Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

Cleft lip and palate repair is the surgical correction of cleft lip and cleft palate, birth defects in which the tissues of the upper lip or the roof of the mouth fail to join fully during fetal development. Cleft lip is usually closed within the first few months of life using the Millard technique, aligning the incision with the natural lines of the lip, while cleft palate closure typically follows between six and twelve months of age and may include bone grafting when the cleft extends into the gum ridge. Treatment often continues into young adulthood through a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, orthodontists, and speech therapists.