Cleft-lip reconstruction and balancing

Cleft-lip, otherwise known as Hare-lip, is a birth defect where the tissues of the mouth or lip do not form properly during foetal development. The obvious sign of a Cleft-lip is the deformation around the top lip area where the two halves of the mouth did not join properly during pregnancy. This forms a scar which can lead from the top lip right up to the nose and can also run into the roof of the mouth which is known as a Cleft palate. Statistics show that one birth in every 700 results in a Cleft- lip and or Cleft palate. The good news is that both Cleft-lip and Cleft palate are treatable birth defects.

The exact causes of Cleft-lip are unknown but there are suggestions that hereditary conditions are an important factor as well as smoking and drinking during pregnancy. The defect can be detected during an ultrasound but if undetected then, will certainly be detected at birth by visible means.

Treatments available to normalise the condition can start as early as three months which involves intricate reconstructive surgery. This can greatly improve the facial characteristics however; there will be considerable scarring and loss of natural lip colour and tightening of the skin due to repeated surgery and fibrous tissue formation.

The skin can be softened and made more elastic, thus increasing flexibility with a treatment offered by Advanced Semi-permanent Make-up technicians known as MCA – Multi-trepanic Collagen Actuation. This is a process of dry needling aided by a topical anaesthetic solution. During each session, slight trauma breaks down the fibrous tissue making scar tissue much more pliable.

Thanks to Semi-permanent Make-up Paramedical treatments, the overall effects to reshape and balance the lips and surrounding skin can be achieved once surgery has been finalised. This is done by careful selection of pigments to match the existing lip colour and skin tones. The results of these procedures can give so much confidence and self esteem to its sufferers. The treatment usually involves between two to four sessions and is entirely dependant on the technician’s methods of working and how the patient responds to the treatment.