Timing of cleft lip and palate repair

The opinions presented below concerning the choice of the timing of the cleft lip and palate repair have been presented on the basis of the literature and own experience. The comments and attempts to make an assessment reflect both direct contacts with representatives of numerous centres conducting interdisciplinary treatment of patients with clefts, as well as 35 years of the first author's experience gained in the course of treating 5,500 cases of primary clefts, besides own patients and numerous post- cleft deformities.