Cleft lip is a condition that occurs as a child is developing before birth in which the lip fails to join, or fuse, together normally. The cleft can be on one or both sides of the lip or, rarely, in the middle. Cleft lip almost always occurs on the upper lip.
Cleft lip occurs due to a combination of environmental and genetic causes. In a large number of cases, we are not able to pinpoint a specific cause.
Environmental factors that may contribute to cleft lip include:
A cleft lip can also be a result of genetic factors. When your child has been diagnosed with cleft lip, we recommend that you meet with one of our genetic counselors.
Cleft lip is one of the most common birth defects. More than 4,000 babies are born with a cleft lip each year in the United States.
The tissues of the face and lip form during the first two months of pregnancy. Tissue from each side of the face grows toward the center of the face to form the facial features. When these tissues don’t join together entirely, an opening, called a cleft, remains. The cleft can be a small slit or a large opening that reaches into the nose.
Cleft lip is diagnosed at birth but can often be diagnosed before your child is born during an ultrasound. The cleft lip is typically visible on the ultrasound around the 30-week mark or later.
If your child has been diagnosed before birth, we recommend meeting with our prenatal counselors, including team members from Human Genetics, and with our surgeons.
Based on the findings of the ultrasound, team members from Human Genetics may recommend other tests.
Clefts are grouped into classifications based on the side of the lip where the cleft is and how severe it is. Almost all clefts affect the nose as well. The classifications are as follows:
Repair of a cleft lip is usually performed when the baby is around 3 or 4 months old. The goal of the cleft lip repair is to close the gap created when the lip failed to form.
During the repair, our surgeons will undo and then stitch together the cleft lip. Depending on the type of cleft and how severe it is, this may be done in more than one surgery. The surgery will also typically involve correction of the nose during the same surgery.
Before your baby’s surgery, we may use a taping regimen. With this technique, tape is placed across the cleft and helps to mold the tissues closer to each other prior to surgery.
This timeline is a general treatment plan overview. Each child with a cleft lip is unique and will have their own treatment plan.
If your child has been diagnosed with a cleft lip before birth, it’s important to begin educating yourself before delivering your child. This will help you know what to expect when caring for your child after birth.
Call the Cleft and Craniofacial Center and ask to schedule a prenatal visit. This meeting will include team members from Human Genetics and Plastic Surgery.
Immediately following surgery, your child’s incision and the area around the nostrils will need to be gently cleansed of bloody drainage and dried blood. Gently cleanse with water using a cotton swab daily.
Your baby will have elbow restraints for one to two weeks after surgery to keep their hands away from the surgical site. Restraints need to be removed to exercise the arms. Remove one restraint at a time, on a rotating basis, every hour or so to exercise and massage the arms. Your child must be supervised when the elbow restraint is off.
With treatment, children with clefts do very well. Our team is here to help you through all of your child’s treatments. The coordinated care we offer means your child’s medical needs will be addressed appropriately, which helps children with clefts grow up to lead active, healthy lives.
Your child may require additional surgeries after the initial repair to revise the lip or nose reconstruction. It is common for children with clefts to receive dental and orthodontic care and speech therapy as they get older.
Your child may experience emotional difficulties coping with multiple surgeries and social stigmas of facial scars. Our craniofacial team works closely with psychologists and social workers to support your child through these types of challenges.
Cleft lip often occurs along with cleft palate (when the tissues in the roof of the mouth fail to join together properly).
Children with cleft lip and palate frequently have problems with feeding and speaking clearly. They also might have problems with their teeth, ear infections, and hearing loss.
Our team of leading specialists provides expert care for a wide range of craniofacial conditions, including cleft lip and cleft palate. We understand that children and teens with these conditions often have unique and complex needs, so we design personalized, family-centered treatment plans to deliver the best possible outcomes
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Last Updated 01/2024
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