Cleft Lip & Palate Surgery
Reconstructive surgery for infants

When a child is developing in the womb, the right and left sides of the lip and the roof of the mouth usually grow together early on. However, in one out of every 800 babies, these sections do not quite meet, creating what is known as a cleft lip or cleft palate.

If your child was born with either or both of these conditions, Plastic Surgery Associates can correct the cleft. Early treatment is vital—not only to improve your child’s appearance, but also because cleft lips and palates can lead to problems with your child’s feeding, teeth, hearing, speech and psychological development if left untreated.

What does cleft lip surgery involve?
A cleft lip can be anything from a slight notch in the upper lip to a total separation of the lip that extends up into the nose. The surgeon will probably wait until your child is about 10 weeks old to operate.

Incisions are made on both sides of the cleft from the mouth into the nostril. The dark pink outer part of the cleft is turned down and the two edges are stitched together to form the standard "cupid's bow" shape. If your child's nostril is deformed, that may be improved at the same time or in a later operation.

Cleft lip surgery is usually an inpatient procedure, and it is performed at one of the local hospitals where the physicians from Plastic Surgery Associates have privileges. Any dressings will be removed within a day or two, and the stitches will dissolve or be removed within a week. The scar will never disappear completely, but it's usually hidden in the shadows formed by the nose and upper lip.

What does cleft palate surgery involve?
Cleft palate surgery tends to be a more extensive procedure than repairing a cleft lip, and the doctor may want to wait until your child is nine- to 18-months-old.

A cleft palate can be anything from a slight notch at the back of the roof of the mouth to a total separation extending from front to back. To correct the problem, the surgeon makes an incision on both sides of the cleft and moves tissue from each side to rebuild the palate.

This is an inpatient procedure, and it will be performed at one of the local hospitals where the physicians from Plastic Surgery Associates have privileges. Further surgery may be needed to correct the shape and function of your child’s lip, nose, gums and palate. Speech therapy may also be required later on.