Cleft lip is a relatively common congenital malformation that manifests as a split upper lip to the base of the nose to varying degrees. Cleft lip cannot be cured by drugs, the only treatment is surgery, and scars after surgery are undoubtedly a concern for many patients and families.
There are large individual differences in scars after cleft lip surgery, each person's situation is different, some people can't see obvious marks, and some people leave more significant scars.
Why do surgeries leave scars?
The skin is composed of the epidermis layer, the dermis layer, and the subcutaneous fat layer, and the damage to the epidermis layer, which we usually call skin trauma, often does not leave scars, and the trauma usually leaves scars when it goes deep into the dermis layer and the subcutaneous fat layer. Cleft lip surgery involves deep sutures, not just in the epidermis, so scarring is almost an inevitable consequence.
Collagen fiber synthesis near the wound is more active after injury, promoting wound healing, and scarring may form in the process. The first cleft lip surgery is performed in infancy, and the growth of scar tissue and other locations may also be different from that of rapid growth and development, which is also an objective factor leading to scar formation.
Some people think that the better the doctor's technology, the less likely it is to leave scars after surgery, but this is not the case. Suture is not fine, surgical wound tension is too large, surgical incision design is not reasonable will lead to postoperative scarring more obvious, but the formation of scars is also affected by personal physique and postoperative care and other factors, even the most skilled doctors can only try to reduce scars and can not guarantee that there is no scar after surgery, those who promise to never leave scars are charlatans.
There are many ways to deal with postoperative scarring
Although scarring may be left after cleft lip surgery, there are also ways to cope.
After surgery, the wound should be kept clean, anti-inflammatory drugs should be used as required, painkillers should be used to relieve pain if necessary, and some scar removal drugs such as scars, polysulfonate mucopolysaccharide cream, and centella asiaticide cream can be used after the wound is healed. Drugs cannot completely eliminate scars after cleft lip surgery, but they can also reduce scar formation and fade scars.
Tiny scars usually don't have to be treated and can be masked with makeup. If individuals wish to make further improvements, laser treatment can be performed in the plastic and aesthetic surgery department of a regular hospital. Lasers have a good effect on improving local redness, unevenness, and pigment deposition.
If the surgical scar is wide and pronounced, surgery can be performed, with a cosmetic surgeon removing the scar tissue and performing fine cosmetic super-reduction sutures. Scars usually take 3 years or more to stabilize before scar repair surgery can be performed, and it is not advisable to operate prematurely.
Male patients can also mask surgical scars through hair transplantation, that is, hair follicles taken from the posterior occipital area to be transplanted between the lips and nose. With the modification of the beard, the scar will also become visually inconspicuous.
Although there is no way to guarantee the complete elimination of scars by this stage of technology, patients with cleft lip can restore their appearance and return to normal life to the greatest extent after surgical treatment and scar repair. Parents should not blame and regret because of the child's cleft lip, the child's mental health is closely related to the family environment, parents are too concerned about this physical defect but deepen the child's inferiority psychology, the best way is to treat it with a normal heart.
(Image from the Internet)