Cleft lip surgery is a procedure where a congenital split between two vertical parts of the upper lip is joined together. As the condition is a birth defect, the operation is usually initially performed within the first three months of a child’s life. Typically, several more operations are required throughout childhood in order to improve the functionality and visual appearance of the area and to accommodate for the growth of the child. Cleft lip surgery may be performed at the same time as cleft palate surgery, which corrects the same condition on the palate.
The patient is put under either general or intravenous sedation prior to cleft lip surgery. Incisions are made on each side of the split lip tissue. Then the tissue halves are carefully lined up before the gap is closed by being stitched together.
After the first cleft lip surgery, which closes the gap between the lip tissues, subsequent surgeries are performed for cosmetic and functional refinement of the lip area. Over the course of these surgeries, the patient should generally have full function of the lips. Cleft lip surgery is typically combined with careful dental care and, occasionally, speech rehabilitation, though both of these processes tend to be involved when the child also has a cleft palate.
Post-surgery treatment typically consists of the administration of medication for pain. Some doctors may restrain the child’s arms so that he does not tamper with the bandage or other parts of the lip area before it has had a chance to begin healing. These restraints are typically removed several times a day, when the child can be closely supervised.
Some of the most common risks of cleft lip surgery include infection, bleeding and damage to other body structures such as muscles, blood vessels and nerves. There is also a chance that the incisions will heal poorly, necessitating additional surgery to correct the problem. Scars associated with the surgery may also heal improperly.
There are several problems that cleft lip surgery can correct. One of the most significant is the ability to eat, which the condition can make especially complicated in the first months of life. Children with the condition also tend to have problems with speech, hearing loss and ear infections. Patients who also have a cleft palate may also have dental problems such as a high number of cavities.
For the most part, it is not known what causes a cleft lip. Many scientists believe that environmental and genetic elements play a role in the development of the condition. Certain medications are also thought to be a possible cause for cleft lip.