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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.
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