Kids who have had surgery for cleft lip/palate seem to have less visible scars than those done a generation ago.
How exactly have surgery methods improved?
In: 1809
Many of the answers here describe advances in surgery in general but not specifically in cleft palate/lip repair.
To answer your question, surgeons used to close the defect by simply pulling the skin together (known as primary closure). The “newer” technique of the last few decades comes not from new sutures or tools (though they are used), but from our improved understanding of embryology – the upper lip unfurls towards the center, and the palate grows towards the center from the sides and has a separate piece that forms a wedge on the anterior. With that knowledge, we now more closely recreate the natural development of the lips/palate using flaps and rotation instead of primary closure. This improves the cosmetic outcome as well as the functional outcome (improved voice and ability to chew/manipulate food with the mouth).
Source: I have a cleft lip and palate, and am also a 4th year medical student going into surgery.
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