Unilateral Cheilorhinoplasty

Cleft lip and palate arises from the failure of fusion between the facial process and first branchial arch. The variability in degree of fusion achieved gives rise to the spectrum of hard and soft tissue deformation. Therefore, cheilorhinoplasty must be tailored to the patient's needs. Knowledge of the pathoanatomy and use of anatomic landmarks allow the surgeon to create an incision design that, when paired with a functional reconstruction, will result in a symmetric lip and nose. With proper soft tissue handling, nearly any incision design can achieve acceptable results.