What Is Cheiloplasty (Cleft Lip Repair)?

What Is Cheiloplasty (Cleft Lip Repair)?

Cheiloplasty is the surgical procedure used to repair a cleft lip. It is performed by a plastic surgeon specializing in craniofacial surgery.

• What the surgery does:
• Closes the gap in the upper lip
• Restores the normal contour of the lip
• Aligns the muscle fibers of the lip
• Repositions the nostril (partially or fully)
• Creates a natural-looking Cupid's bow and vermillion border

Common surgical techniques:

• Millard rotation-advancement technique:
• The most common technique for unilateral cleft lip
• The cleft edge is "rotated" down on the medial (inner) side
• The lateral (outer) side is "advanced" inward
• Creates a natural-looking scar along the philtral column

• Mohler technique:
• A modification of the Millard
• Often used for wider clefts
• Produces a longer scar on the non-cleft side

• Mulliken technique:
• Used for bilateral cleft lip
• Addresses both sides and the central lip
• Often performed in two stages

• What to expect:
• Surgery takes 1–3 hours
• The baby stays in the hospital 1–2 nights
• Stitches are dissolvable or removed at 5–7 days
• Arm restraints (no-no's) are used to prevent the baby from touching the lip

Recovery

• Swelling subsides over 1–2 weeks
• The scar will be red for several months
• Scar management begins after healing (silicone gel, massage)

Clinical Guidance

Cheiloplasty is the surgical repair of a cleft lip. It closes the gap, restores muscle function, and improves nasal shape. It is typically performed at 3–6 months of age using well-established techniques that produce excellent results.