Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate Surgery is performed to treat the birth defects of the upper lip and palate (roof of the mouth). The surgery is required to close the opening between the base of the nose and.....
Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate Surgery is performed to treat the birth defects of the upper lip and palate (roof of the mouth). The surgery is required to close the opening between the base of the nose and the lower lip, or between the edges of the mouth.
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Steps to take before the procedure
A team including a plastic surgeon, speech and auditory therapist, dentist, ENT specialist, and physician work together to develop a treatment plan for the patient. Your doctor and surgeon will give you specific instructions.
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What happens during the surgery?
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. During the surgery, small incisions are made and tissues are sewn together. In the case of a lip palate, tissues are reconstructed to form a complete palate. Babies with lip palate deformation might require a bone graft when they grow older, in order to support the gums and teeth.
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After the surgery
It takes 6 weeks for the surgical site to completely heal. Your doctor may advise only liquid diet for 2 weeks. The parents will be required to clean the stitches or apply ointment on the lips of the baby twice a day.
This surgery has revolutionised medical procedures and has become a mainstay to treat the congenital disorders, but as any other surgery, it also has some risks and limitations associated with it.
A broken lip or palate deeply affects a child’s health. Babies suffering from a cleft lip or palate might not be able to eat, drink, talk, hear or even breathe properly. Without a cleft, a child cannot lead a healthy life or have a normal appearance. Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate Surgery enhances facial growth and symmetry. The child will be able to feed, talk, and hear properly. It enables the child’s chances to enjoy life.
There is always some risks involved with any surgery. But these risks can be managed and minimised efficiently by specialists. Generally, the risks involved in a cleft lip or palate surgery are infection, slight breathing problems, bleeding, and surgical tension. These can be significantly cured by a successive surgery. However, only 10% of the patients require a second surgery.
It may not be able to completely reconstruct tissues, and will not be able to restore the exact appearance. Also, the patient may require multiple surgeries, depending upon the gravity and extent of the malformation.
