A cleft lip is one of the most common anomalies of the face that occurs since birth. Cleft of the lip can extend till the nose (complete cleft lip) or involve only the lip (incomplete cleft lip). If left unrepaired it causes difficulty in sucking and speaking apart from the esthetic deformity. A complete cleft lip is when the split extends right up and into the base of the nostril. An incomplete cleft lip is when the split in the upper lip does not extend up to the nose.
Cheiloplasty is a reconstructive procedure to correct the separation or the groove in the upper lip. The degree of separation varies depends on the severity of the condition. Clefts can be repaired through plastic surgery techniques to provide significant improvement in the quality of life as well as to restore normal appearance and function. It is important that the cleft surgery is done by a trained cleft and…
