Texas Children’s is estimated to perform the second highest number of cleft lip and cleft palate procedures in the world.

Plastic Surgery Center
Cleft lip and cleft palate

One child in 700 in the United States is born with a cleft lip or palate. The fourth most common birth defect and the most common facial defect, cleft lip may occur alone or in conjunction with cleft palate. Its forms range from mildly disfiguring to bilateral complete cleft with nasal deformity and involvement of the hard palate and teeth.

“Facial deformities such as cleft lip or palate can be heartbreaking for parents,” said Dr. Samuel Stal, chief of Texas Children’s Plastic Surgery Center. “It’s important for them to know that therapeutic innovations have improved outcomes dramatically and made treating these conditions far less traumatic to the child.” 

Early treatment promotes successful outcomes
The surgical correction of cleft lip and palate facilitates the development of a child’s speech, facial growth, appearance, hearing and sense of well-being. The Texas Children’s team treats patients with these conditions from birth through the completion of facial growth, because many aesthetic corrections cannot be undertaken until the child’s face has developed. 

“Because the first 12 months of a child’s life are critical in the development of speech, we like to see children with these conditions as soon as possible after birth,” said Stal.
Cleft lip and palate repair is the procedure most frequently performed by specialists at Texas Children’s Plastic Surgery Center.

• Read about Matthew and his successful cleft lip and palate repair.

Treatment innovations
An infant with cleft lip and/or palate will most likely encounter feeding problems requiring special equipment. Treatment for cleft palate may include a dental appliance, and orthodontic work (nasoalveolar molding) may be needed to align bony segments and enhance the outcome of lip and nose repair.

Dr. Larry Hollier, Texas Children’s Plastic Surgery Center, said, “For treating cleft conditions, we are using appliances within the first few weeks of life that can reduce the need for additional surgeries later on.”

Orthodontists, speech pathologists and dietitians participate in each child’s care. And since approximately 90 percent of children with cleft palate have middle-ear problems, otolaryngologists also are involved in the treatment phase.

The plastic surgery center’s coordinated approach is aimed at maximizing the health, appearance, and eating and speaking skills of each patient before he or she enters school.

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