Cleft lip and palate awareness week 2019

7^th May 2019

Cleft Lip and Palate Awareness week is taking place from 04 - 12 May this year in order to raise public awareness of the condition and how it is treated. Diagnosis comes as a shock to many but thanks to the wealth of knowledge and expertise of this condition in the UK, the roughly 1,000 babies born here each year are seen by a specialist nurse within 24 hours of the condition being identified.

Surgery is generally carried out when a baby is between 3 and 12 months old in order to close the cleft and is performed by a consultant plastic surgeon with extensive experience in this area. Most babies recover very quickly after their operations and will not experience much pain in the days that follow, although medication is given for any discomfort.

For further advice on Cleft Lip and Palate, please see our full patient guide.

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