Correctional Surgery
How is it treated?
In most cases, clefts can be corrected in surgery. Each baby is unique and may have their own personal needs. Surgery for a cleft lip is usually done at 10 to 12 weeks of age. Surgery for cleft palate usually is done between 9 and 18 months of age. Some children will need to receive surgery as they grow older.
In most cases, clefts can be corrected in surgery. Each baby is unique and may have their own personal needs. Surgery for a cleft lip is usually done at 10 to 12 weeks of age. Surgery for cleft palate usually is done between 9 and 18 months of age. Some children will need to receive surgery as they grow older.
Who do I need to meet with?
Contact a specialist near you. It may require research on your part. There are clinics throughout the United States. There may be need to meet with a team of specialist. This team includes:
Talk to your doctor about what options and teams would be best for you and your family.
(March of Dimes Foundation, 2011).
Contact a specialist near you. It may require research on your part. There are clinics throughout the United States. There may be need to meet with a team of specialist. This team includes:
- Plastic Surgeons
- Pediatrician
- Orthodontist
- Pediatric Dentist
- Speech and Language Therapist (for later in life)
Talk to your doctor about what options and teams would be best for you and your family.
(March of Dimes Foundation, 2011).
What will they do?
In a corrective surgery, the surgeon will will trim the tissues and sew the lip together. Most often, the stitches will be very small so that the scar is barely visible. Most of the stitches will absorb into the tissue as the scar heals, so they will not have to be removed later. Follow up appointments are made with the child to track their progress (Larsson, 2013). |
Is it effective?
Yes. The surgery is very effective. A child may need to receive more than one surgery to correct their cleft, but in most cases the cleft can be almost entirely fixed through the surgical process. In a study done by the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, it was reported that "almost all the patients reported that they had a better appearance and worth the effort" (Mahboubi, 2015). |
(Mrunimason, 2011)
How does this affect other countries?
Cleft lip and palate is very common in other countries as well. According to the program Operation Smile (2015) about "two billion people lack access to any surgical care. Only 4% of an estimated 234 million surgical procedures performed each year go to the poorest third of the global population." There are a few programs like Operation Smile that go to other countries to help provide these necessary surgeries. For example, in India, 7 per 1,000 children born is born with cleft lip and/or palate. Cleft lip and palate deformity is one of the most common deformities among Indian children (Gopalakrishna & Agrawal, 2010). Unfortunately many children and even adults go many years with the effects of clefts because of lack of resources or help. |
"In many other countries, there are so many that are in need of this surgery. In our country, there are so many doctors that are capable of doing the surgery." |
For more information on the program "Operation Smile" click here.