When should I consult with my child with cleft lip?
It is recommended that the mother-to-be come to our Cleft Lip and Palate Center for a consultation as soon as possible after the ultrasound examination is confirmed. I will give an overall introduction to the treatment needed for the baby at each stage, and the whole family will have a proper understanding of the disease and be prepared for the arrival of the little one. After a regular sequence of treatment, the baby with cleft lip and palate will usually achieve a better repair.
After birth, the child comes in for a thorough examination to determine the extent of the cleft lip, any concurrent cleft palate, and any other physical deformities such as other craniofacial deformities, heart deformities, etc. For children with a complete cleft lip combined with a cleft palate, it is possible to begin preoperative correction immediately before the formal repair of the cleft lip. It is also possible to schedule a formal surgery at this visit.
The earliest possible date for cleft lip repair is 3 months of age, and it is important to pay attention to the feeding of the baby until then, especially in children with a combined cleft palate (see “Feeding”). The child should be at a normal weight, free of anemia, respiratory infections, etc. before the surgery.
How is cleft lip repaired?
All types of cleft lip require surgical correction, but the treatment and follow-up procedures will vary depending on the severity of the cleft. Cleft lip surgery involves reconstructing the layers of skin, muscle and mucosa, correcting the cleft in the lip and partially or completely correcting the nasal deformity.
Do babies need to be hospitalized for cleft lip repair?
Yes. Because cleft lip surgery is a very delicate procedure, it needs to be done in the operating room under general anesthesia. Blood, chest X-ray and other relevant laboratory tests are performed before the surgery and the child needs to stay in the hospital for about 3 days after the surgery.
Will my baby be completely back to normal after cleft lip repair?
Usually the lip, nose and face will be slightly swollen for a few days after cleft lip surgery, and the scar will be red for the first few months to about a year, during which time you can massage it daily and use topical medication to inhibit scar growth. With the extension of time, the scar will gradually fade and the swelling of the lip, nose and face will gradually subside and stabilize, eventually achieving a better result. However, it should be noted that the scar will not disappear completely.
Will my child need any other lip and nose surgery when he/she grows up?
After the initial cleft lip repair, as the baby’s body develops, other secondary deformities of the lip and nose may occur, and some patients will need a second-stage repair. The age of second-stage repair can be chosen to be one year before school age, or when physical development has been completed, depending on the patient’s wishes. Remember to allow about a year for recovery.
In addition, some children have a partial gum split, which is called a cleft alveolar ridge. This requires a bone graft repair, usually performed at the age of 9-11 years old, to help the permanent teeth erupt properly.
How to choose a cleft lip and palate treatment team?
The incidence of cleft lip and palate in our country is very high, with an average of one baby with a cleft lip and palate out of 700-800 births. While studying with one of the best cleft lip and palate treatment teams in the United States, I strongly believe that Chinese cleft lip and palate patients deserve better treatment, which includes not only surgical procedures, but also appropriate speech therapy, orthodontics, psychological counseling, feeding counseling, etc. for the child and family. The cleft lip and palate team will stay with the child throughout his or her development and become a friend to the child and the family.
Cleft lip surgery is a very delicate plastic surgery procedure that requires a solid foundation in plastic surgery and extensive clinical experience. In particular, the results of the initial cleft lip surgery are the foundation of the entire treatment and must be chosen carefully. We hope that every baby with cleft lip and palate will grow up happy and healthy under the care of their families and doctors.