Cleft surgery is usually performed after 3 months of the baby, if healthy, with an ideal weight and without anemia. Surgery to correct the cleft palate may be done when the baby is about 18 months old.
The cleft palate is characterized by an opening in the baby’s mouth, while the cleft lip is characterized by a ‘cut’ or lack of tissue between the baby’s upper lip and nose, and is easily recognizable. These are the most common genetic changes in Brazil, which can be solved by plastic surgery.
Learn about the causes of cleft lip and palate
Plastic surgery of the cleft lip and palate is performed under general anesthesia, as it is a delicate and precise procedure, although simple, that forces the baby to remain silent. The procedure is quick, takes less than 2 hours and only 1 day of hospitalization is required.
After that, the baby can be taken home, where he will continue to recover. After waking up, it’s normal for the baby to become irritated and want to take the hand to his or her face and to prevent the baby from putting his or her hands on his or her face, which can make healing difficult, your doctor may suggest that your baby be left with his or her elbows blindfolded with a diaper or gauze to keep his or her arms straight.
The participation of the Single Health System (SUS) in plastic surgery of clefts and palate was recently approved. In addition, it is the RESPONSIBILITy of the SUS to provide follow-up and complementary treatment to babies, such as psychologist, dentist and speech therapist to stimulate speech development and chewing and suction movements.
After 1 week of surgery to correct the cleft lip, the baby will be able to breastfeed and after 30 days of surgery, the baby should be evaluated by a speech therapist as it is usually necessary to perform exercises to speak normally. The mother will be able to massage the baby’s lip which will help heal better by avoiding adhesions. This massage should be performed with the index finger at the beginning of the scar with circular movements with a firm but gentle pressure on the lip.
After surgery, the baby should only eat liquid or pasty foods until it is completely cured, as the pressure exerted by solid food in the mouth during chewing can cause the stitches to open, making recovery and even speech difficult.
Examples of what the baby can eat are porridge, blender soup, juice, vitamin, mash. To add protein, you can add pieces of meat, chicken or egg to the soup and beat it in a blender, making it an excellent choice for lunch and dinner.
The first consultation should be made before surgery, to evaluate the position of the teeth, tooth arch and oral health, but after 1 month of surgery, you should return to the dentist to evaluate whether a procedure is still needed. such as dental surgery or the use of braces, for example. Learn more about your baby’s first visit to the dentist.