Thank you!
We will contact you shortly
The Treatment
The management of cleft conditions must be handled by a TEAM of specialized doctors.
The Importance of Proper Cleft Treatment by a Specialized Medical Team
Cleft treatment is a long-term process that begins in infancy and continues into adulthood, requiring ongoing medical follow-up. The initial surgical procedures are critical for both the function and appearance of the child, and proper treatment must follow a carefully treatment plan. Management by a specialized medical Team is essential to prevent complications and achieve the best possible outcomes.
Learn More...
A child with a cleft will undergo surgeries and therapies from infancy through adolescence. The early procedures are crucial for the child’s functional integrity and appearance throughout life. Continuous and frequent medical monitoring is essential. Lack of regular follow-up may lead to complications with serious consequences that could have been successfully prevented through timely diagnosis.
Cleft care requires patience and time, but most importantly, it must be managed by a team of specialized doctors with the appropriate training and experience, as defined by EUROCLEFT and the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association. Medicleft is an active member of both.
To achieve the best functional and aesthetic outcomes, the child must be monitored continuously from birth through adolescence, following a carefully designed and coordinated treatment timeline that includes a series of interconnected surgical interventions.
Fragmented or inconsistent treatment can lead to unsatisfactory results, which are often difficult to correct later and may require additional surgeries and unnecessary distress for both the child and the family.
Proper cleft reconstruction requires a carefully planned treatment timeline and a specialized surgical approach.
Cleft Surgical Reconstruction
Cleft reconstruction requires a specialized medical team and a carefully planned surgical timeline. The first corrective procedures take place within the first months of life, while full rehabilitation may continue through adolescence. From lip and palate repair to bone grafting, each step is essential for healthy development and proper function.
Learn More...
The rehabilitation of a child with a cleft must be undertaken from the beginning by a Team of medical professionals from different specialties, all with dedicated expertise across the full range of cleft treatment. In experienced hands, the total hospital stay required throughout the course of treatment usually does not exceed one to one and a half weeks. Each hospital admission typically lasts between one and three days, with few exceptions.
The timeline for surgical treatment of clefts may vary from team to team. What follows is our preferred approach.
The correction of a complete unilateral cleft lip is typically performed at around three months of age. During the procedure, two flaps are created — one is rotated, and the other is advanced into the space formed by the rotation. The resulting scars follow the natural lines of the philtrum and in most cases become barely visible over time.
In bilateral clefts, the condition is more complex. The same surgical principles apply, but two or three procedures may be required depending on the severity. The first surgery addresses the lip, and the next focuses on lengthening the columella of the nose, which is often underdeveloped.
Palate repair is usually performed at around twelve months of age and includes reconstruction of both the soft palate (the mobile, muscular part at the back) and the hard palate, extending to the alveolar ridge where the teeth emerge.
Alveolar bone grafting takes place later, usually between the ages of 9 and 11. The surgical technique used during early palate repair significantly influences the future development of the upper jaw and speech. When a cleft extends into the alveolar ridge, successful orthodontic rehabilitation requires bone grafting in the area of the cleft. This is done by filling the gap with bone, typically harvested from the pelvis, to allow the permanent canine to erupt properly and to form a healthy dental arch for functional bite and an aesthetically pleasing smile. This procedure is usually combined with septum correction or minor aesthetic refinements of the lip when needed.
In cases of bilateral cleft, it may not be possible to place bone grafts on both sides during the same surgery, and two separate procedures may be required.
Treatment Plan
Before birth
● Contact the Medicleft Team● Contact with other parents (Chrysallida Foundation)● Genetic tests and contact with psychologist
7 days
● Presurgical Orthopedics
3-4 months
● Lip surgery and tubes in the ears
11-12 months
● Cleft Palate Surgery
4-5 years
● Speech Therapy● Supervision by a Pediatric Dentist● Orthodontic preparation for bone graft
9-11 years
● Bone graft● Supervision by pediatric dentist, pediatrician and ENT
11-13 years
● Orthodontic Treatment● Supervision by pediatric dentist, pediatrician and ENT
12 years
● Distraction Osteogenesis● Supervision by pediatric dentist, pediatrician and ENT
16-18 years
● Orthodontic preparation for orthodontic surgery● Supervision by pediatric dentist, pediatrician and ENT
18 years
● Orthognathic surgery● Corrective surgery (lip-nose)
Preparation for Surgical Reconstruction
Presurgical Orthopedic
Presurgical orthopedics begins within the first week of life using the NAM appliance, which helps shape the dental arch and prepares the baby for lip and nose surgery. This treatment reduces the width of the cleft, improves facial symmetry, and contributes to better aesthetic and functional outcomes.
Learn More...
Presurgical orthopedics begins in the first week of the baby's life.
The orthodontist fabricates a NAM device (Nasoalveolar Molding), which is placed on the upper jaw of the infant and assists in preparing for the lip and nose surgery, typically performed around the third month of life.
This therapy aims to align the alveolar segments and correct the shape of the dental arch. It also brings the lip segments closer together, helping to minimize scarring after surgery. Additionally, it supports the reshaping of the nasal cartilage, leading to improved aesthetic outcomes.
Medicleft is the leading center for the treatment of clefts and craniofacial anomalies in Cyprus.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Please leave your contact details and we will get in touch with you shortly to schedule your appointment.
Can't send form.
Please try again later.
Medicleft is the leading center for the treatment of clefts and craniofacial anomalies in Cyprus.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Please leave your contact details and we will get in touch with you shortly to schedule your appointment.
Thank you!
We will contact you shortly
Can't send form.
Please try again later.