Even in this age of advanced medical technology and greater emphasis on pre-natal child care, there will be times that children are born with certain physical defects. Two rather common birth defects are cheiloschisis and palatoschisis, commonly known as a cleft lip and a cleft palate. Characterized by the incomplete formation of the roof of one’s mouth or a division in the lip, they occur very early on in the development of the unborn child. The conditions may affect one or both sides of the face, and a child may have either or both conditions, as the lip and the palate develop separately. There are a number of health concerns associated with cleft lips and cleft palates. Children with cleft palates have trouble eating food, as consumed particles tend to enter the nasal passages through the opening in the back of the mouth. They are also more prone to ear infections as liquid tends to build up in the middle ear. Cleft lips and palates are responsible for these children having difficulty with speech, as their voices do not carry properly and it may be hard for other people to understand them. Lastly, children with cleft lips and palates typically have dental problems, such as with malformed or wrongly positioned teeth. Fortunately, a plastic surgeon can provide satisfactory repair of these conditions, allowing the treated child to live a more normal life. Cleft repair surgery is a special cosmetic procedure in that it not only normalizes the physical appearance of the child, but also insures that the child will be able to perform various functions capably.

Cleft repair is rather unique in that it is one of a few cosmetic reconstructive surgeries that is best performed when the child is at an early age. A cleft lip can be fixed when the child is merely 10 weeks of age, weighs at least 10 pounds and has a sufficient blood count to survive the procedure. A cleft palate, on the other hand, is usually first subject to surgery when the child is older, at 9 to 18 months. This is merely the first of a series of surgeries that may be needed over the next 18 years, as the child develops.

The cleft lip repair surgery involves making incisions on either side of the cleft lip to create flaps of tissue that are then sewn together so that they can heal properly in this manner, sealing the cleft. The external scars will be positioned to mimic the natural crevice found underneath the nose, and will fade over time, giving the child a more normal appearance, and enhancing previously impaired function.

The cleft palate repair requires the surgeon to meticulously position the tissue and muscle on either side of the cleft so that they meet at the center, after which the cleft is sutured shut. This initial surgery creates a soft palate that provides basic function and reduces all the problems associated with the affliction. However, when the child is older, he may need a bone graft to support the growth of permanent teeth and to give additional stability to the upper jaw. As the child continues to develop into adolescence, more surgeries may be needed to close openings between the mouth and the nose, deal with any breathing problems, or adjust teeth. Prosthetics may be needed if teeth are missing, or to further improve the speech of the child.

The recovery period following cleft repair surgery is long and can be tedious for the young child. Arm restraints will be placed on him to avoid thumb sucking or other actions that may disrupt the treated area while it is healing. The child will probably remain in the hospital for 5 to 7 days, and full healing of the surgical wounds will take several weeks. It can be considerably uncomfortable, but well worth the hassle for the child who will soon be able to face the world with a renewed smile.