What Is Cleft Lip and Palate Repair?
Cleft lip and palate repair is a specialized surgical procedure used to correct congenital openings in the upper lip and roof of the mouth. These conditions, known as cleft lip and cleft palate, occur when facial structures don't fully develop or fuse during early pregnancy, leaving a visible split or gap that can affect speech, eating, hearing, and appearance. At Mobile Oral and Facial Surgery, board-certified oral surgeons Dr. Christopher Mullenix and Dr. Aaron Wallender perform cleft repair procedures to restore proper oral function and support healthy development. Repairing a cleft not only improves a person’s ability to eat, speak, and breathe comfortably but also enhances facial symmetry and confidence, making it an important step for both health and emotional well-being. Contact our office in Mobile, AL to learn more or find out if you're a candidate for this procedure.
How Is Cleft Lip and Palate Repair Performed?
Cleft lip and palate repair is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia. Cleft lip repair is usually performed around 3 – 6 months of age, although it can also be done later in life. During the procedure, one of our surgeons will carefully make incisions along the edges of the cleft, then reposition and suture the skin, muscle, and mucosa to create a more natural-looking lip. This surgery typically takes 1 – 2 hours.
Cleft palate repair is usually done between 9 and 18 months of age and involves lifting the tissue on both sides of the cleft, then reconstructing the muscles and mucosal lining to close the opening between the mouth and nasal cavity. This not only restores the structure of the palate but also helps improve speech development and feeding ability. Cleft palate surgery generally takes 2 – 3 hours. Both procedures aim to improve essential functions like eating, speaking, and breathing, while also enhancing overall facial symmetry and confidence.
What Are the Benefits of Cleft Lip and Palate Repair?
Cleft lip and palate repair offers a range of functional and aesthetic benefits that can greatly improve quality of life, including:
- Restores normal eating and drinking abilities
- Improves speech development and clarity
- Enhances facial appearance and symmetry
- Reduces risk of ear infections and hearing loss
- Supports proper dental and jaw development
- Boosts self-esteem and confidence
- Facilitates normal breathing
- Minimizes social and emotional challenges
- Enables better overall health and growth
- Decreases the need for long-term medical interventions
Mobile Oral and Facial Surgery Reviews
Very professional, and willing to answer all questions to enable the patient to fill comfortable! Highly recommended!
Staff is excellent, kind and compassionate and committed to excellence. Dr Eric Lewis is the most knowledgeable Oral Surgeon, he shoots straight and walks you through every option and is with you through everything, he is always upbeat and uplifting! Highly recommended!
I have been seen at Dr. Mullenixs’ office on several occasions, as I was today. As usual, he took time to listen to my concerns and answer my questions to the fullest extent. He’s a very concerned and caring clinician. I’d recommend him to anyone!
Fantastic people: friendly, kind, helpful, knowledgable. Dr. Lewis explains everything simply and well. He has a great beside manner.
I had a very pleasant experience, and Dr. Lewis was very professional along with the staff. I highly recommend.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is best for cleft lip or palate repair?
Cleft lip repair is typically performed between 3 – 6 months of age, while cleft palate repair is often done between 9 – 18 months at Mobile Oral and Facial Surgery. These timelines ensure optimal healing and support developmental milestones like speaking and eating. However, these procedures can also be performed later in life if needed.
Will cleft repair surgery leave a visible scar?
Cleft repair surgery involves precise techniques to minimize scarring and improve facial symmetry. While there may be a small scar along the surgical site, it typically fades over time and becomes less noticeable. Dr. Mullenix and Dr. Wallender always strive to achieve natural results whenever possible.
Are there risks involved with cleft repair surgery?
As with any surgery, cleft repair involves some risks, such as infection, bleeding, or anesthesia-related complications. However, these risks are minimized when the procedure is performed by experienced surgeons in Mobile, AL. Our team prioritizes patient safety every step of the way.
Repair with Confidence
At Mobile Oral and Facial Surgery, Dr. Christopher Mullenix and Dr. Aaron Wallender offer advanced cleft lip and palate surgery to restore function, comfort, and confidence. Whether you or a loved one is seeking treatment for a cleft lip or cleft palate, our experienced oral surgeons provide personalized care using the latest techniques to support long-term results. Don't let a cleft condition affect your health or quality of life — schedule a consultation with our compassionate team in Mobile, AL and take the first step toward lasting improvement.