Cleft palate surgery is generally performed between 12 and 18 months of age. However, we successfully treat many children and adult patients who have missed this ideal timeframe. Successful outcomes are achieved even for patients who have not undergone surgery for years due to fear, lack of information, or unawareness of treatment possibilities. We successfully treat many such patients in our country. Contrary to the belief that the optimal age for surgery has passed, our successful treatment results in adolescent and adult cleft palate patients have been published in an international journal: Ural A, Bilgen F, Bekerecioğlu M. Evaluation of Adolescent and Adult Cleft Lip and Palate Patients in a Developing Country. J Craniofac Surg. 2020 Jul-Aug;31(5):1373-1375. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000006375. PMID: 32282475.

In cleft palate surgery, flap surgery techniques are applied, based on advancing tissues from the sides towards the central cleft while preserving vascular integrity. It is crucial to reposition tissues without impairing their blood supply. The repair is meticulously performed in three layers: First, the nasal floor on the nasal side is repaired. Then, the palatal muscles, critical for speech function, are repositioned and repaired to their correct anatomical locations. Finally, the pink oral mucosal layer is closed. Absorbable sutures are used, eliminating the need for suture removal. Small openings that may occur at the edges heal quickly and spontaneously over time. Additionally, necessary checks are performed by ENT specialists before the operation, and if needed, a myringostomy (ear tube) can also be inserted during the same surgery.