Cleft Lip Repair Surgery
Imagine your kid’s lip, but there’s this space right down the middle. The gap might just be small, or it could stretch out pulling in their gums and even their nose. It doesn’t stop there; it can shoot right up into the roof of their mouth!
Now, these cleft lips can be lone rangers, or they can team up with a cleft in the palate. Most of the time, the pair – a cleft lip alongside a cleft palate – shows up together.
Book Free Doctor Appointment
Free Consultation
Free Cab Facility
No-Cost EMI
Support in Insurance Claim
1-day Hospitalization
What Do Cleft Lip Surgery Fix?
So, if your kid got a cleft lip and you’re looking into getting it fixed with surgery, right? The doctors going to make a little slice right where the cleft is, all the way up into their nostrils. Then they stitch the lip muscles back snug and pull the skin together to shape up the upper lip and nose holes.
What’s Cleft Lip Surgery?
- The whole deal with the surgery for cleft lip and cleft palate is to get your little one's lip and mouth working right and make 'em look like themselves. These cleft issues can mess with more than looks, you know. They can lead to stuff like not hearing well, trouble with teeth, and hassle with talking. The operation makes it easier for your kid to do stuff like: • Chomp and sip. • Take breaths. • Listen. • Chat.
Procedure Details
What are the preparatory steps for cleft lip and cleft palate surgery?
Your child’s healthcare involves numerous specialists including surgeons, speech therapists, otolaryngologists (head and neck surgeons) and dentists. The surgeon assigned to your child will initially assess the cleft palate or cleft lip condition before determining the most suitable surgical intervention.
A week prior to surgery your child’s paediatrician will conduct a health assessment to determine their fitness for the operation. Your child’s medical history and allergies will undergo examination by them. Medical professionals may instruct you to cease administering specific medications to your child during the week before surgery.
The surgeon assigned to your child’s procedure will provide age-dependent dietary guidelines for preoperative consumption. An empty stomach is required for your child to ensure the anaesthesia functions properly. The following elements represent widely accepted standards:
- A minimum six-hour period before the operation your child must abstain from consuming both formula and cow’s milk.
- Breastfeeding your child may be possible up to four hours before the operation.
- Three hours before the operation your child may consume transparent fluids such as water or apple juice.
Your child must refrain from consuming any solid foods or baby food beginning at midnight on the operation day.
Feel free to discuss your concerns with your doctor without hesitation. Pose every possible question to understand the entire surgical process before your child’s procedure.
Post-Operation: What’ll Happen?
- Expect your kid to be more cranky than usual after the operation. To keep them from messing with their lip soft restraints or sleeves get strapped around their arms. These often bug most kids and make them uneasy.
- Your child can start eating (breastmilk or formula) or drinking shortly after surgery, but they may have trouble. An intravenous (IV) catheter will be used to give your child fluids until they can drink on their own. Check with your healthcare provider for specific eating and drinking instructions once you’re back home.
- The number of surgical procedures required to repair a cleft lip remains uncertain. The determination relies on the cleft's severity combined with any concurrent health conditions. The surgical correction of cleft lip generally necessitates a single operation whereas the treatment for cleft palate often involves two separate procedures. The healthcare provider responsible for your child's treatment can provide an estimated number of surgical procedures required to address their cleft condition.
Are cleft palate and cleft lip surgery painful?
Your child is asleep (under general anesthesia) for the procedure, so they won’t feel pain. They’ll be uncomfortable after the pain medication wears off. Your child’s surgeon will provide instructions on pain management. Do your best to comfort your child as they recover. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider to make sure you understand what’s normal after cleft palate and cleft lip surgery.
Risks / Benefits
What are the benefits of cleft lip and cleft palate surgery?
Surgery to correct a cleft lip or palate helps your child’s lips and mouth function properly and lowers the risk of certain health conditions. A child with a cleft lip or cleft palate is at risk for:
- Frequent ear infections or fluid buildup behind their eardrum.
- Trouble feeding, sucking or swallowing.
- Hearing loss.
- Fluid coming out of their nose.
- Speech delays.
- Dental problems.
What are the risks or complications of cleft lip and palate repair?
Like most surgeries, treating a cleft palate or cleft lip comes with risks. Surgery to fix cleft lip and cleft palate is generally very safe.
