Cheiloschisis is known as cleft lip and Palatoschisis is known as cleft palate. The main vision for the procedure is to ensure that the child can speak ,eat and breathe properly. The cleft lip and palate procedures require multiple surgeries depending on the intensity.
Quick Notes
Cleft lip repair — between 1 to 4 months of age
Cleft palate repair — between 5 and 15 months of age
Follow-up surgeries — between age 2 and late teenage.
What do you mean by a cleft ?
A cleft is a natural groove or opening.
The cleft lip and palate are treatable and they generally occur individually or with a combination of both post procedure bleeding and poor healing are some of the common symptoms. Cleft Palate is a state when there is a fissure in the palate or the tough part of the roof of the mouth. Cleft Palate is sometimes connected with eye abnormalities either on the same or on the opposed side.
The final results post the procedure are quite satisfactory in general.
Post-Surgery Care and Long-Term Outlook
Aspect
Details / Recommendations
Primary Goal
To restore normal speech, feeding, and breathing functions while improving facial appearance.
Hospital Stay
Usually 2–4 days post-surgery depending on healing response and feeding ability.
Feeding Instructions
Soft or liquid diet for 7–10 days; avoid bottles or pacifiers until complete healing.
Pain Management
Mild pain managed with pediatric-safe analgesics as prescribed by the surgeon.
Speech Therapy
Begins after 1 year of age to improve pronunciation and articulation.
Scar Care
Gentle cleaning and application of doctor-recommended ointment to prevent scar thickening.
Follow-Up Frequency
Every 3–6 months during the first year, then annually through adolescence.
Multidisciplinary Team
Plastic surgeon, pediatrician, orthodontist, ENT specialist, and speech therapist.
Outcome
Excellent long-term results with near-normal facial appearance and function when treated early.
Doctors Timetable
Working Time