- Closure of the cleft resulting in a scar located within or near the typical features of the upper lip
- Formation of a cupid’s bow (the curves along the center of the upper lip)
- Establishing adequate distance between the upper lip and nose
Clefts of the upper lip typically affect the shape of the nose and additional procedures may be recommended to:
- Restore nasal symmetry and nostril shape
- Straighten and create adequate length for the columella (the tissue that separates the nostrils)
Because the palate creates the floor of the nasal cavity and is responsible for allowing normal speech, considerations in repairing a cleft palate include:
- Separating the mouth and nasal tissues by closing the defect along its length
- Re-establishing soft palate muscle function to promote normal speech
- Recreating normal relation of the soft palate to the auditory canal and Eustachian tube to allow for normal hearing
- Promoting as much as possible the normal growth and development of the upper jaw and teeth
- Repairing, when appropriate, any defects in the gumline to allow for permanent tooth eruption