Surgery is an effective solution for children and adults suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate. It has been proven to improve a patient’s overall health and well-being and it helps to restore dignity and hope. In an ideal situation, a pediatrician and a plastic surgeon work with a child’s parents soon after the child’s birth to choose the best timing for surgery. Most doctors agree that a cleft lip should be repaired by the time a baby is 3 months old and that a cleft palate should be repaired between the ages of 12 and 18 months.
For many families in developing countries, early surgery may not be an option due to a lack of financial resources, qualified medical staff, and other factors.