The Cleft Lip may be on the left or right - this is known as a unilateral Cleft. If it is on both sides it is a bilateral Cleft. The gap extends under the nostril through the gum and the roof of the mouth, this is the Palate. The Palate separates the mouth from the nose. The front half, because it has a layer of bone under the skin, is called the Hard Palate. The back half which is made up of muscle is called the Soft Palate. This is the most important part of the Palate as its job is to close off the nose from the mouth when the baby sucks, swallows and speaks.

The Plastic Surgeon Dr Shehab Beg will aim to see you and your baby within twenty four hours of being told of his birth. He will explain what the treatment plan will be and when Surgery will take place. The Surgeon will also provide help if your baby is having feeding problems. If you cannot bring the baby initially, because of the distance involved, or other reasons the Plastic Surgeon will be able to see you at your earliest convenience. The Paediatrician (Child Specialist) however, will see you and the baby and will explain what is going to happen. The Plastic Surgeon will discuss the plans can be made for your baby's operation in due course. You will be given an appointment to see the Plastic Surgeon in his clinic at Lincoln or Boston within a month of your baby's birth. He will then arrange the date of the operation with you.

Your baby's lip operation will take place when child is three months old. Some Plastic Surgeons like to repair the Cleft Lip in the first week of life. We do not do this as per international protocol we prefer your baby to become well established and strong before surgery. The Palate repair will be carried out when the baby is six to nine months old. If your baby was born premature these operations may be left until he is a little older.
The purpose of these operations is to recreate near normal appearance to the baby's lip, and good function to the Palate so that he will be able to suck, swallow and develop good speech in due course. They are carried out under a general anaesthetic. The lip repair is an extremely delicate operation and takes over one and a half hours.
The muscles and skin of the baby's lip and nose are carefully re-arranged and stitched to form a near normal shape. The Palate cleft is closed by making two little cuts either side of the Palate, next to the gum. This is to release the tension in the skin so that the muscles can be brought together and sewn up in the middle. These cuts heal up very quickly without any stitches in about ten days time. Despite your Surgeon being called a "Plastic Surgeon", no skin grafting is done!