Cleft lip and cleft palate affect too many children to count. Early intervention is essential to changing lives. Consider a recent article for the India Times titled “‘Early intervention must for cleft lip and palate.’”
Payal Gwalani of the India Times writes, “Facial deformities like cleft lip and palate are still an elective procedure for the parents of kids born with them. Not many Indian parents realize that these defects are not only an aesthetic problem but also have functional repercussions. Celebrating 15 years of their existence, international charity Smile Train is on a mission to spread awareness about the need for earliest possible intervention for those suffering from such defects. They have been observing the cleft lip and palate awareness week starting Monday. Renu Mehta, Country Director- India, Smile Train, was on Tuesday in the city to interact with doctors and patients at Central India’s Child Hospital and Research Institute (CICHRI), Dhantoli, the only partner hospital for the project in Central India. “Throughout India, we have conducted more than 4,50,000 surgeries in the last 15 years. Of them, 35,000 have been conducted in Maharashtra. It is important that children get the surgery at the right age, in the absence of which they can have nutritional deficiencies as they are unable to suckle and, later, chew food. They cannot learn to speak properly in many cases,” said Mehta. She added that though it was advisable to get consultation right after birth, the ideal time to get the surgery for the lip is three months after birth and for palate nine months after birth.”
If you’re considering cleft lip or palate repair, you need a surgeon you can trust. Rex E. Moulton-Barrett, M.D. is internationally known and acknowledged. He is board certified with The American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
We usually do cleft lip repair when the child is one to three months old. Prior to surgery, you will meet with specialists to help ensure your child is healthy and gaining any necessary weight. The doctor will also discuss anesthesia options with you.
Incisions are made on either side of the cleft during the procedure. By doing this, it creates flaps of tissue that can be stitched together to close the opening of the cleft. After the cleft is repaired, your surgeon may also construct a cupid’s bow, the curve at the center of the lip. Repairs like these are generally made with small, absorbable stitches that will not need to be removed at a later date.
Following surgery, your child may spend one to two days in the hospital for recovery. During that time, you will be taught how to properly care for the surgical site and given instructions for your child’s diet, which will likely include only liquids until the wound heals completely.
Considering cleft lip or palate repair? Contact us for a consultation.