Cleft Lip and Palate
Prenatal visits are encouraged for parents with a cleft lip and/or palate who are expecting a baby.
If your child has a cleft palate, speech evaluation for feeding will occur during your hospitalization, after birth or with our first clinic visit.
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- Lip repair occurs at approximately 3 months.
- If the cleft lip is a wide unilateral or bilateral cleft lip, we may proceed with lip taping or NAM Nasoalveolar Molding to prepare for surgery.
- Palate repair occurs at approximately 9-12 months.
Cleft Lip Before Surgery Cleft Lip After Surgery - We will typically plan for placement of ear tubes at the time of palate surgery.
- Bone graft surgery occurs at approximately 7-10 years.
Secondary surgeries may be needed and can include:
- Lip and/or nose revision (approximately 4-5 years)
- Speech surgery (approximately 3-8 years)
- Ear tube replacement
- Jaw surgery (approximately when teenager)
All patients with a cleft lip and/or palate will be seen annually by the UNC Craniofacial Team until age 18 years. The first visit will occur approximately 1 month before palate surgery if applicable or at approximately 1 year.
Additional information can be found at cleftline.org.