Cleft Lip Surgery
Cleft lip surgery is a reconstructive procedure performed to close the separation in the upper lip that occurs during fetal development.
The surgery restores lip shape, muscle continuity, and function, allowing improved feeding, speech development, and facial symmetry.
At CureU Healthcare, cleft lip repair is done with meticulous precision, ensuring safe correction and natural-looking results that support long-term growth and confidence.
Overview And Clinical Background
Understanding Cleft Lip Repair
A cleft lip occurs when the tissues forming the upper lip do not fuse correctly during early pregnancy.
Surgery aims to reconstruct the lip, restore muscle alignment, and create a natural appearance.
It also corrects functional issues such as feeding difficulties and helps support normal facial development.
- Cause: Genetic and environmental factors may contribute, such as nutritional deficiencies or maternal health conditions during pregnancy.
- Surgery restores both cosmetic and functional elements of the lip and nose.
- Timing: Most surgeries are safely performed between 3–6 months of age, allowing better healing and developmental outcomes.
Symptoms, Signs And Presentation
Cleft lip is easily visible at birth as a gap in the upper lip that may involve the nose or gum.
Feeding challenges and speech development concerns may arise later.
- Presentation: Visible split in the upper lip, sometimes extending to the nostril or gum line.
- Difficulty latching or feeding in infants.
- Red flag: Associated breathing difficulty or recurrent infections may require additional evaluation.
Diagnosis Methods And Investigations
Clinical Evaluation And Imaging
Diagnosis is usually made at birth or even during prenatal scans.
Additional evaluations help plan surgical timing and technique.
- Imaging: Prenatal ultrasound can detect cleft lip early; postnatal imaging may be used if palate involvement is suspected.
- Lab tests: Routine preoperative tests ensure infants are fit for anesthesia and healing.
- Assessment includes feeding evaluation and airway examination.
Treatment Options And Surgical Techniques
Cleft lip repair focuses on restoring muscle alignment and creating natural lip shape.
Techniques vary depending on whether the cleft is unilateral or bilateral.
- Conservative: Special feeding techniques or bottles help support infants before surgery.
- Minimally invasive options: Presurgical orthopedics may help align tissues for improved surgical results.
- Standard surgical repair reconstructs lip muscles, skin, and nasal shape for functional and aesthetic correction.
Recovery, Risks And Prognosis
Infants usually recover quickly, with stitches removed or dissolving within 1–2 weeks.
Scarring improves significantly over time.
Long-term prognosis is excellent, though some children may need secondary procedures for speech or nasal refinement.
Why Choose Us
CureU Healthcare combines surgical precision with compassionate pediatric care.
Our multidisciplinary team ensures safe anesthesia, careful reconstruction, and long-term follow-up for speech and facial development.
Conclusion
Cleft lip surgery restores form, function, and confidence early in life.
With expert care, children enjoy healthy development and natural facial aesthetics.
