Adult Cleft Palate Repair and Nasal Reconstruction
In the nearly fifty years since it was first founded in 1968, Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. has been one of the premier centers for plastic surgery in the United States, and during that time, our board-certified plastic surgeons have performed thousands of plastic surgery procedures on men and women from all over the world. However, despite the fact that most people are familiar with the many benefits that cosmetic plastic surgery procedures can provide, fewer are aware that we also perform medically necessary reconstructive procedures designed to address the effects of congenital defects and traumatic accidents as well. These procedures are extremely varied, and can be applied to nearly any part of the body, but some of the most impressive and life-changing results are the product of adult cleft palate repair and nasal reconstruction surgery.
A cleft lip or palate occurs when the two sides of the face fail to completely and properly fuse between the 6th and 11th weeks of fetal development. This results in a gap, or cleft, in either the roof of the mouth and/or the upper lip, which must be corrected with reconstructive plastic surgery procedures. While cleft palates are almost always corrected surgically within the first few months of life, they can often leave behind long-lasting side effects. Specifically, this separation of the lip or palate can affect the development of the Eustachian tubes, increasing the possibility of persistent fluid in the middle ear, repeated ear infections. Moreover, the nasal septum, a structure within the nose that separates the left and right nostrils, can frequently become misaligned, which can lead to breathing difficulties, sleep apnea, chronic headaches, and recurrent nasal infections.
These difficulties are most commonly corrected through reconstructive rhinoplasty, a procedure whereby the shape and structure of the nose can be subtly modified to improve both function and aesthetic appearance. There are several specialized rhinoplasty techniques that can be used specifically to address different concerns, including septoplasty, to correct a deviated septum, turbinate surgery and polypectomy to remove nasal obstructions, or ethmoidectomy to improve nasal drainage. A facial plastic surgeon specialized in nose surgery can meet with you for a full consultation, where they will carefully evaluate your case and determine which approach might be best suited to address your individual needs.
Plastic surgery procedures can do far more than just improve your appearance and alleviate the signs of facial aging. If you are interested in talking to one of our board-certified plastic surgeons about your specific areas of concern, viewing before and after pictures, or learning about the many forms of insurance that we accept and the variety of financing options, including Alphaeon® and CareCredit®, that we can provide, feel free to contact us in Alpharetta or at one of our other Atlanta area offices located in Sandy Springs (Northside), Newnan, or Cumming, to schedule a full consultation.
