Surgery is the core component of cleft lip treatment, but some preoperative and postoperative adjuvant treatments are also very important. Currently, adjuvant treatment includes preoperative orthodontics, lip arch reduction, nasal molding, medication for scar removal, and psychological support.
Pre-operative orthodontics can reduce the width of the cleft, lengthen the nasal pedicle, and reduce the difficulty of surgery, etc. It is usually started when the child is about one week old and continues until the surgery.
The labial arch consists of a metal arch in the middle and adhesive fixations on both sides. For wider cleft lips, the lip arch reduces tissue healing tension and reduces scarring. It is usually used after surgery until the incision heals and can last for more than 1 month.
Nasal molds are currently an indispensable treatment for cleft lip. Even though the surgical results are excellent, nasal deformities will inevitably still occur as the nasolabial tissues develop, and insistence on wearing nasal molds often has a better nasal shape.
By using local medication such as scar paste, the scar can become less obvious, but it is impossible to disappear completely because scar is an inevitable product of human tissue healing.
Psychological support is the most difficult component of cleft lip treatment and the part that should be adhered to, requiring not only family care but also social involvement. A sound psychological state is often more important than the appearance of the lip.