Cleft Lip

Approximately one out of every 750 babies is born with a cleft lip, a condition in which the lips fail to form properly during embryonic development. The reason is usually unknown, but the condition occurs during the first trimester, and the probability is much higher in families with a history of clefts.

Because each cleft is unique in its appearance and severity, each cleft lip repair is different. Two steps are usually involved. First is the placement of a small plate or prosthesis that covers the roof of the mouth or palate. The prosthesis is attached to two small elastic molds that are used to form the edges of the cleft into a more normal position. This facilitates the second step, which is the surgical repair that occurs at about eight to ten weeks of age.

Cleft lip surgical procedures are performed in the hospital using general anesthesia and require a short stay during recovery, usually one to two days.