Learn about Cleft Lip Surgery Treatment in India — how it works, who it is for, recovery timelines, and what to expect before and after surgery. Compare hospitals and doctors experienced in Cleft Lip Surgery and request assistance for cost estimates or appointments.

About Cleft Lip Surgery

Cleft lip surgery, also known as cheiloplasty, is a specialized reconstructive procedure performed to correct a congenital split or opening in the upper lip. This condition occurs when facial structures do not fuse properly during fetal development. The surgery, typically performed by a general surgeon with expertise in pediatric or plastic surgery, involves carefully realigning the tissues of the lip to create a more normal appearance and function. The primary goals are to close the separation, restore muscle continuity for proper lip movement, and improve the shape of the nose. This procedure is often the first step in a series of treatments for cleft lip and palate, significantly enhancing feeding, speech development, and facial aesthetics. It is usually performed on infants between 3 to 6 months of age, depending on the child's health and the specific nature of the cleft.

Key Highlights

    Corrects a congenital facial deformity to improve appearance and function.Restores muscle continuity for proper lip movement, feeding, and future speech development.Can significantly improve nasal shape and symmetry.Often the first and most critical step in a multidisciplinary treatment plan for cleft conditions.Performed at an early age to optimize healing and developmental outcomes.

Who is this surgery for?

  • Diagnosis of a congenital cleft lip (unilateral or bilateral).
  • Presence of a cleft lip with or without an associated cleft palate.
  • To enable proper feeding and nutrition in an infant.
  • To establish a foundation for normal speech and language development.
  • To improve facial aesthetics and support healthy psychosocial development.

How to prepare

  • A comprehensive pre-operative evaluation by a pediatrician, surgeon, and sometimes an anesthesiologist to ensure the infant is healthy for surgery.
  • Rule of Tens is often used as a guideline: the baby should be at least 10 weeks old, weigh 10 pounds, and have a hemoglobin of 10 g/dL.
  • Pre-operative counseling for parents regarding the procedure, anesthesia, and recovery.
  • Feeding instructions may be adjusted in the days leading up to surgery (e.g., switching to a special cleft feeder).
  • No solid food or milk for a specified period before surgery (clear fluids may be allowed until a few hours prior).

Risks & possible complications

  • Reactions to anesthesia.
  • Bleeding, infection, or poor wound healing at the surgical site.
  • Asymmetry or unsatisfactory aesthetic result, potentially requiring revision surgery.
  • Scarring, though the incision is designed to follow natural lip lines.
  • Nasal deformity or breathing difficulties.
  • Damage to nerves, which could affect lip movement or sensation (usually temporary).

Recovery & hospital stay

  • Initial hospital stay for monitoring, pain management, and ensuring the baby can feed safely.
  • Use of arm restraints ("no-no" sleeves) for 1-2 weeks to prevent the baby from touching or rubbing the surgical site.
  • Specialized feeding techniques with a soft-tipped syringe or special bottle to avoid pressure on the lip.
  • Gentle cleansing of the suture line as instructed by the surgical team.
  • Pain is managed with prescribed medications.
  • Follow-up appointments are crucial to monitor healing, remove sutures (if non-dissolvable), and plan for any future procedures.
  • Parents are educated on signs of infection or complications.
  • checked Typical hospital stay: 2-4 days
  • checked Expected recovery time: Initial healing: 1-2 weeks; Full recovery and scar maturation: several months to a year

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are considering cleft lip surgery in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.

Procedure cost in other countries

Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for cleft lip surgery compare across other countries where we have data.

Country Estimated cost range Typical stay Recovery time View details
India INR 80 Thousand – 250 Thousand 2-4 days ~ Initial healing: 1-2 weeks; Full recovery and scar maturation: several months to a year Know More
Turkey TRY 280 Thousand – 875 Thousand 2-4 days ~ Initial healing: 1-2 weeks; Full recovery and scar maturation: several months to a year Know More

Top hospitals for Cleft Lip Surgery in India

These partner hospitals in India have dedicated general surgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing cleft lip surgery.

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Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa

  • Iconvijayawada, India
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Manipal Hospital Mukundapur

  • IconKolkata, India
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43+ Rating

Manipal Hospital Dhakuria

  • IconKolkata, India
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91+ Rating

Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram

  • IconBangalore, India
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98+ Rating

Manipal Hospital Doddaballapur

  • IconBangalore, India
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156+ Rating

Manipal Hospital Patiala

  • IconPatiala, India
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20+ Rating

Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar

  • IconBhubaneshwar, India
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PATIENT REVIEW

Myra Ali is a 6-month-old baby...

Myra Ali is a 6-month-old baby girl, the first child of young parents who immigrated to Canada from Pakistan a year ago. Myra was born with a complete unilateral cleft lip on her left side, a visible gap extending from her lip into her nostril. Her parents, though initially heartbroken and worried about social stigma, were determined to get her the best care. From birth, she worked with a feeding specialist to ensure proper nutrition. At her 4-month check-up, the pediatrician referred her to a pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeon. The surgeon, Dr. Chen, recommended the Millard rotation-advancement repair, explaining it was the ideal time between 3-6 months to optimize healing and future facial growth. The surgery lasted about 2 hours. Myra's parents waited anxiously, praying. Post-surgery, her lip was swollen with delicate stitches forming her new philtrum. Recovery involved arm splints to prevent her from touching the site, careful feeding, and wound care. After two weeks, the swelling subsided dramatically, revealing a beautifully repaired lip. The emotional journey was profound; her mother wept tears of joy seeing her daughter's new smile, feeling a heavy weight of worry lift, replaced by hope for Myra's future.

General surgeons for Cleft Lip Surgery

Explore experienced general surgeons who regularly perform cleft lip surgery and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.

Dr. Prakasam Rangaswamy K
  • 31 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Tamil, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 900
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai

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Dr. Anand N S
  • 18 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 700
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore

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Dr. Sathish N
  • 18 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 700
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore

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Dr. Ramraj Vemala Nagendra Gupta
  • 15 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 600
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore

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Dr. Vinay A V
  • 11 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 700
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore

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Dr. Veeresh Annigeri
  • 9 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 700
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore

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Dr. Hemanth Kumar P
  • 27 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 500
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore

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Dr. Viswanath S
  • 24 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 700
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore

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Dr. Karthikeyan S
  • 13 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 450
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Salem, Salem

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Dr. Aritra Ghosh
  • 16 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 450
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore

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Dr. Manjunath Haridas
  • 13 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 800
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore

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Dr. Madva Jayashankar
  • 37 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 850
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore

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Dr. Sampath Kumar
  • 26 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 850
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore

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Dr. Surinder Singh
  • 41 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 900
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Patiala, Patiala

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Dr. Pankaj Kumar Garg
  • 11 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 900
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Patiala, Patiala

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Dr. Rajinder
  • 10 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 450
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Patiala, Patiala

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Dr. Sreeharsha M V
  • 18 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 700
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Mysore, Mysore

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Dr. Sridhar Pandit
  • 39 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 850
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore

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Dr. Deepak Rohidekar
  • 37 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 900
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore

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Dr. Raghunandan B V
  • 35 Years Experience
  • General surgeon
Speaks: English, Hindi
Consult Charge ₹ 800
Available Today
December: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM

MediFyr Plus Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore

OPD-desk synced • Updated