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I’m 25 years old. I was born with a cleft lip and I want to know is there anyway I can get my
Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Dental Issues
Sep 6, 2016
The phases of cleft care are age dependent. The facial bones are fully grown at about age 16yo for females and 18 yo for males, so your face has been fully developed for some time. From your pictures there appear to be 2-3 issues related to your bite and dentition. The arch of the upper teeth may be narrower than the lower teeth which can affect how the teeth fit together. The upper jaw is behind the lower jaw causing an underbite. The ways to fix this usually requires the upper jaw to…
Can surgery fix my asymmetrical nose and lips caused by a cleft lip?
Adult Cleft Lip and Nasal Deformity
Mar 12, 2016
I appreciate your question and understand your concerns. The asymmetry in your left nostril is either due to scar tissue that restricted growth of the cartilage and skin; or is part of the original shape changes in the nose that accompanied the cleft lip that were not addressed with your other surgeries. Much of what you described and what the photos show demonstrate typical changes in the nose that occur with growth following cleft lip repair. The step off of the lip where the pink…
Is it possible to have cleft lip fixed since I already had nose job done?
Cleft Lip Revision
Mar 12, 2016
It is common for patients to seek revision of cleft lip repair if they have an unsatisfactory result. Insurance will often cover this type of surgery but calling your insurance company is an important step in planning.I recommend seeking a consultation for revision of your lip repair from a surgeon with extensive experience in caring for children and adults with cleft lip an palate. Your surgeon needs to have experience with cleft lip repair techniques and the usual patterns of scarring…
I want my nose and lip to look normal. I had cleft lip and nose surgery. What are my options?
Cleft Lip and Nasal Deformity
Mar 12, 2016
The asymmetry in the lip and nose in your photos are common after cleft lip repair. The changes in the nasal shape are primarily caused by scar tissue that restricts growth of the cartilage and skin or areas that were not fully addressed with your early repairs. With regard to the lip, I believe that some improvements can be made in the symmetry, but there will always be a scar that can be detected if someone looks closely. The goals of you treatment should be to remove the obvious signs…
21 years after cleft lip repair, should I seek further care?
Adult cleft nasal deformity after cleft lip repair as an infant
Mar 12, 2016
The changes in the nasal shape that accompany cleft lip can vary significantly in their severity. Surgeons usually take steps to correct the uneven appearance of the nose at the time of the cleft lip repair and most have good success. As children with repaired cleft lip grow, especially during the rapid growth of the nose accompanying puberty, the nose will assume a similar shape to the original cleft deformity. This asymmetry is primarily caused by scar tissue that restricts growth of the…
I’m 59, female, born with a cleft lip. I’ve had several surgeries. What can I do about the sc
Adult Cleft Lip and Nasal Surgery
Aug 19, 2015
I recommend getting a consultation from someone in your area who is board certified and specialize in care of cleft patients. It is important that the surgeon focuses on cleft rhinoplasty as a regular part of their practice as rhinoplasty for patients with a history of cleft lip and palate requires special expertise. It is important to note that many of your “stuffed up” symptoms may be due to allergies and not the anatomy of your nasal cavity. Your snoring symptoms may also be unrelated….
Top doctors and facial reconstructive surgeons in California?
Reconstructive surgeon for facial trauma
Aug 19, 2015
Most patients with complex trauma problems are initially referred to a major regional trauma center. I recommend finding out what the major trauma centers are in your area as the plastic surgeons there will likely have the most experience dealing with acute and long term consequences of facial trauma. Usually these centers tend to be academic centers in major metropolitan areas. In Los Angeles these would include UCLA and USC and in San Francisco would be UCSF. Kaiser also has experienced…
How much do you think my Rhinoplasty would cost for African American woman?
African American Rhinoplasty
Aug 14, 2015
Hello. It sounds like you are looking for some changes that many African American women desire from a rhinoplasty. Usually, the bridge of the nose (dorsum of the nose) is built up with cartilage from the nasal septum or a ribcage. The width of the nose and size of the nostrils can be improved by removing some of the nostril tissue (ala). I understand that you may not want to have whole-face pictures on the web, but the pictures you provided are not very useful. Providing better pictures will…
Adult cleft lip reconstructive surgery concerns
Adult Cleft Lip Surgery
Jul 30, 2015
Many patients who have had cleft lip and palate surgery as a child find themselves in the same position you are in now as an adult. The coverage of these procedures may vary between providers. I consider this type of surgery to be a reconstructive procedure because you were born with this problem, but insurance companies may still not cover this. Calling your insurance company would be the most direct way to answer your question regarding coverage. Adults with problems with their speech,…
What would be conservative surgical options to improve the look of a (treated) cleft lip in a
Options for upper lip notching after cleft lip repair
Jul 22, 2015
It is common to have some uneven bulk under the skin portion of a cleft lip repair. Even though this seems like a “small” problem it is important to see a surgeon who is experienced in cleft lip surgery. I recommend seeing a plastic surgeon who his board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has specialized training in cleft lip surgery. This problem is commonly referred to as a “whistle deformity.” The specialized pink part of the lip that women put lipstick on or we…