Surgical Advances in Cleft Lip Correction.

Abstract

Cleft lip is a congenital anomaly characterized by the failure of facial structures to fuse during embryonic development, impacting facial aesthetics and function, with an incidence of 1 in 700 births. This disorder has multifactorial causes including genetic and environmental factors. The study aims to analyze surgical advances in its correction to improve aesthetic and functional outcomes. The methodology used was a review of recent literature through medical databases, prioritizing studies that evaluated surgical techniques and their results. Traditional techniques like Millard's Rotation-Advancement have evolved into more precise methods such as Fisher's Anatomical Subunit Approximation, which have shown improvement in symmetry and reduction of visible scars. In addition, primary nasal correction during cleft lip surgery has optimized both nasal function and facial symmetry. The results indicated that these innovations not only enhance facial aesthetics but also improve quality of life by reducing the need for future surgical revisions. This is reflected in functional benefits and social acceptance of patients. Surgical advances in cleft lip correction have transformed aesthetic and functional expectations, offering better results through more precise and less invasive techniques, although challenges remain in standardizing surgical approaches.