Treatment will be provided by a Cleft Lip and Palate Team . This will be made up of specialists working together to make sure that the best possible treatment is given. A baby born with a cleft should be contacted by someone on their Cleft team within 24 hours of diagnosis. It requires a general anaesthetic and takes roughly one and a half hours. Most babies recover very quickly and will not experience much pain after this operation.
Medication is given for any discomfort.
The hospital stay for this operation is between 3 - 5 days. A parent is usually welcome to stay in hospital with the child. Feeding after the lip operation is not usually a problem. The nurse or the speech and language therapist on the cleft team will be able to answer any questions about feeding. The palate is usually repaired by the time a baby is a year old.