Cleft Nose, Revision Rhinoplasty for Complex Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Cases
Revision rhinoplasty reshapes the nose to suit the face and support your confidence, or rhinoplasty can be combined with correcting nasal structure problems caused by a “cleft lip and cleft palate”, which is a complex type of surgery.
A cleft lip and cleft palate is a condition present from birth that affects several parts of the facial structure. With a cleft lip, the lip and the roof of the mouth are misshapen because there was not enough tissue to form the lip during pregnancy. A cleft lip affects the muscles, cartilage and bone, so the face is misshapen and out of balance, including the mouth and nose. People with a cleft lip and cleft palate often have these facial features:
- a crooked nose, with the nostril tilted towards the side of the cleft
- uneven nostrils, such as a flat right nostril and a wide left nostril
- a wide, flat, flared nasal base
- a low, flat bridge with no definition
- a deviated septum, with both nasal passages bent, making breathing difficult
- misshapen, uneven tip cartilage
Rhinoplasty is done after the age of 18, when the bones have finished growing. Because rhinoplasty to correct a cleft lip changes several parts of the face, it is necessary to wait until your facial structure has fully grown.
Revision Rhinoplasty for a Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Is More Complex
than Standard Rhinoplasty
Why Revision Rhinoplasty Can Help People With a Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Revision rhinoplasty aims both to reshape the nose and to correct the septum so that it is more symmetrical, which may help you breathe more easily and feel more confident.
How to Prepare for Revision Rhinoplasty for Complex Cases and Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Have a physical examination to assess how severe the abnormality is and to assess your facial structure.
What Revision Rhinoplasty for Complex Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Cases Involves
In general, the surgeon assesses the internal structure of the nose to plan surgery, such as:
- adjusting the nasal base and repositioning the bones to make them more symmetrical
- building up the bridge with a material the surgeon considers suitable for each case
- reshaping the nasal tip so that it is slimmer and in balance with the face
- if the septum is found to be deviated, it needs correcting to make breathing easier, and this can be done in the same operation as rhinoplasty
Revision rhinoplasty in complex cases and for people with a cleft lip and cleft palate is surgery that needs experience and care at every step, so that after surgery the nose is in better balance with the face and breathing may be easier.
Why Is Rib Cartilage a Suitable Material for Rhinoplasty to Correct a Cleft Lip?
- rib cartilage is your own tissue and there is enough of it to support the nasal structure and correct nasal deformity well, building a strong structural base
- it can correct a deviated septum and unbalanced nostrils
- it can be used to lengthen the central bridge of the nose
- it can be used to reshape misshapen nostrils so that they look straighter and more even
Reviews of Revision Rhinoplasty for Difficult Cases at S45 Clinic
Note: Revision rhinoplasty, which many people know as “nose reshaping”, is surgery for people who have had nose surgery before and need a further assessment by a surgeon. The approach to care depends on the original concern, the nasal structure and the surgeon’s judgement in each case.
