at six weeks
What it does not cover
- The first consultation and the tests that confirm you need the operation
- Treating conditions found during work-up, such as uncontrolled diabetes or an untreated infection
- Take-home medication after discharge
- Care for complications needing intensive care or a return to theatre
Related prices
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, keyhole
Faster recovery and a smaller scar. Not suitable for every gallbladder.
₦975,000
What would change this price
- Stones found in the bile duct, which need removing as well
- Conversion from keyhole to open surgery during the operation, which is a safety decision and not a failure
- Severe inflammation or scarring from previous attacks, which lengthens the operation
- A longer stay than the expected one night
If an HMO is paying, the case needs prior authorisation before admission. Bring your HMO number to the first consultation and the desk will start it. If the plan declines, you are told the cash price before anything is booked.
Who this is for
- Repeated attacks of pain in the right upper abdomen after fatty food
- Gallstones that have caused inflammation of the gallbladder
- Gallstones that have caused pancreatitis or jaundice
- Stones seen on a scan in someone who has already had one bad attack
When it is not the right answer
- Gallstones found by accident on a scan, causing no symptoms at all, in most people
- Anyone in the middle of an acute attack, where the operation is usually better a few weeks later
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Consultation and ultrasound₦35,000
Abdominal ultrasound confirms the stones and checks the bile duct.
- 2
Bloods and anaesthetic review
Liver function matters here, because it tells us whether a stone has moved into the duct.
- 3
The operation
One to two hours under general anaesthetic.
- 4
One night in hospital
Eating and walking the same evening in most cases.
- 5
Review at six weeks₦25,000
Wound check and a conversation about diet, which for most people needs no permanent change.
Recovery, realistically
Days 1 to 3
Sore around the wounds. Shoulder tip pain is common after keyhole surgery and settles in a few days.
Week 1 to 2
Desk work usually possible after one to two weeks with keyhole, longer after open surgery.
Week 2 to 6
Normal eating returns. Some people notice looser stools for a few weeks.
After six weeks
Full activity. No long term dietary restriction for most people.
Risks you should be told about
- Bile leak, uncommon, sometimes needing a further procedure
- Injury to the bile duct, rare but serious
- Conversion from keyhole to open surgery
- Wound infection
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
Can I live without a gallbladder?
Yes. The gallbladder stores bile, it does not make it. Most people notice no difference once they have recovered.
Will I have to change my diet forever?
Usually not. Some people find very fatty meals loosen the bowels for a few weeks afterwards, and that settles.
Can the stones be dissolved instead?
Medication works slowly, only for certain stones, and the stones usually come back. Surgery is the definitive treatment.
Is keyhole available?
For selected cases. The surgeon will tell you honestly whether your gallbladder is suitable, because converting mid-operation is a safety decision we would rather plan for.
Prices shown are Mezo cash prices in naira and were last checked on 3 October 2026. They are what you would be quoted for the standard case described here. Your final quote follows an examination, because the right operation for you may not be this one.