General and Laparoscopic Surgery
Umbilical Hernia Repair in Nigeria
A bulge at or beside the navel, where fat or bowel pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall, is pushed back and the gap closed, with a mesh where it is larger. It is a day case for most adults. In an adult it does not close on its own, and the reason to repair it is to stop it trapping bowel.
Also called: Umbilical herniorrhaphy, Navel hernia surgery, Paraumbilical hernia repair, Belly button hernia
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.
Published price
₦700,000
Fixed all-in case rate, small umbilical hernia
Day case in most adults.
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
Larger or paraumbilical hernia repaired with mesh
Usually one night in hospital.
₦1,000,000
What would change this price
- A larger defect needing mesh, priced separately above
- A hernia in a previous scar, or one that has come back after repair, which is quoted after examination
- A trapped hernia needing emergency surgery
- An overnight stay, occasionally needed after a general anaesthetic
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
- An adult with a bulge at the navel that is growing, aching or getting in the way
- A hernia that has become stuck before, even if it went back
- A bulge beside the navel after pregnancy or weight gain that is causing symptoms
When it is not the right answer
- A child under four or five, because most umbilical hernias in young children close on their own
- A woman planning more pregnancies with a small painless hernia, which is often better repaired once her family is complete
- A hernia that has suddenly become painful, hard and will not go back, which needs an emergency department today rather than a planned date
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Examination₦35,000
The size of the gap decides between stitching and mesh. A scan is added only if the examination leaves doubt.
- 2
Bloods and anaesthetic review
Booked in the same visit.
- 3
The operation
Thirty minutes to an hour under general or spinal anaesthetic. Small gaps are stitched; larger ones are reinforced with mesh.
- 4
Home the same day
With painkillers and written wound care.
- 5
Review at six weeks₦25,000
Wound checked and the repair examined.
Recovery, realistically
Days 1 to 3
Soreness around the navel. Walking from the first day.
Week 1 to 2
Desk work within one to two weeks. Keep the wound dry and clean.
Week 2 to 6
No heavy lifting or straining while the repair heals.
After six weeks
Full activity, including sport.
Risks you should be told about
- A collection of fluid under the wound, which usually settles on its own
- Wound infection, slightly more likely at the navel
- The hernia coming back, less likely when larger gaps are repaired with mesh
- A change in the shape of the navel
- Mesh infection, rare
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
Will it go away on its own?
In young children, usually yes. In adults, no. It stays the same or slowly grows.
Do I need mesh?
Not for a small gap, which can be stitched. A gap larger than about two centimetres comes back less often with mesh, and the surgeon will tell you which applies before the day.
Can I just leave it?
A small hernia with no symptoms can be watched, provided you know the warning signs: pain, a hard lump that will not go back, or vomiting. Those need a hospital the same day.
Prices shown are Mezo cash prices in naira and were last checked on 11 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.