Reconstructive surgery for clefts has evolved over the last 50 years. With today’s tools and techniques, many clefts can be completely corrected with a simple surgical procedure that could take as little as 45 minutes. There are few procedures that can change a child’s life as quickly and as dramatically as cleft surgery.

Cleft Lips

Usually a surgeon will operate on a cleft lip when the baby is at least 6 months old. This surgery is relatively simple, safe and quick. Cleft lip surgeries can take as little as 45 minutes.

Usually all of the 'natural material' is already there – it just fused improperly. The surgeon makes incisions to free up this tissue and then reconnects it the way it should have been joined originally.

Cleft Palates

This surgery is more complicated and difficult than cleft lip surgery, which is why it is typically done later than cleft lip surgery. Usually the child should be at least nine to eighteen months old.

The surgeon will cut on both sides of the cleft palate and then bring the tissue and muscles together in the center of the palate, being very careful to leave enough length so that the baby will be able to eat and speak normally as it gets older.

Children with cleft palates should ideally be operated on before they learn to speak to avoid developing speech impediments.