Alias Name
Cleft Palate Repair

Procedure Detail
A cleft lip is an opening or split in the upper lip that occurs when developing facial structures in an unborn baby don’t close completely. Cleft lip may be unilateral or bilateral. A cleft palate usually is repaired with surgery called palatoplasty.  The patterns of repair for unilateral and bilateral cleft lip are tailored to the abnormal shape of the lip and nose. The gap in the roof of the mouth is closed and the muscles and the lining of the palate are rearranged. The wound is closed with dissolvable stitches.

Features
To restore the function and appearance of the upper lip and reduce the psychological burden.

Benefits
Cleft lip repair, lips beautification.

Recommended
Cleft lip and palate, congenital deformity lips.

Suitable Candidate
Patients with cleft lip and palate.

Popularity
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Safety
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Complexity
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Pros
It can restore the function of the upper lip and restore the normal physiological functions of the mouth, nose, and lips; effectively reduce language, hearing and other dysfunctions; partially restore the appearance to reduce the psychological barriers formed by the patient in social interactions.

Cons
The treatment cycle is long, the trauma is large, and there are many complications. The postoperative recovery very requires strict care; it cannot completely return to the normal appearance soon.

Unsuitable Candidate
Children whose bodies are unable to adapt to the external environment and whose physical functions are insufficient to support the operation.

Scar
No

Treatment Time
1.5-3 hr

Anesthesia Method
General anesthetic

Treatment Course
Multiple treatments, different from person to personSingle Time

Procedures Technique
Surgery

Sustainability
Permanent

Recovery Period
1-2 years

Qualification
Practitioner in medical aesthetics or plastic surgeon

Pain Scale
Medium

Before the Procedure

1. Before surgery, blood should be drawn on an empty stomach, liver function; blood routine check, urine routine check, chest X-ray, etc.; if there is any problem, it should be treated before Surgery.
2. Before the operation, there should be no fever, cough, runny nose, no symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, best to eliminate the influence of various unfavorable factors on the operation.
3. Children with cleft lip and palate should be accustomed to eating with a spoon or dropper before surgery to avoid crying due to maladaptation after surgery, which will affect eating and wound healing.

0-3rd days
Severe swelling period from 0 days to 3 days Recovery Tips: One week after surgery is the critical period for wound healing, special attention should be paid to children’s eating and clean wound; avoid crying, avoid colds, fever, diarrhea and any other damage to the wound;

Aftercare methods:

1. Make sure to take the medicine orally every day and three times a day.
2. After the operation, the child should be fed with a spoon or dropper, and the child should not be allowed to suck on the nipple or bottle, nor can the child suck liquid food with a straw.
3. Use daily Disinfectant swab, clean the wound, remove blood scabs and dirt, and keep the wound clean; parents should not wipe the wound.

4-6th days
4 to 6 days rapid swelling period Recovery Tips:
Sutures need to be removed under anesthesia; after 5-7 days, the gauze on the incision should be loosened.

Caring methods:

1. After gauze is removed, fasting for three hours; no need to remove the suture of the palate in the early postoperative period.
2. Prevent the child from scratching the wound, pulling out the or reaching into the mouth, if necessary, use of restraints.
3. Full liquid food in the early stage, and refrain from eating hot, hard or solid food.

7th days
7 days for the stitches to be removed. Recovery Tips:
7 days for the stitches to be removed at the hospital (because the procedure is different, the stitches must be removed at the hospital at the time of the doctor’s order).

Aftercare methods:

1. Keep the wound clean to prevent infection.
2. Within 24 hours after the stitches are removed, the wound should not be exposed to water.
3. Do not rub the wound vigorously. You can apply scar ointment to lighten the scars.
4. Opt for a light diet and no spicy food.

8-30th days
Recovery tips:
The recovery time of local repair is more than 1 month.

Aftercare methods:

1. Continue to pay attention to diet. Should not shout loudly in the early stage, and do not use your fingers to pick the nasal cavity and oral cavity.
2. In order to prevent scar hyperplasia, topical cream can be used under the doctor’s instructions.

31-90th days
31 to 90 days , stable period. Recovery tips:
You can start voice training.

Aftercare methods:

1. If you have any discomfort, follow up at any time

Reminder
The above postoperative care is for reference only. Due to individual differences and different surgical procedures, the recovery cycle, suture removal time and aftercare methods will be different. The specific plan is to follow the doctor’s advice.