Tips For Selecting A Surgeon For Cleft Lip Surgery

If your child has a cleft lip or palate, you will want to have it repaired early in life. Cleft lips can typically be repaired as early as three to six months, while cleft palates can be repaired starting around six to nine months of age. It can be nerve wracking to think about your infant having surgery. However, it is important to take your time and find a great surgeon to complete the task. Here are a few tips that you should follow when selecting a surgeon for cleft lip surgery.

Find Out If They Accept Your Insurance

First and foremost, take the time to contact your insurance company and find out what surgeons will accept your insurance. Then verify with the office or surgeon you are considering using that they do indeed accept your insurance. Going out of network or working with a surgeon that doesn't accept your insurance can end up costing you a lot more out-of-pocket than using an in-network surgeon that does accept your insurance. 

Learn What Experience They Have With Cleft Lip Surgeries

Once you have verified that the surgeon does indeed accept your insurance, be sure to ask them what experience they have with cleft lip surgeries on children that are aged the same age as your child. Some surgeons do not have a lot of experience with this type of surgery at all, while others may only have experience with toddlers or older children. You want to find a surgeon who is experience with completing the procedure with your age of child. 

Ask to See Before and After Pictures of Their Work

As you go about looking for a surgeon for cleft lip surgery, be sure to ask the surgeon for before and after pictures of their work. As you look at these pictures, be sure to look at the overall quality of work, the size of the scar and the placement of the scar. A great surgeon will try to minimize the size of the scar and hide it as best as they can. 

Trust Your Intuition

Lastly, trust your intuition as you look for a surgeon. Ultimately, you are trusting this person with your child. You have to be able to communicate with them and obtain information from them. If you don't like them or something seems off, find someone else. You want to find someone you are comfortable communicating with and that you trust. 

It can be stressful to think about your child needing surgery. But having the surgery done early in life and selecting the right surgeon can help guarantee the best possible outcome. If your child needs cleft lip surgery, follow the four tips above when selecting a surgeon for your child's procedure. 

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