Cleft lip and palate surgery

Each year, around 1 in every 700 babies in the UK are born with a cleft lip or palate. This is the most common congenital condition. Due to the unopposed pull of the lip muscles on the nose and bony differences, patients with a cleft lip or cleft lip and palate have a deviated septum and an abnormal shape to their nose. This can affect the function of breathing and the well-being of patients. 

A cleft septorhinoplasty is a form of rhinoplasty focused on enhancing both the appearance and function of the nose. It can improve the appearance of the nose, as well as remove any internal nasal obstructions that are causing breathing difficulties.

The surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and will take around 3 hours. The surgeon makes an incision along the columella, and the inner lining of the nostril, exposing the cartilage and septum. This allows the surgeon to perform corrections to straighten the nose and septum. The surgeon can also make aesthetic adjustments to the nose during this procedure, such as refining the tip of the nose. In the UK, this procedure is only performed by cleft surgeons, such as Mr Chummun.