What is cleft lip and palate repair?

Also known as: cleft lip surgery, cleft lip repair, cleft palate surgery, cleft palate repair.

Cleft lip and palate are common facial birth defects that are often seen together. They involve a gap in the lip and palate of the newborn baby. Cleft lip and palate repair refers to the surgical procedures that are used to repair these problems.

• Cleft lip repair is performed under general anesthesia, typically between 3-4 months of age. The lip skin and muscle are rearranged to close the cleft.
• The cleft palate repair is typically done when the child is older, between the ages 12-18 months. This repair is performed by mobilizing the tissue inside the mouth and the bringing it together to close the gap.

---

Reviewed by: Chad A Perlyn, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM