CLEFT LIP SURGERY

Cleft Lip/Palate is the most common facial birth defect all over the world. A cleft lip is a separation or split in the upper lip that occurs when separate areas of the face do not join together properly when a baby is developing in the womb. The opening may be on one side, both sides, or in the middle The development of the face and the upper lip takes place during the fifth to ninth week of pregnancy. Cleft lip can occur alone or as a part of a wider series of birth defects. The type of cleft and how severe it is varies between children. Cleft lip deformities can be corrected using surgery. The procedure has a high success rate and leaves minimal scarring. After treatment, most children have a normal appearance and achieve normal speech. Below is a photograph of a patient affected with cleft lip on the left side of face. He reported to Richardson'sdental and craniofacial hospital at 3 months of age and has been treated by cleft lip surgery in 2013 by Dr Sunil Richardson. Patient reported after 4 years recently for review and we can see the normal appearance of the patient along with his very happy mother. 

1. Before surgery |  2. The grown up boy after surgery