Surgery to rebuild a more continuous lip line, so you can eat, speak, and smile more comfortably in everyday life.
A cleft lip is a gap in the upper lip that is present at birth. It forms while a baby is still developing in the womb, when the parts of the lip do not fully come together. The gap can be small or wide, on one side or both, and it sometimes comes with a cleft palate (an opening in the roof of the mouth). Whether surgery is right depends on age, overall health, and how wide the gap is, so the doctors review each case on its own.
Everything starts with an exam and a consultation. The doctors look at the cleft, ask about your health and how you have grown, and for a young child they check feeding and weight gain. This is also when you share what you hope for and ask your questions, so you and your doctor can agree on a treatment plan that fits.
Cleft lip surgery is usually done under general anesthesia, which means the patient is fully asleep and feels no pain during the operation. An anesthesia team watches breathing, heart rate, and vital signs the whole time.
During surgery, your doctor rearranges the layers of the lip - the skin, the muscle, and the lining - then closes the gap in a way that rebuilds the lip border and the philtrum (the vertical groove between the upper lip and the nose) as evenly as possible. The exact technique is chosen to suit the shape and width of the gap.
The length of surgery and the hospital stay vary from case to case. Afterward, the patient is watched in a recovery area, and the doctor will explain how to care for the stitches, how to feed or eat, and when to return for follow-up.
Surgery aims to close the gap, restore function, and make the lip line more balanced. The real result needs time to settle as the stitches heal and the soft tissue relaxes, and some cases need further refinement at later stages.
Healing after cleft lip surgery happens gradually. The first days often bring swelling and a tight, full feeling around the lip and nose; this eases with time. The milestones below are rough estimates and differ from person to person.
As with any surgery, this procedure carries risks you should understand clearly before you decide. The doctors will talk them through honestly so you can weigh them.
At The Gioi Dep, cleft lip surgery is approached as part of reconstructive care, not a single cosmetic procedure. The doctors assess function - eating, feeding, and forming sounds - alongside the shape of the face, and they are ready to coordinate with related treatments when a case needs several stages.
We take the time for you and your family to understand the plan, the choices, and the limits of surgery before anything begins. Follow-up is arranged so your doctor can watch the healing, support scar care, and talk honestly about the next steps.
During the operation you are under anesthesia, so you feel no pain. Afterward there is usually swelling and discomfort around the lip; the doctor will prescribe medication and show you how to ease it.
Yes. Any surgery that closes a gap leaves a scar. The doctor works to place the scar line along the natural folds of the lip so it stays more discreet, and it usually fades over time, though it does not disappear completely.
The goal is a lip line that is more balanced and harmonious. How natural it looks depends on how wide the original gap was, how your tissue heals, and sometimes on whether further refinement is needed. The doctor will talk realistically about what can be achieved in your case.
This varies from person to person. Many people return to light activity after roughly a few weeks, but still need to protect the lip area from knocks. Your doctor will set a timeline that fits you.
Sometimes. Some cases need only one surgery, while others need further refinement at a later stage, especially when the gap is wide or comes with a cleft palate. The doctor will explain the plan they expect.
The right time depends on weight, health, and the doctor's judgment about safety under anesthesia, rather than a fixed number. Book an exam so the doctor can assess your child.
Not necessarily. An adult with a cleft that was never treated, or who needs an earlier result refined, can still be a candidate for surgery. A consultation will help work this out for you.
The doctor will show you how to eat gently so you do not pull on the stitch area, and for a baby, how to feed in a suitable way. Following these instructions helps the wound heal more smoothly.
Lip surgery rebuilds the structure and can support how you form sounds, but speech also depends on the roof of the mouth and many other factors. Some cases need added speech therapy; the doctor will advise you more fully.
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.