What surgery is done first for cleft lip and cleft palate?

A plastic surgeon will repair the baby’s cleft lip first, usually when the baby is about 3 months old. This is done with a surgery called cheiloplasty (KY-lo-plass-tee). It’s done in the hospital while the baby is under general anesthesia.

What is the rule of 10’s in treating cleft deformity?

This is frequently referred to as the “Rule of 10s” (10 weeks old, weight of 10 pounds and 10 grams of hemoglobin). Repair before age 1 is generally thought to produce the least visible scar.

What is the procedure for cleft lip and palate?

Babies born with unilateral cleft lip or unilateral cleft lip and palate have the option of nasoalveolar molding (NAM), a procedure performed by an orthodontist who specializes in treating craniofacial deformities.

What is the appropriate feeding technique to use with an infant who has a cleft palate?

The following are some suggestions to help feed your baby with cleft palate: Observe your infant for a period of sucking, followed by a swallow and a brief period of breathing. Do not squeeze the bottle during the swallowing or breathing phase. Keep the bottle tilted so the nipple is always full of milk.

What is cheiloplasty procedure?

Definition. Chelioplasty: In general, chelioplasty refers to surgical modification of the lip or lips. Modifications performed may include the reconstruction of acquired or congenital deformities and lip reduction or lip augmentation procedures for cosmetic and/or functional purposes.

Which is a surgical procedure to repair the lip?

Primary cleft lip repair (cheiloplasty) Surgery of the lip will be performed at approximately 4-6 months of age.

How do you feed a baby with a bilateral cleft lip and palate?

Most babies born with a cleft lip (and no cleft palate) feed well without any special equipment. They usually can breastfeed or use a regular bottle-feeding system. The only change needed might be positioning the nipple so the baby can latch.

How many surgeries are needed for cleft palate?

At the minimum, one surgery is needed to repair the lip and a separate surgery is needed to repair the palate. However, several surgeries are needed to make the lip appear as normal as possible. And sometimes additional surgeries involving the palate are needed to improve speech.