[건강톡톡] Curious about the treatment of ‘cleft lip and palate’… deformed nose?

Cleft lip and palate is a disease in which an abnormal space is formed between the roof of the mouth and lips at birth. When the upper lip is split, it is called ‘cleft lip’, when the roof of the mouth is split, it is called ‘cleft palate’, and when these two cases are combined, it is called ‘cleft lip and palate’. Cleft lip and palate require active treatment because they cause problems in eating and talking in addition to external problems. We learned about cleft lip and palate with Haidak experts.

Cleft lip and palate is a disease in which the roof of the mouth and lips are split at birth, resulting in an abnormal space｜Source: Clip Art Korea

Q. What is cleft lip and palate?
Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital facial deformities.

These two diseases occur when the tissues that make up the lips and palate fail to fuse between 4 and 8 weeks of age when the face is made, and then separate again.
– Haidak plastic surgery consultant Kang Mun-seok (Wonjin Plastic Surgery Clinic)

In the case of cleft lip, there are names depending on the shape and degree of defect. ‘Unilateral’ if the defect is on one side, ‘bilateral’ if it’s on both sides, ‘complete cleft lip’ if it’s born completely split, ‘rudimentary cleft lip’ if the defect is not visible (not born cleft) and there are only traces do.
– Gilhwan Cho, a consultant at Haidak Plastic Surgery Clinic (Misoyu Plastic Surgery Clinic)

Q. When does cleft lip and palate treatment start?
Cleft lip and cleft lip surgery is performed around 100 days after birth. If cleft palate is accompanied, cleft lip surgery is performed, followed by cleft palate surgery while observing the growth rate of the child between 10 and 16 months of age.
– Haidak plastic surgery consultant Kang Mun-seok (Wonjin Plastic Surgery Clinic)

Q. If cleft lip and palate surgery goes well in infancy, will it be okay afterwards?
Even if the primary cleft lip and palate surgery is perfectly performed in infancy, secondary deformity symptoms such as deformed nose cartilage or scars on the lips will appear due to the difference in growth tissue speed and lack of growth potential. It is recommended to perform the second cleft lip surgery after the age of 16, after the growth of the nose and the development of the facial skeleton are complete.
– Haidak plastic surgery consultant Kang Mun-seok (Wonjin Plastic Surgery Clinic)

Q. I had a cleft lip and palate surgery when I was a child, and then got another nose job after I became an adult. It’s been 17 days since my nose surgery… I’m still worried that my nose is a bit crooked.
Nasolabial deformity correction surgery due to cleft lip and palate is a bit more complicated than correcting a normal crooked nose. In general, it is difficult to correct 100% of a nasal bone fracture or a nose that looks crooked due to facial bone asymmetry. It is said that the human body cannot be symmetrical. Even for those who do not have a crooked nose, there is a difference in the shape of the right and left faces, and there are few people who have a straight nose in the forward direction.

If it is 17 days after surgery, the first thing to do is to be careful not to get external shocks or stimuli. This is because the part of the nasal bone that has been adjusted to correct a crooked nose has not yet been properly attached. Therefore, frequent touching or stimulation should be avoided. In addition, it takes at least 6 to 18 months to judge the proper form (result). This is the time it takes for the surgical site to stiffen and the tissue to recover, and only after that time can it be said that it is a proper result. It is helpful to follow the postoperative precautions and management methods guided by the medical staff of the hospital where you received the surgery without thinking too quickly.

In addition, in the case of non-deformation due to cleft lip and palate, as much tissue is lacking as much as the tissue was lost in childhood, if proper corrective surgery is not performed, the shape may change slightly over time. Therefore, it is recommended to consult with a medical team with extensive clinical experience in corrective surgery for nasolabial deformity due to cleft lip and palate.
– Gilhwan Cho, a consultant at Haidak Plastic Surgery Clinic (Misoyu Plastic Surgery Clinic)

Q. Can I brush my teeth after cleft lip and palate surgery?
In the case of cleft palate, a large incision is made in the roof of the mouth to make a flap and move it, so there is a large hole in the roof of the mouth, and this hole is filled with new flesh over time. At the beginning of the operation, the mouth may bleed because of these punctures and cuts. Avoid brushing your teeth as much as possible, but it is better to use a very soft brush or gargle if possible.
– Haidak Plastic Surgery Counseling Doctor Kwon Yong-seok (K-Angel Plastic Surgery Clinic)

* This article has been reconstructed from a Haidak expert’s answer.

Help = Haidak Counseling Doctor, Kang Mun-seok (Plastic Surgery Specialist, Wonjin Plastic Surgery Clinic), Haidak Counseling Doctor, Dr. Cho Gil-hwan (Misoyu Plastic Surgery Clinic, Plastic Surgery Specialist), Haidak Counseling Doctor, Dr. Kwon Yong-seok (Plastic Surgery Specialist, K-Angel Plastic Surgery Clinic)

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