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
Plastic surgery (and surgery in general) continues to advance along with medicine in general. Machines like the Da Vinci are precise enough to [suture grape skin](https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/surgery-articles/they-did-surgery-on-a-grape-and-we-did-a-q-and-a-with-a-surgeon-about-it). While that equipment isn’t really used for a cleft lip it’s a good example of how far it’s come.
The price has also come down on a lot of the more normal equipment that allows more precise work, and more hospitals have access to surgeons with the specialty skills needed for best outcomes. It’s a bit like taking your car to the mechanic down the street vs taking it to someone who specializes in only your model of car. Both can get the job done but one will be overall faster and more effective. It’s one of the upsides to the consolidation and centralization of hospitals into mega medical groups.
Beyond that, I think there’s a lot of movement towards early intervention for minor birth defects that are low impact resolutions. Fix it early, a baby’s body can heal scars better than a child or adult’s.
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