Chapter 9: Surgery

The operations to repair the cleft lip and palate are performed by a plastic surgeon using specialized techniques to reposition existing tissue into a normal structure. The timing for the surgical correction of the clefts will depend on the specific pattern of deformity and your child's general health. It is very unusual for any new tissue or grafts from other parts of the body to be needed for the repair, for there is virtually always enough skin and soft tissue already present in the lip and mouth.

Part of your child's treatment programme will include surgical operations and at these times you will need a little more patience and understanding because surgery is as stressful to the child as it is to you. It is important that one parent spend as much time in hospital with the child as possible. It is clear that children who have had the benefit of having their parents with them in hospital cope better with hospitalization. Many hospitals have special accommodation for parents so that you can 'live in' while your child has the operation and is recovering from it.

Further Information

To obtain further information on "Cleft Lip and Palate: A Parent's Guide", please contact Belinda Liston:

Jill Barbuto
Cleft Palate Clinic Coordinator
The Cleft Palate Clinic
The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Locked Bag 4001
WESTMEAD NSW 2145
AUSTRALIA
T: + 61 2 9845 2079
F: + 61 2 9845 2078
E: Jill.barbuto@health.nsw.gov.au