Cleft Lip and Palate Chicago
The incomplete formation of the upper lip at birth is referred to as a cleft lip. The same defect in the roof of the mouth is known as a cleft palate, and these two craniofacial malformations are among the most common in the United States. They can occur completely or incompletely, as well as together or individually, which makes the conditions vary in severity.
A cleft lip or palate is more than just an aesthetic facial difference; they can impair a child’s ability to speak, eat, and breathe. The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago has experience in hundreds of procedures to repair facial clefts. We recognize that each case is highly individualized, and that the functional aspects of this procedure are just as important as the aesthetic.
CANDIDATES FOR CLEFT LIP AND PALATE REPAIR
Cleft lips and palates are evident upon birth, and the best time to perform the procedure to correct them is usually during the first year of life. Cleft lip repairs are often carried out when the child is at least three to four months old; cleft palates are typically repaired later, between nine and twelve months of age. It is important to discuss treatment options early with both your pediatrician and plastic surgeon, since a cleft may affect the development of other areas, like the nose, teeth, and face.
Children that have particularly wide or large clefts may be candidates for NAM, or nasoalveolar molding, which is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive approach to reshaping the lips, gums, and nose prior to cleft lip and palate surgery. The NAM technique uses a plastic-like plate to reduce the cleft before the initial cleft lip repair, often resulting in fewer overall procedures your child may need over the course of their development. Be sure to speak with your plastic surgeon to see if NAM may be an option prior to cleft lip and palate surgery.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR CONSULTATION
The first step on the path along your child’s treatment plan is a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon that has additional training in craniofacial surgery. During this initial consultation, be prepared to discuss treatment options, an extensive overview of the procedures involved, potential complications, and the recovery process.
When you schedule a consultation with the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, you will speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in craniofacial surgery, and will take the time to explain every aspect of a treatment plan to each patient or parent.
HOW CLEFT LIP AND PALATE REPAIR IS PERFORMED
The objective of a cleft lip repair is to close the separation in the lip in such a way that provides function and improves appearance. At the time of the cleft lip repair, surgery is also performed on the nose in order to improve the overall facial symmetry of your child. If there is a cleft in the gum as well, we will repair that if the cleft width is of minimal size (2 mm). Repairing the hole in the gum allows the development and growth of teeth through the cleft.
In a cleft palate surgery, the muscle and tissues are repositioned to close the hole in the roof of the mouth. The uvula, or the “punching bag” in the back of the throat, is also repaired during the cleft palate surgery.
All surgical procedures by the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety. The procedure begins with general anesthesia; the corrections made depend on the location and severity of the cleft(s).
In a cleft lip surgery, the plastic surgeon will make incisions on either side of the affected area to create flaps of tissue, which are then mobilized, repositioned, and gently pulled together to close the cleft. These flaps are stitched with both absorbable and non-absorbable sutures that require removal. A reconstruction of the nasal defect and gums are also performed at the time of the cleft lip repair.
Cleft palate surgery requires specialized techniques to reposition the tissue of both the soft and hard parts of the roof of the mouth. The muscles and soft tissue of the roof of the mouth are closed carefully and in such a way that allows normal eating, breathing, and speech development.
RECOVERY AFTER CLEFT LIP AND PALATE REPAIR
After surgery, antibiotic ointment is usually applied to the surgical site, and medications will be prescribed to alleviate pain. It is essential to follow all post-operative care instructions from your surgeon, including specialized feeding or restrictions on physical activity.
Swelling and discomfort are common after cleft lip or palate surgery. It will take several weeks to heal completely, after which swelling will wane and disappear completely.
While the results of a cleft lip and palate surgery are immediately noticeable, it may be necessary to perform secondary procedures as the patient develops, to improve both function and appearance.
POTENTIAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CLEFT LIP AND PALATE REPAIR
Always discuss potential risks with your plastic surgeon before deciding to have any surgical procedure performed. The possible complications associated with cleft lip and palate repair include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Irregular or asymmetrical scars
- Possibility of secondary surgeries
- Speech difficulties
Always make sure that the surgeon performing the procedure is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery with subspecialty training in craniofacial surgery, and that the surgery is being carried out in an accredited surgical facility.
