CLEFT LIP AND PALATE

A cleft is a gap in either the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate) or sometimes both. It occurs
when the separate areas of a babies face do not join properly in the womb. This can leave a gap
below one or both nostrils or in the roof of the mouth. Surgery for cleft lip and palate can make a
big difference to the development and growth of a child and is therefore often carried out in children
between 3 to 12 months old. 

What does the operation involve?

A child with a cleft lip will usually undergo surgery to close the gap before they are three months
old. Both lip and palate repair surgeries are carried out under general anaesthetic. A cleft lip operation
usually lasts 1 to 2 hours during which the lip and underlying muscles are repaired and the nose is
reshaped. Once completed the incision is closed up with stitches in the lip to create minimum
scarring.

A cleft palate operation is usually undertaken before the child is 1 year old and lasts approximately
1.5 hours. During the operation the muscles and the lining of the palate are rearranged to close
the separation.

What to expect post surgery?

> Your child will need to stay in hospital for 1 to 2 days after the operation.
> Mr Richard will see your child about 10 days after the operation.
> Your child’s hearing will be regularly assessed after surgery.
> Lip and cleft palate surgery will greatly reduce speech problems occurring. However, many
   children who undergo these repair operations will still require some speech therapy as
   they develop. A speech therapist will assess your child following surgery and again once
   they are 3 years old. They may require help with pronunciation and need speech and
   language therapy up until the age of 10 or more.
> In some cases, your child will require additional surgery later on in their development to
   improve appearance and function of the mouth. For example, if there is a gap in your child’s
   gum they will usually require a bone graft around 8 to 9 years old to help their permanent
   teeth to anchor properly.
> If the cleft involves the gum area, it is common for teeth to grow out of position. The health
   of your child’s teeth will be monitored and orthodontic treatment may be needed when their
   second teeth begin to grow.