Cleft lip and palate is a disease where an abnormal space is formed between the roof of the mouth and the lips at birth. When the upper lip is split, it is called ‘cleft lip’, when the roof of the mouth is split, it is called ‘cleft palate’, and when these two cases are combined, it ‘to be called ‘cleft lip and palate’. Cleft lip and palate require active treatment because they cause eating and speaking problems as well as external problems. We learned about cleft lip and palate with Haidak experts.
Cleft lip and palate is a disease where the roof of the mouth and lips are split at birth, resulting in an abnormal space｜Source: Clip Art Korea
Q. What is cleft lip and palate?
Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital facial deformities.
Both of these diseases occur when the tissues that make up the lips and palate fail to fuse between 4 and 8 weeks of age when the face is made, and then separate again.
– Haidak plastic surgery consultant Kang Mun-seok (Wonjin Plastic Surgery Clinic)
In the case of a cleft lip, names depend on the shape and extent of the defect. ‘Unilateral’ if the defect is on one side, ‘bilateral’ if it is on both sides, ‘complete cleft lip’ if born completely cleft, ‘grooved cleft lip’ if the defect is not visible ( not born split) and there are only traces that do.
– Gilhwan Cho, consultant at Haidak Plastic Surgery Clinic (Misoyu Plastic Surgery Clinic)
Q. When does cleft lip and palate treatment start?
Cleft lip and cleft lip surgery is performed around 100 days after birth. If a cleft palate is present, cleft lip surgery is performed, followed by cleft palate surgery while observing the child’s growth rate between 10 and 16 months of age.
– Haidak plastic surgery consultant Kang Mun-seok (Wonjin Plastic Surgery Clinic)
Q. If cleft lip and palate surgery goes well in infancy, will it be okay afterwards?
Even if the primary cleft lip and palate surgery is performed perfectly during infancy, symptoms of secondary deformity such as deformed nasal cartilage or scarring on the lips will appear due to the difference in tissue growth speed and lack of growth potential. It is recommended to carry out the second cleft lip surgery after the age of 16, after the growth of the nose and the development of the facial skeleton have been completed.
– Haidak plastic surgery consultant Kang Mun-seok (Wonjin Plastic Surgery Clinic)
Q. I had a cleft lip and palate operation as a child, and then another nose job after I became an adult. It’s been 17 days since my nose operation… I’m still worried that my nose is a bit crooked.
Nasolabial deformity correction surgery due to cleft lip and palate is slightly more complicated than a normal crooked nose correction. In general, it is difficult to correct 100% of a nasal bone fracture or a crooked looking nose due to the asymmetry of the facial bones. It is said that the human body cannot be symmetrical. Even for those who do not have a crooked nose, there is a difference in the shape of the right and left faces, and few people have a straight nose in the forward direction.
If it is 17 days after surgery, the first thing to do is to be careful not to get shocks or external stimuli. This is because the part of the nasal bone that has been modified to correct a crooked nose is not yet properly attached. Therefore, frequent touching or stimulation should be avoided. In addition, it takes at least 6 to 18 months to judge the correct form (result). This is the time it takes for the surgical site to strengthen and the tissue to heal, and only after that time can it be said to be an accurate result. It is useful to follow the post-operative precautions and management methods guided by the medical staff of the hospital where you had the operation without thinking too quickly.
Additionally, in the case of a cleft lip and palate deformity, as much tissue is lacking as much as the tissue was lost during childhood, if proper corrective surgery is not carried out, the shape may change slightly over time. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a medical team with extensive clinical experience in corrective surgery for nasolabial deformity due to cleft lip and palate.
– Gilhwan Cho, consultant at Haidak Plastic Surgery Clinic (Misoyu Plastic Surgery Clinic)
Q. Can I brush my teeth after cleft lip and palate surgery?
In the case of cleft palate, a large incision is made in the roof of the mouth to make a flap and move it, so there is a large hole in the roof of the mouth, and this hole is filled with new flesh over time. At the start of the operation, the mouth may bleed from these punctures and cuts. Try to avoid brushing your teeth as much as possible, but it is best to use a very soft brush or gargle if possible.
– Haidak Plastic Surgery Counseling Doctor Kwon Yong-seok (K-Angel Plastic Surgery Clinic)
* This article has been reproduced from a Haidak expert answer.
Support = Haidak Consulting Doctor, Kang Mun-seok (Plastic Surgery Specialist, Wonjin Plastic Surgery Clinic), Haidak Consulting Doctor, Dr. Cho Gil-hwan (Misoyu Plastic Surgery Clinic, Plastic Surgery Specialist), Haidak Consulting Doctor, Dr. Kwon Yong -seok (Plastic Surgery Specialist, K-Angel Plastic Surgery Clinic)
