The team approach to treatment of the cleft lip and palate

The team consists of a family physician, plastic surgeon, orthodontist, prosthodontist, otolaryngologist, speech therapist, audiologist and social worker. A cleft lip is usually repaired when the child weighs 10 lb., is 10 weeks old and has 10 Gm. of hemoglobin. Defects of the secondary palate are repaired between one and two years of age; residual lip or nasal deformities are corrected before the child starts school. Further cosmetic surgery is delayed until adolescence, when facial growth has been completed.