Lip Surgery
Between 3 and 6 months but this can be adjusted according to the health of your child.
This is the heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
This is the heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Surgery is just one part of the care journey for someone born with a cleft. These pages are designed to provide information about the different operations that our team provide. Not everyone born with a cleft will need the same operations. Your specific journey will be informed by your needs, and we will discuss this with you in clinic.
Lip Surgery (3-6 months)
This operation fixes the shape of the lip, and helps the nose too. In a cleft lip, the skin and muscle of the lip have attach to the base of the nose instead of each other. This operation joins the skin and muscle together properly
Palate Surgery (9-13 months)
The palate (the roof of the mouth) helps make clear speech sounds. This operation closes the gap between the nose and mouth, and lines up the palate muscles at the back of the mouth. This helps the palate move properly, which helps with speech.
Most children with a cleft palate develop normal speech after palate surgery. However, 3 in every 10 children need another operation to help their speech. This operation may also help children with a submucous cleft palate (a hidden cleft).
Alveolar Bone Graft for Kids (8-10 years)
Not all children need this operation. Children with a cleft lip can have a gap in their gum (alveolus). This gap needs filling with bone so their teeth can grow in and stay firmly in the right place. This page is written for children
Alveolar Bone Fraft for Adults
Not all children need this operation. Children with a cleft lip can have a gap in their gum (alveolus). This gap needs filling with bone so their teeth can grow in and stay firmly in the right place. This page is written for adults looking after children born with a cleft.
Orthognathic Surgery (Jaw Surgery)
Some patients who have had cleft palate surgery find that their upper and lower jaw grow unevenly. This can make the lower jaw look like it sticks out further when seen from the side. This operation is designed to bring the upper jaw forward.
Not all people need this operation. This operation can help you breathe more easily through your nose, or change how your nose looks.
Non-Surgical Treatments
We do not currently offer filler injections. If you are thinking about this, please book an appointment to see your cleft surgeon to talk about what you would like to achieve.