Cleft Lip & Palate

Cleft palate and cleft lip surgery is one of the main reasons why cosmetic surgery exists. This affects 1 in 700 children all over the world.

At Marina Plastic Surgery, our top surgeons have devoted their lives to bringing smiles to children all over the world who suffer from cleft lip & palate abnormalities. This level of commitment is what has given us the highest level of expertise in our chosen field.

Aside from the aesthetic value of having an operation done to treat this congenital abnormality, it really improves the patient’s quality of life.

Overview

temple lift A cleft lip or palate is one of the main reasons why cosmetic surgery exists. 1 out of every 700 children suffers from some form of clefting whether in the lip or the palate or both.

A cleft is a fissure or opening that did not completely fuse or close off. Clefts can also affect other parts of the face, such as the eyes, ears, nose, cheeks, and forehead. According to the Tessier anatomical diagram, there are 15 lines of cleft.

A cleft lip or palate can be successfully treated with surgery, especially so if conducted soon after birth or in early childhood. The ideal age is 3 to 6 months up to 3 years old. Older patients may suffer from speech or hearing impediments.

Aside from the aesthetic value of having an operation done to treat this congenital abnormality, it really improves the patient’s quality of life.

Best Candidates

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Young children 3 to 6 months or up to 3 years old with cleft lip or cleft palate disorder with good general health and as close as possible to their ideal BMI based on age, height and other physical factors.
Marina Plastic Surgery

Martin Rees

MB ChB. FRACS

Martin Rees is a Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon who has been in private practice since 1988, founding the Auckland…

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What to Expect

The main goal of any cleft surgery is to connect the gap or fissure between natural structures within the body.

An initial consultation will be done to assess what you essentially need for functionality with a secondary assessment done for the aesthetic purpose of the operation.

Young children with cleft lip or cleft palate disorder with good general health and as close as possible to their ideal BMI based on age, height and other physical factors.

Correcting a cleft palate may require several operations.

The area around the mouth may be swollen and show signs of bleeding, infection, irregular healing or develop an allergy.

There may be damage to deeper structures not immediately evident during the initial consultation

After Surgery / Recovery

As with all types of surgical procedures, caring for the areas where sutures were made is the highest priority. Follow your surgeon’s instruction for the proper care of affected areas.

Utmost care and priority must be given to ensure the safety of the individual’s eyes during the recovery period.

Scarring may remain slightly pink for six months or more before they fade to a thin, barely visible line.

Children may snore and discharge may be produced during the healing period.

Younger children may require arm splints (sometimes called “no-nos”) to prevent accidental scratching/touching/impact on operated areas during the course of the day.

Older cleft palate patients may require hearing tests to check for hearing loss or speech improvement if speech impediments are evident.

Procedure Planner

Initial Meeting

45 – 60 minutes

Pre-op

30 – 45 minutes

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Procedure Time

2 – 6 (procedure time is highly dependent on cleft type)

Recovery Time

3 – 4 weeks

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Post-op Follow Up

1 week

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