WHAT DOES CLEFT LIP AND PALATE REPAIR COST?
Most health insurance plans will cover a majority, or even the entirety, of a cleft repair procedure because it is considered reconstructive in nature. Health coverage varies, so please contact your health insurance provider before scheduling a consultation.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
The decision to undergo a surgical procedure is never a simple one, and it involves a great deal of trust—especially when the patient is your child. The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago has more than just experience in the traditional hospital setting; our plastic surgeons have served on international missions to help children with cleft lips and palates in other countries, performing life-changing procedures for those who otherwise lack access to modern healthcare. Compassion is at the core of who we are and what we do. For any questions about cleft lip and palate repair, call us to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
All surgical procedures by the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety.
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Happy for this patient and her 6 week post-operative result from a breast augmentation. We placed a 400 cc gel implant, in a sub-muscular plane, and through a periareolar incision. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gelimplants #mastopexy #gummybear #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Happy for this patient and her transformation. This patient is transfemale who underwent facial feminization. Can you tell what surgeries were performed? Still have to perform the tracheal shave. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #craniofacialsurgery #FFS #facialfeminization #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
6 month follow-up on a mastopexy augmentation case. The patient’s goals were to have her breasts lifted and the volume restored after pregnancy. No patient has perfectly symmetric breasts, which is normal. This case was challenging because of the asymmetries of the nipples; trying to lift, augment, and level the nipples all at the same time is difficult. Many variables to control but the post-operative photos demonstrate improved symmetry with all of the patient’s goals achieved. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #mastopexy #breastlift #gummybear #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
6 month follow-up on a challenging revision rhinoplasty case. The patient had 3 prior rhinoplasty surgeries by another surgeon and was not happy with the aesthetics of the dorsum or tip. In the pre-operative profile views, you can see a dorsal hump, under-projected tip, and abnormal alar-columellar relationship. On frontal view, there are asymmetries of the dorsal aesthetic lines and C-shape deviation of the nose. The goal of the surgery was to make the nose straighter, improve the dorsum and tip proportions, increase tip projection, and improve the alar-columellar relationship. Look closely at the post-operative profile views and how the tip, nostril and columella appear. Posted with permission.
#plasticsugery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #revisionrhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Many ways to do a breast augmentation but the periareolar incision is a great option because the scar becomes imperceptible as the scar matures. This patient is 6 months out from a breast augmentation and the access incision we made was at the bottom border of the nipple areolar complex. It’s hard to see the scar at this point and the scar gets even better at the 12-18 month mark. Also, nipple sensation is unaffected after surgery. The other incisions that plastic surgeons use include an incision underneath the breast, at the breast fold, or the armpit. Each incision has their pros and cons but the periareolar is my preferred approach.
#plasticsurgeon #plasticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gummybearimplants #breastimplants #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery #cosmeticsurgery
Challenging #gynecomastia case where the patient had grade 2/3 gynecomastia or male breasts with excess skin and significant asymmetries. The challenging part of this case relates to how to manage the excess skin and achieve a symmetric result. Do you remove the excess skin which will leave scars or try to contract the skin with minimally invasive techniques? In this case I performed liposuction, removed the breast tissue through a nipple incision, and performed #Renuvion to facilitate contraction of the skin. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #gynecomastia #liposuction #Renuvion #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Nasal reconstruction for a patient who had a full thickness defect or hole of the left nostril after Mohs surgery to remove a basal cell carcinoma. The patient was missing all three layers of the nose and if you look closely, you can see into the nose and visualize the septum. We re-built the nose using tissue from his forehead or a #forehead flap. In the post-operative photos, you can see a nice reconstruction of the nostril with restored form and function. Additionally, the reconstructed side is symmetric with the unaffected side. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #nasalreconstruction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
3 month follow-up on this patient who wanted improvement in the projection of her chin and definition of the jawline. The patient has retrogenia or a small chin and underwent #chinaugmentation with a #genioplasty. In the pre-operative photos, you can see the chin is short and recessed and therefore I moved the chin forward and down. In the post-operative photos you can see improvement in the projection of the chin, a more defined jawline and neck, and a more balanced lower 1/3 of the face. This case highlights the advantages of a genioplasty versus a chin implant, a chin implant cannot lengthen and advance the chin to the same extent that a genioplasty can. Posted with permission.
