Will my toddler/preschooler need surgery?

Most children born with clefts in the United States undergo surgery to close their cleft lip and/or palate within the first year of life. Once your child’s palate is closed, further surgery will likely not be needed until the early school-age years, when members of the team may suggest surgery to adjust the appearance of the lip and nose, usually before a child enters first grade.

If your child’s previous palate-repair operation has not completely closed the palate, the team or surgeon may suggest another procedure. The team or surgeon will explain all aspects of the operation, including how it relates to a child’s speech. As an alternative, the team may suggest a prosthetic speech aid, such as a plate or lift, to help close the palate and improve speech (find more information on speech and language, below).

Citations:

American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association. Parameters of Care For Evaluation and Treatment of Individuals with Cleft Lip and/or Palate and/or Other Craniofacial Conditions. ACPAcares.org. Published February 14, 2025. Accessed February 14, 2025.

https://acpacares.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2024-ACPA_ParametersOfCare_Final.pdf.

American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association. Toddlers and Preschoolers. APCAcares.org. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://acpacares.org/resource-center/..

Raju H, Padmanabhan TV, Narayan A. Effect of a palatal lift prosthesis in individuals with velopharyngeal incompetence. Int J Prosthodont. 2009;22(6):579-585.

Page reviewed by Tasha Hall, DMD, MSD; ACPA Family Resources Committee