A cleft lip results from improper fusion of the growing parts of the face during embryonic development. Cleft lip repair (cheiloplasty) is the surgical procedure done to correct the groove-like cleft defect in the lip. A timely surgical repair is needed to correct the defect, preventing future problems with breathing, speaking and eating and for improving one’s physical appearance and psychological well-being. A cleft lip is described as complete if it extends from the lip all the way till the nose and if it appears as a small gap or indentation, it is described as incomplete. If the cleft lip is present on both right and left sides, it is referred to as bilateral and if present just on one side it is called as unilateral.
A European couple from Bulgaria brought their 4-month-old baby girl to us for surgical repair of her cleft lip defect. She had unilateral incomplete cleft lip, left side. A primary cleft lip repair surgery using modified Millard’s technique was done adapting it to the incomplete cleft defect. With this surgical correction, symmetrically shaped nostrils, lips that appear as natural as possible and a functional muscle of the lip was achieved. It is crucial to achieve the peak of the Cupid's bow on the cleft side that does not droop following surgery. An advantage of this technique is that it creates the nostril sill and corrects the flared alar base. The baby’s parents are very happy with the surgery outcome and their child’s improved appearance that too with a barely noticeable scar.
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