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Gym or surgery? This patient underwent hi-def liposuction or abdominal etching to improve the contour of the abdomen and to define the abdominal muscles. In the post-operative photos, the patient has natural washboard abs. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #abdominaletching #hidefliposuction #liposculpture #liposuction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Long term follow-up on a revision mastopexy augmentation case. The patient had a previous augmentation with gel implants and wanted the implants removed, breasts lifted, and re-augmented with fat but downsized. The patient underwent explantation of the implants, a capsulectomy, a breast lift, and fat transfer to augment the breasts. In the post-operative photos, you can see the breast/nipples are lifted to a more aesthetic position and we were able to maintain volume, although smaller, with fat transfer alone. This patient has a very natural result using only fat from her abdomen to restore volume. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastlift #breastaugmentation #mommymakeover #fattransfer #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
1 year follow-up on a primary rhinoplasty. This patient’s goals were a straighter profile, smaller and more refined tip, and a nose that was not drastically different. In the post-operative photos you can see the dorsal hump was removed and the nasal bones narrowed, the tip was refined, rotated, and projected more. Overall, still her nose but more refined and aesthetic. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #nosejob #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Early follow-up on a #facialmasculinization surgery for a trans male who wanted to improve the contour of the lower 1/3 of the face and neck. The patient underwent a sliding #genioplasty, custom #mandibularimplants, and #neckliposuction to achieve his goals. We used computer software to design the cuts in the bone and #3Dprinting to make the custom mandibular implants. Can you see the improved contour of the chin, jawline, and neck in the post-operative photos? Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #craniofacialsurgery #genioplasty #chinimplants #facialimplants #facialmasculinization #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
1 year follow-up on a patient who wanted fuller and more symmetric breasts after having deflation with pregnancy. The patient is athletic and therefore it was very important to her to have a smaller augmentation that appeared natural. The patient underwent a breast augmentation with gel implants (250 cc) through a periareaolar incision and in a submuscular plane. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #breastaugmentation #gummybear #breastlift #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
This patient had a full thickness nasal defect of the left nostril after a skin cancer was removed by our Dermatology colleagues. Even though the wound is relatively small, this is a challenging reconstruction because all layers of the nose have to be rebuilt without making the reconstructed area bulky and noticeable. Also, you have to make the area strong enough so that the nostril doesn’t collapse as the area heals and scars. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #skincancer #nasalreconstruction #nosejob #rhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
A 1 year follow-up on a patient who wanted a rhinoplasty to remove the dorsal hump and improve the aesthetics of her tip. In this case the dorsal hump was removed, the nose made straighter, the tip refined, and the tip rotated and projected more. Her new nose fits her face without overtly changing the ethnic features of her face. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #rhinoplasty #ethnicrhinoplasty #nosejob #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Proud of our research team for getting this important manuscript published in the #1 plastic surgery journal in the world. In this study, we looked at the published literature to develop guidelines on how to treat visual impairments related to droopy eyelids and excess skin of the eyelids.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #blepharoplasty #eyelidlift #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Happy for this patient who underwent full facial rejuvenation surgery, which included a brow lift, upper/lower blepharoplasty, facelift, neck lift, and facial fat transfer. How much younger does he look now? Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #facelift #necklift #blepharoplasty #eyelidlift #browlift #fattransfer #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Amazing transformation for this lovely patient who wanted to have fuller, more symmetric, youthful, and natural breasts. The patient underwent a #breastaugmentation with gel implants. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gelimplants #gummybearimplants #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
One year follow-up on a #BBL or Brazilian butt lift. As you can see from the post-operative photos, the fat that is transferred stays and is permanent. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #BBL #360degreeliposcution #liposuction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Male patient in his late 60’s who was able to turn back the clock after undergoing a #facelift, #neck lift, #blepharoplasty, and #fattransfer. Pay close attention to the “bags” underneath the eyes, the jawline, and neck. The scars have healed nicely and are inconspicuous even with short hair. In the post-operative photos, the patient has maintained his natural facial features and anatomy, but just looks like a more youthful version of himself. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #facelift #necklift #blepharoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