The most common risks are:
- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Reactions to anesthesia.
- Breathing problems.
- Surgery isn’t successful or more surgeries are needed.
Beau Monde's Free Post-Operative Care
Free Consultation
Free Cab Facility
No-Cost EMI
Support in Insurance Claim
Recovery and Future Steps
Got questions on looking after your kid post cleft lip operation at your house? Your doctor will lay out the steps for you once your little one’s back home.
- Munching and Sipping: Your doctor going to hand over a full rundown on what your kid can eat and drink. Regular baby grub's all good just got to make it thinner or let it slide down through a cup. Using straws? Nope, not a good plan after the cleft lip fix. You might even have to get creative with a special bottle or plunger to give your tiny human their milk mixture or mommy's milk. It's best to chat with your kiddo’s doc about using a spoon to feed them – could be that's all right to do.
- Incision care: Taking care of the cut Your kid will have some swelling and color change around their lips for a bunch of days once they get out of the operation room. You got to keep that stitched spot nice and tidy with some warm H2O and make sure it stays dry too. Those stitches are going to break down and vanish somewhere between a week and a fortnight after the doc finishes up. Once those threads bite the dust, your little one's left with a pinkish or reddish mark. It'll feel pretty tough at the beginning, but give it some time, and it'll get squishy. Some med pros might tell you to slap some ointment on it after the stitches take a hike. Scars can get burnt by the sun real quick so don't slack on slathering on some sunblock every single time the kiddo bolts out the door.
- Pain and Discomfort: Your kid might need meds to manage their pain in those initial days post-op. Check out the guidelines on painkillers you buy. If those aren't working it, visit your doctor. Kids bounce back to their normal selves like a week after they've been under the knife. But hey, get the lowdown on the recovery game plan from your child’s health pro, 'cause each kiddo is different due to their own health stories.
Post-Cleft surgery care
Your little one’s doc will hook you up with a full play-by-play on how to care for them once you’re back at your own digs.
- • After the operation, the child can sip drinks from a cup – no straws allowed. Stick to spoon-feeding them with soft or mushy bites. No crunchy snacks or tough bites okay? Always best to double-check with the surgeon before serving up any meals or beverages. • Post-surgery, you might notice more goop leaking from their nose maybe even a bit pink or looking like blood. And yep, your little one might snore or sound all stuffed up for a good few week.
- It’s a smart move to have a chat with the surgeon taking care of your child. They’ll clue you in on the right ways to look after your munchkin at home while they’re on the mend from cleft palate surgery.
- Recovery from “cleft lip” or “cleft palate” operations might last about four weeks. Healing from “cleft palate” surgery could need a bit more time because it’s trickier.
The Variety of Cleft Lip Surgical Procedures and Their Associated Expenses
Medical professionals select from various cleft lip repair techniques based on the cleft’s unique features and severity. Cleft lip repair surgery categorizes into several fundamental types including:
- The Millard Repair (Rotation-Advancement Technique) stands as a frequently utilized method among surgical techniques. The procedure requires surgical cuts on both sides of the cleft followed by tissue rotation and advancement to seal the opening. The financial requirement for cleft lip surgery begins at Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 60,000 or more.
The Tennison-Randall Technique requires surgeons to create a triangular incision followed by tissue rearrangement to close the cleft. The financial requirement for undergoing this specific cleft lip surgical procedure stands at approximately Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 or more.
The Veau-Wardill-Kilner Technique requires several surgical procedures to address intricate medical conditions. The financial burden fluctuates greatly and tends to be elevated because of the numerous procedures required. The cost ranges from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. Each procedure commands a fee of 60,000.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Ashutosh Misra
25 Years Experience Overall
Last Updated : March 15, 2025
Our Patient Love Us
Our Patient Love Us
Cleft Lip Treatment in Top cities
- Cleft Lip in Top cities
- Cleft Lip in Chennai
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Top cities
- Cleft Lip in Chennai
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Top cities
- Cleft Lip in Chennai
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
Cleft Lip Treatment Cost in Top Cities
- Cleft Lip in Top cities
- Cleft Lip in Chennai
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Top cities
- Cleft Lip in Chennai
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Top cities
- Cleft Lip in Chennai
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
- Cleft Lip in Delhi
