Cleft Lip | Cleft Palate

Cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, affects one in 1,000 babies every year and is the 4th most common birth defect in the United States. Partnering with an experienced pediatric plastic surgeon is essential to guide you and your child through the reconstructive process and obtain an excellent functional and aesthetic result. Dr. Mark Fisher offers a high level of fellowship training in craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery, enabling him to repair cleft lip and cleft palate issues with consistent success.

Ensuring Your Child’s Quality of Life

Cleft lip and cleft palate are unfortunately among some of the most commonly seen facial birth defects in the entire world. Repairing a cleft lip and/or cleft palate requires a high level of training and skill in the specific field of craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery, making Dr. Mark Fisher uniquely trained to perform these procedures in Westport and the surrounding areas.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Dr. Fisher can repair your child’s cleft lip and/or palate and ensure their quality of life moving forward, we’re excited to hear from you. Simply reach out and set up your consultation at our Westport location.

What Is a Cleft Lip or Palate?

Cleft lip and cleft palate typically occur when the facial tissues do not properly develop while a child is in the womb. It’s possible for children to be born with one condition or the other, but in more severe cases a child can be born with both. Cleft lip refers to a separation between the two segments of the upper lip and is caused by their failure to fuse at the midline during development. This can be as mild as a small notch in the upper lip, or a fuller separation in severe cases. It can also impact only one side (unilateral cleft lip) or both sides (bilateral cleft lip). Although called a cleft lip, this disorder also affects the shape and structure of the nose, which must be addressed at the time of reconstruction.

A child born with a cleft palate will have an opening in the roof of their mouth, and can also range in severity. This may result in difficulty with a bottle or breast feeding and will affect speech development if left untreated. Regardless of the severity or details of your child’s condition Dr. Fisher will be able to perform reconstructive surgery that restores their appearance and function in equal measure.

Reconstructing a Cleft Lip or Palate

The surgical restoration of these issues requires tremendous attention to detail, which is why Dr. Fisher is proud to bring an extensive amount of fellowship training and dedication to the table. In most cases, cleft lip repair is performed at 3 months of age as a single procedure to reconstruct the lip and the nose. Most children will go home the same day and be seen for regular follow-up appointments in Dr. Fisher’s office.

Cleft palate restoration is usually performed around one year of age. Dr. Fisher will close the gap in the mouth and reorient the palatal muscles into their correct position to ensure proper speech. Most children will spend one night in the hospital and go home the next day.

Dr. Fisher’s Extensive Fellowship Training

Dr. Mark Fisher understands that a cleft lip or palate can significantly impact the lives of both you and your child. Dr. Fisher will call upon his extensive training and detailed understanding of craniofacial plastic surgery to work with you and develop a surgical plan that sees him restoring your child’s full facial functionality.

Your consultations will be your opportunity to ask any questions you might have, so you and your child can move through the experience with comfort and peace of mind at every step of the way. To learn more about how Dr. Mark Fisher and his dedicated team can help you and your child, reach out and set up your consultation at our Westport location today.

Cleft Lip | Cleft Palate

Ensuring Your Child’s Quality of Life

What Is a Cleft Lip or Palate?

Reconstructing a Cleft Lip or Palate

Dr. Fisher’s Extensive Fellowship Training

Schedule a Consultation