Cleft Lip

What is a Cleft Lip?

A cleft lip, also known as cheiloschisis or harelip, is a common birth malformation that involves a lack of tissue in the mouth and lip area, which results in a gap in the upper lip. The gap may be smaller or extend to the bottom of the nose. A cleft lip is not only unaesthetic, but it may also create eating, breathing and speech problems. This condition can be corrected by a cleft lip surgery.

How does Cleft Lip Surgery work?

The gap in the upper lip is closed through a stitching, but several surgeries may be necessary to make the lip functional and reduce the visibility of surgery scars.

What areas of the body does Cleft Lip surgery treat?

The cleft lip surgery treats the upper lip area. Some patients that have a cleft lip also have a cleft palate, which requires additional surgeries and possibly bone grafting.

Who is a candidate for Cleft Lip?

The cleft lip surgery can be performed on patients that present this deformity. The surgery is more successful when it is performed early in the patient's life. The first surgery can be performed in infancy, when the baby is between two and three months old. The baby should be at least 10 weeks old and weigh 10 pounds.

How is the Cleft Lip surgery performed?

The initial surgery is performed to close the lip and is done with a small needle and surgical thread. In some cases of cleft lip, especially when the patient has a fully developed facial structure and the gap is large, the surgery involves skin grafting. A skin patch is placed on the gap in the upper lip and if the surgery is successful, the skin is accepted by the patient's body.

Several cleft lip procedures may be necessary to achieve a normal appearance and diminish the appearance of the scars, depending on the initial condition and the correction that needs to be performed. Some patients get several surgeries that are spread over 18 years or even longer. These surgeries are scheduled bearing in mind the development of the facial structure.

What is the recovery like?

The recovery after a cleft lip surgery may take between one and three months, depending on the complexity of the operation. The patient may experience fever, redness and swelling. Patients that are affected by diabetes or are smokers will experience delayed healing.

What will the results be like?

The results depend greatly on the complexity of the condition and the size of the gap. Some patients can get good results and there may only be a scar that indicates there has been a cleft lip. The eating and speech problems may be entirely corrected. Other patients may not get optimal results, and the cleft lip may only be slightly corrected. A patient with a cleft lip and palate will need additional dental and orthodontic treatments.

What are the risks?

The risks of a cleft lip surgery include infections, which are more common than in the case of other surgeries, due to the fact that the surgery wound is in permanent contact with saliva and the bacteria that are present in the saliva.

Disclaimer: This information is intended only as an introduction to this procedure. This information should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor does it guarantee results of your elective surgery. Further details regarding surgical standards and procedures should be discussed with your physician.

By PlasticSurgeons.com Staff

Suggested Doctors

Sorry, there are no matching doctors in your area
Please choose a different location

,

,

See more Suggested Doctors