Medical Encyclopedia

Medical Encyclopedia

Cleft lip repair - series: Procedure

 Procedure

Cleft lip repair - series
Illustrations:

  • Normal anatomy
  • Indication
  • Procedure
  • Aftercare

    • While the baby is anesthetized and asleep (general anesthesia), the tissues around the defect are trimmed and sewn together with several layers of stitches (absorbable sutures). The skin is sewn together with very small, fine stitches (sutures) to make the scar as small as possible. In cleft palate repair, tissue from the back of the mouth (pharynx) may be taken to add tissue to the deficient soft palate (this is called a pharyngeal flap). Occasionally more than one surgery is required for complete palate closure.

    Update Date: 7/25/2007

    Updated by: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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