Dallas
214-456-2240
Fax: 214-456-8881
Plano
469-497-2501
Fax: 469-497-2507
Request an Appointment with codes: Plastics and Craniofacial Surgery
214-456-2240
Fax: 214-456-8881
469-497-2501
Fax: 469-497-2507
Request an Appointment with codes: Plastics and Craniofacial Surgery
There are many types of cleft palate repair, and the best option will be discussed by your surgeon based on the individual cleft of the palate. Almost all operations for cleft palate involve these three main components:
Your surgeon will advise on which operation is the best choice, whether to repair the entire palate in one operation or to split the repair between two operations. You will also learn whether to expect the scar in the palate to be a straight line from front to back or whether to expect it to be Z-shape.
There are risks of problems after any operation. Cleft palate repair, or palatoplasty, is an effective and reliable operation in a large majority of children, but there are two main risks.
The first is the risk of fistula, or a hole in the repaired palate. This can be a problem as foods and drinks can escape through the hole and leak out through the nose. If the fistula is large enough, it can affect speech. Not all fistulas need to be repaired, but if there are any problems due to the hole, surgical repair is usually recommended.
The second is the risk of velopharyngeal dysfunction. This is a term to describe that the soft palate is not acting well as a valve to block air from traveling into the back of the nose and redirecting it into the mouth. As a result, there are problems with forming speech sounds.
Depending on the severity of the velopharyngeal dysfunction, this can range from soft speech or speech with added noise from air leaking through the nose, all the way to speech that is impossible to understand, even by close family. If velopharyngeal dysfunction is suspected, then it is investigated using specialized tests, and speech surgery may be recommended.
Your surgeon will advise on which operation is the best choice, whether to repair the entire palate in one operation or to split the repair between two operations. You will also learn whether to expect the scar in the palate to be a straight line from front to back or whether to expect it to be Z-shape.