Plastic Surgery for Cleft Lip and Palate

The cleft of the lip can be bilateral which means affecting both sides and can be unilateral which means affecting the left or right lip. In performing plastic surgery for cleft lip, cuts are made and the split parts of the lip are taken collectively to create a single full lip. The lips of the children take about 10-12 weeks to recover but the recovering tendency is different from one child to another. Cleft lip and palate plastic surgery is also known as cheiloplasty. When the child becomes adult, he needs an extra surgery known as a lip revision owing to rectify any alterations that arise in the lip with the time.

Plastic surgery is executed by the plastic surgeon during the first 12-18 months to mend cleft palate and cleft lip. This type of plastic surgery is executed in the hospital and other medical centers by giving general anesthesia.

Generally, cleft lip needs only one type of plastic surgery like reconstructive surgery in case if the cleft is one-sided. The cut is made on both sides of the cleft lip from the lip to the nostril. Then both the sides are stitched together. Bilateral cleft lips require two plastic surgeries and in this type of plastic surgery, the patient has to stay in a hospital for some weeks.

Clefts that include the palate and lip are more important in the cleft palates as they can affect weight gain, feeding, speech, middle ear function and facial growth. Both the matters can be noticed at unusual ages i.e middle ear dysfunction and complexity in feeding is the early childhood and infant matters. The child suffers from speech problems at the age of 2.

Types of Anesthesia

The general anesthesia is given to the children while performing plastic surgery for cleft lip and palate as they can sleep silently during the complete method. Nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists at Mott Children’s Hospital are experienced and trained in the care of pediatric patients and pediatric anesthesia.

After the Plastic Surgery

The child will suffer from IV and require sleeping in a crib in order to reduce swelling. The child can be released from the hospital in 1-2 days. The plastic surgeon also recommends some medications such as Tylenol along with codeine in case of pain and an ointment for the stitches.

Appearance

After the plastic surgery, the lips of the child will appear red along with some swelling. Little strips of tape are placed on the cuts to support the mending, to prevent the lips from an accidental strike or rubbing and to reduce the stress on the stitch line.