Cleft lip

Cleft lip is a birth defect that occurs when the tissues of the upper jaw and nose do not join as expected during fetal development, resulting in a split (cleft) in the lip. An incomplete cleft lip can range from a slight indentation to a notch in the upper lip on one or both sides. A complete cleft lip is a deep split…

Cleft lip

Faces of babies, showing three kinds of cleft lip: incomplete, complete, and complete on both sides

Cleft lip is a birth defect that occurs when the tissues of the upper jaw and nose do not join as expected during fetal development, resulting in a split (cleft) in the lip. An incomplete cleft lip can range from a slight indentation to a notch in the upper lip on one or both sides. A complete cleft lip is a deep split in the lip that extends into one or both sides of the nose. Cleft lip can be corrected with one or more surgeries.

Current as ofDecember 12, 2018

Author: Healthwise Staff
John Pope, MD, MPH – Pediatrics
Kathleen Romito, MD – Family Medicine

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