Is Cleft Lip Surgery Safe?
If you have a child with a cleft lip you may be torn between your desire to provide him or her with the benefits of surgery, and your concerns about the safety of the procedure. Surgery can help to eliminate most, if not all, of the complications of a cleft lip: like poor nutrition, weight loss, and ear and nose infections. However, every surgery involves some amount of risk.
What are the complications that could occur from cleft lip surgery? In order to understand the true risks and rewards of cleft lip surgery, you need to consider three main factors. These are the given risks of all types of surgery, complications unique to cleft lip surgery, and complications from improper preoperative or postoperative care.
Surgery in general involves three main areas of concern: the control of bleeding, the control of infection and the control of pain. At the International Craniofacial Institute, the surgeons have a number of methods to help control these factors. Blood loss may be controlled by the use of blood transfusions or the use of blood substitutes. Aseptic and antiseptic techniques help in controlling infection, and pain control is controlled by anesthesia. Your surgeon and a certified anesthesiologist will consider many factors including your child's weight, history, and overall health when determining the proper administration of anesthesia.
Precautions to Protect Your Child During and After Cleft Lip Surgery
The most common problem in cleft lip surgery is asymmetry, in which one side of the mouth and the nose does not match the other side. In cleft lip surgery, the primary goal in the first surgery is to close the separation of the cleft lip. Therefore, a second operation may be needed later to match both sides. Of course, additional surgeries increase the risk involved.
Other complications result when parents don't following preoperative or postoperative instructions. Preparing for cleft lip surgery, and heeding your surgeon's advice, can help to reduce this threat. For example, some families may want cleft lip surgery immediately after birth, but this is usually not advisable. Most doctors advocate that cleft lip surgery be delayed until 3-4 months of age, when the child's increased weight will help the operation's success. Doctors advise families to keep children's arms restrained for a period of time after cleft lip surgery in order to prevent irritation of the newly repaired lip. Failure to do this may result in complications and require another cleft lip surgery.
When performed in a certified facility by experienced surgeons, the risks of serious complications from cleft lip surgery are minimal. With over 35 years experience and 16,000 operations, craniomaxillo surgeons Dr. Genecov, Dr. Salyer, and Dr. Barceló are devoted to minimizing your child's risk from a cleft lip surgery. This team's association with the World Craniofacial Foundation and local specialists are designed to help give you and your child the best surgical outcome and experience possible.