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Palate reconstructive surgery is an invasive procedure done to correct or repair any abnormality in the hard and soft palate.
Palate reconstructive surgery is an invasive procedure done to correct or repair any abnormality in the hard and soft palate.
Palate reconstructive surgery is done to correct:
- Cleft lip and cleft palate (birth defects that develop when the left and right sides of a baby's face do not grow together during pregnancy)
- Obstructive sleep apnea (removal and repositioning of tissue to increase airway and facilitate normal breathing during sleep)
- Removal of cancer in the maxillary sinuses above the roof of the maxilla
What are cleft lip and palate?
Cleft lip and palate are birth abnormalities that develop when the left and right sides of a baby's face do not grow together during pregnancy. The severity of these disorders varies, and they may affect one or both sides of the mouth.
Surgery is necessary to correct a cleft lip and palate. In the most severe instances, it is a medical necessity (when the baby is at risk of aspiration of breastmilk due to a palatal defect).
Cleft lip restoration is best performed between the ages of three and six months. When it comes to cleft palate repair, the best time to start is between the ages of 9 and 18 months.
Cleft lip and palate are usually single incidents that happen at random and are not inherited. However, they may be part of a syndrome that involves other congenital problems. Having one kid with a cleft lip or palate raises the probability of a subsequent child being affected slightly.
Aside from the cosmetic look of a cleft lip, a cleft lip and palate can cause a variety of functional issues, such as:
- Feeding issues, particularly with nursing
- Breathing problems
- Ear infections, such as glue ears, can cause hearing loss
- Dental issues
- Delay in speech and language
How are cleft lip and palate corrected?
Cleft lip repair
The cleft lip repair treatment takes about one to two hours and is performed under general anesthesia on children as young as three to six months.
- Incisions are made on both sides of the cleft, lowering down the dark pink outer section.
- The surgeon then pulls the skin and muscle of the lip together to restore muscular function and a "cupid's bow" form.
- Sutures are applied, and a temporary nasal stent is inserted.
Children can quickly start bottle-feeding with a crosscut nipple after cleft lip repair. The sutures will be removed within a few days. Pacifiers and pointed-edge toys should be avoided for roughly two weeks. To avoid injuries, arm restraints can be used. Direct sunlight should be avoided until the scar has grown.
Pain relievers may be provided to deal with any post-surgery discomfort. As the swelling subsides, expect recovery to take several weeks.
Cleft palate repair
The cleft palate repair treatment takes about two to six hours and is performed under general anesthesia on children as young as 9 to 18 months.
- The surgeon performs incisions on both sides of the separation and pushes the tissue flaps to the middle of the mouth, where the muscle is joined to enhance feeding and communication capabilities.
As soon as the child regains consciousness after cleft palate surgery, the child will be administered oral fluids. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine will be used to provide effective analgesia. Arm restraints may be required to avoid self-inflicted damage.
Does the palate reconstruction surgery leave a scar?
Scars are an unavoidable side effect of any invasive procedure. The specialist plastic surgeon will make every effort to reduce scarring and make the scars as invisible as possible.
For a few weeks following surgery, it is common for the surgical scar to seem larger and redder. The scar will eventually diminish, but it will never completely disappear. However, because of the shadows cast by the nose and upper lip, it is scarcely visible in many children.
Correction of abnormalities, such as asymmetry of the lips and nose, may necessitate further surgery. Children who have poor palate healing or speech may require an additional procedure in rare cases.
What is palate resection?
A palate resection is the surgical removal of all or a portion of the palate (the roof of the mouth) in case of cancerous conditions. When cancer approaches or invades the hard palate (the bony section of the palate) or soft palate (the area located behind the hard palate), it is removed. This procedure is done under general anesthesia.
- Hard palate resection
- The removal of part or all the bony component of the palate, which comprises the maxilla and palatal bone, is called a hard palate resection.
- If the tumor is small, the surgical hole can be closed with adjacent tissue. However, for big tumors, a free flap or a prosthetic obturator may be required to heal the wound.
- Soft palate resection
- A soft palate resection is the surgical removal of a piece or all the soft palate, which is the nonbony component of the palate right behind the hard palate.
- This procedure can be conducted by a transoral or open approach or through transoral robotic-assisted surgery, depending on the size and location of the tumor (TORS).
- A neck dissection will almost certainly be combined with a soft palate excision to remove cervical lymph nodes.
With every surgery, there will be complications, such as pain, bleeding, and the possibility of infection. Use of analgesics and antibiotics are recommended following surgery.