Cleft Lip / Cleft Palate Surgery

Conveniently located to serve Minneapolis-St. Paul and Washington County

Partner with one of of the most recognized ENT / Facial Plastics teams in the Midwest to repair cleft lip and cleft palate.

A child born with cleft lip and palate can be an overwhelming experience for parents, siblings, and relatives. Cleft lip and palate congenital abnormalities are one of most common birth defects affecting approximately 1 in 750 births in the U.S. Although the diagnosis is frequently made by ultrasound during pregnancy, at times it is not discovered until birth. It is important to partner with a team of skilled and caring physicians who will help navigate you and your child through the process of correcting this condition and improving your child’s quality of life.

Dr. Christopher Tolan is a Midwest leader in the treatment of cleft lip and palate congenital deformities. He is also an active member of the Cleft Lip and Palate panel, which is held at St. Paul Children’s Hospital and Clinics on a monthly basis. In addition, he has traveled with the medical missions Love Without Boundaries (LWB), Children’s Surgery International (CSI), and Operation Hope; all volunteer organizations dedicated to providing surgical management for children and adults who have cleft lip and palate congenital malformations.

The treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate typically involves an outline for a staged approach to management. This initially consists of presurgical orthopedics or Nasoalveolar Molding. Usually this is started within the first weeks of life and helps improve the alignment of the lip, nose and palate. It is generally continued for a period of 12-16 weeks. The first stage in surgical repair is then undertaken and consists of placing ear tubes and repairing the lip. Repair of the palate is usually delayed until 9-12 months of age. It is not unusual for some children to undergo intermediate procedures in an effort to restore a more normal appearance.

View Cleft Lip / Nose Before/After Gallery

Utilizing a multidisciplinary cleft team approach including the cleft palate and lip surgeons, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons and restorative dentists helps manage some of the complex issues that may arise. Dr. Tolan will work directly with your medical team to ensure the best outcomes for your child and your family.

INDICATIONS:

• Cleft Lip and Palate
• Congenital malformations

BENEFITS:

• Improved appearance of cleft lip and palate
• Improved function mouth
• Improved function of nose
• Improved confidence