Surgical Techniques Used in Cleft Lip Reconstruction

Abstract

Cleft lip is a congenital deformity with both aesthetic and functional implications. Various surgical techniques have been developed and refined to achieve optimal repair outcomes. This article reviews common surgical approaches to cleft lip reconstruction, comparing their principles, indications, and outcomes. To review and compare the major surgical techniques currently used in cleft lip reconstruction, focusing on unilateral and bilateral repairs, and to evaluate their esthetic, functional, and clinical outcomes. The most frequently used techniques—Millard rotation-advancement, Tennison-Randall triangular flap, Fisher anatomical subunit method, and Mulliken bilateral repair—were analyzed in detail. No single technique is universally superior; rather, optimal outcomes are achieved through careful assessment of cleft anatomy, appropriate technique selection, and integration of multidisciplinary care. Continued advancements in surgical planning, technology, and outcome assessment tools are likely to refine current approaches and further improve both functional and esthetic results in cleft lip reconstruction.