Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate Surgery

Cleft lip and cleft palate are common birth defects that cause facial deformities. They can occur individually or together. They occur during fetal development, when the sides of the lip and/or the roof of the mouth (the palate) do not fuse together as they should. Clefts can occur on one side of the face or on both.

What problems are associated with cleft deformities?

Cleft lip and cleft palate conditions create serious functional and aesthetic problems in the mouth, the nose, and the face. These problems can affect speech, feeding, and hearing.

At what age can cleft deformities be treated?

The age for correction depends on the severity of the cleft and type of cleft.

Correcting an alveolar cleft is usually performed between ages 6 to 9. If the surgery is conducted when the child is younger than this, the scar tissue that forms during healing will interfere with the normal development of the face.