Cleft Lip and Palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital malformations in which the lip or the roof of the mouth does not close completely during development before birth. They can occur separately or together.

Characteristics: they appear as an opening in the lip, in the palate, or in both, which in the first months can make feeding difficult, affect later speech, and, in some cases, hearing.

When to see a doctor? Detection usually occurs at birth or even before; from that moment on, guidance from a healthcare team is advisable.

Which specialist treats it? Care is team-based: the plastic surgeon and the maxillofacial surgeon, together with the neonatologist, the pediatrician, and the dentist, support each stage. Relying on these professionals facilitates comprehensive follow-up from an early age.