Management of the cleft lip deformity

A congenital cleft lip is a deformity that has significant physical and psychologic impact. Many surgical repairs have been proposed for reconstruction of unilateral cleft lip deformities, including straight-line repairs and various forms of geometric flap repair. This article classifies cleft deformities and describes the history and specific techniques of unilateral cleft lip repair. Understanding and application of these techniques can aid the cleft surgeon in maximizing function and appearance of a child born with a cleft lip deformity.