Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity

A cleft lip is one of the most common birth defects of the face and is accompanied by a characteristic nasal deformity. The nostril on the cleft side is often wider and flatter then the non-cleft side, the tip is asymmetric, and the septum is deviated resulting in difficulty breathing. Cleft lip repair is often accompanied by minor procedures to reshape the nose, but all patients will require a definitive rhinoplasty when they reach 15 or 16 years of age. Surgical correction often requires cartilage grafting to reshape the nasal framework and create a more symmetric, functioning nose.