Cleft lip revision surgery, India: What is cleft lip revision surgery? How is it performed? What is the recovery time? What post-surgery precautions must you take?

1. A cleft lip is a common birth defect affecting 1 in 700 children in India.
This anomaly occurs when the tissues that make up the lip do not join
completely before birth. As a result, there’s an opening in the upper lip

2. that could be large enough to go up to the nose. It is often caused by a
combination of factors, including certain antibiotics taken during
pregnancy or genetic reasons.
Apart from visual discomfort, a cleft lip causes functional discomforts,
including difficulty performing daily activities like eating, breathing,
talking, etc. For maximum benefit, it is best to correct the problem in
children before they turn one.
CLEFT LIP REVISION SURGERY – WHY DO YOU NEED ONE
In India, cleft lip revision surgery is carried out to reshape the lip and
make the patient feel comfortable with their appearance. The success
rate of cleft lip surgery in India is high, but certain unavoidable factors
could affect the outcome. For instance, when children undergo a
drastic change during puberty, the scar tissue created by the surgery
and other abnormalities may lead to an asymmetry of the nose and
mouth.

3. HOW IS A CLEFT LIP REVISION SURGERY IN INDIA PERFORMED?
Cleft repairs are more complex than a typical rhinoplasty and are
ideally performed by surgeons with expertise in cartilage grafting and
adult plastic surgery. Since puberty plays an important role in changing
the shape of the lip, it is advised to wait until the patients are 15 or
older before getting cleft lip revision surgery done.
The surgical procedure depends on the type and severity of the
deformity and the extent of the patient’s concerns. It also depends on

4. whether the cleft lip is superficial or muscle-related. If the problem is
superficial, it can be cured with minor treatments such as Botox
injections, local fap reconstruction, gel sheeting, fat grafting, or
mucosal excision.
Total lip revision and re-repair are required for muscle-related
problems, which might include modified Abbe flap, pedicled pro-labial
flaps, or orbicular orris eversion.
WHAT IS THE RECOVERY PERIOD FOR REVISION SURGERY?
Recovery time differs from patient to patient, but typically it takes a
week or two for the swelling to subside and about 3-4 weeks for the
incisions to completely heal, allowing the patient to resume normal
eating and activities. The scar would probably take about a couple of
months or years to completely fade and become softer and flatter.

5. HOW MUCH DOES REVISION SURGERY COST IN INDIA?
Cleft lip revision surgery cost in India depends on the type of cleft lip
and the type of treatment administered. Usually, the cost for cleft lip
revision surgery in India starts from INR 25,000 and could go up to INR
1,00,000 or more.
WHICH IS THE BEST HOSPITAL FOR REVISION SURGERY IN INDIA?
Richardsons Dental and Craniofacial Hospital offers affordable cleft lip
and palate surgery in India. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure and
facilities and under the guidance of Dr. Sunil Richardson, the hospital
has gained global recognition for all the right reasons.