A cleft lip or cleft palate are common birth defects; they are also referred to as orofacial clefts. A cleft palate occurs when the tissue at the roof of the mouth doesn't properly close. A cleft lip is marked by failure of the lip to completely close. Both birth defects can occur on their own or together. 

Reconstructive surgery is necessary to repair orofacial clefts. Keep reading for a couple of important things to know about surgery for a cleft lip or cleft palate.

Surgery for Orofacial Clefts Isn't Solely for Cosmetic Reasons

It's a misconception that a cleft lip or cleft palate are merely cosmetic problems. While orofacial clefts may alter the baby's appearance, they have other consequences.

A baby with an orofacial cleft may struggle to make the sucking motion necessary for breast or bottle feeding. Until the cleft or palate is fixed, the baby may need to use a different bottle or feeding routine to ensure they're getting adequate nourishment. Feeding routines will focus on making it easier for baby to get enough milk in a reasonable amount of time. 

Orofacial clefts can also impact speech development and language acquisition. The malformation of the mouth makes it difficult for the baby to develop the necessary muscle function to learn how to speak properly. 

Babies with orofacial clefts may also suffer from dental problems. A cleft lip or palate can affect the development and alignment of the baby's teeth.

Numerous Operations are Often Necessary to Repair the Clefts

It's common for orofacial clefts to require multiple reconstructive surgery operations to completely reconstruct the mouth so that all functionality is restored. Usually, a cleft lip is repaired when a baby is a few months old. It's recommended to have this surgery sooner rather than later so that the baby can eat easier and develop adequate muscle strength to learn how to speak and eat solid food. 

If the baby also suffers from a cleft palate, surgery for this defect usually occurs during the baby's first or second year of life. The procedure to fix a cleft palate is more intense than that used to fix a cleft lip. Most surgeons prefer to do the operation on older babies or toddlers to ensure they're able to tolerate the operation. 

How many operations a cleft lip or cleft palate requires depends on the severity of the defect. Your surgeon might advise that your child has multiple procedures to minimize the likelihood of scarring and reduce the recovery period after surgery.