Hospital
Cleft Lip
Also known as: Paediatric Plastic Surgery, Millard Repair, Cleft Lip Correction, Velopharyngeal Surgery, Congenital Facial Surgery
Recovery
- Cheiloplasty: 2–4 weeks.
- Palatoplasty: 2 weeks
- Diet restriction for 3–6 weeks.
About Cleft Lip
Treated areas:Alveolar Ridge, Lips, Nasal Base, Palate
Cleft lip and cleft palate are openings or gaps in the upper lip or roof of the mouth, present from birth. These conditions can affect feeding, speech, hearing, and facial growth. Surgery repairs these gaps, restores normal function, and improves appearance, helping your child eat, speak, and grow healthily.
👄 Cleft Lip Repair (Cheiloplasty)
- Usually done at 3–6 months old
- Closes the gap in the upper lip
- Joins the muscles together for normal movement
- Shapes the lip to look natural and balanced
- Often adjusts the nose shape at the same time for symmetry
👅 Cleft Palate Repair (Palatoplasty)
- Usually done at 6–12 months old
- Closes the gap in the roof of the mouth
- Rebuilds the muscle and tissue in layers
- Separates the mouth from the nose properly
Key Benefits
✅ Feeding made easy: good suction for breastfeeding or bottle feeding
✅ Clear speech: helps your child speak normally and be understood
✅ Better hearing: lowers risk of ear infections and fluid buildup; ear tubes may be placed if needed
✅ Natural appearance: balanced lip, nose, and facial shape
✅ Healthy growth: supports proper jaw and facial development
✅ Clear speech: helps your child speak normally and be understood
✅ Better hearing: lowers risk of ear infections and fluid buildup; ear tubes may be placed if needed
✅ Natural appearance: balanced lip, nose, and facial shape
✅ Healthy growth: supports proper jaw and facial development
Ideal Candidate
- Infants, children, and adolescents with unilateral or bilateral cleft lip, cleft palate, or combined cleft lip and palate
- Adults with untreated or inadequately repaired cleft deformities.
Proven Results
- Complete, smooth lip shape
- Better nose balance
- Scar fades slowly and becomes very faint as your child grows
- Safe eating and drinking, no food/liquid coming out of the nose
- Clear speech development
- Normal airflow and sound production
Real Results
How It Is Performed
| Age / Stage | Procedure | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-operative (0–3 months) | Nasoalveolar moulding (NAM) | Reduce cleft width; prepare lip and nose |
| 3 months | Cleft lip repair (Millard / Tennison-Randall) | Close lip; restore orbicularis muscle continuity |
| 9–18 months | Palate repair (Furlow / Sommerlad) | Close palate; restore velopharyngeal function for speech |
| 2–5 years | Speech therapy assessment | Velopharyngeal function monitoring; pharyngeal flap if needed |
| 8–10 years | Alveolar bone graft | Restore alveolar continuity before permanent canine eruption |
| Adolescence | Cleft rhinoplasty + lip revision | Definitive nasal and lip aesthetic refinement |
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