Plastic Surgery
Starting from
$2,200
Up to $4,500 depending on centre
Typical duration
7–14 days
Including pre-operative work-up
Partner hospitals
1
Vetted for outcome data & accreditation
Content reviewed for medical accuracy by: Dr. Rodina Ainasoa · Medical Content Writer & Health Communications
Cleft lip and palate repair is one of the most impactful pediatric plastic surgeries, restoring normal facial anatomy, speech, and feeding in affected children. India and Thailand host world-class craniofacial teams who deliver outcomes on par with Western centers at a cost that makes treatment accessible to families worldwide.
Your case is matched to a centre on the basis of clinical outcome data, not marketing. We coordinate every step — from pre-operative work-up to post-treatment follow-up — with a dedicated care coordinator.
Cleft Lip and Palate Repair
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Cleft lip and cleft palate are related but distinct conditions, and they are typically repaired as two separate operations at different ages. Here is how the two procedures compare, per Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.
| Parameter | Cleft Lip Repair | Cleft Palate Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Typical age at surgery | Usually performed at 3 to 6 months of age, sometimes preceded by preparatory lip taping or nasoalveolar molding shortly after birth, per Cleveland Clinic. | Usually performed around 9 to 15 months of age, before speech development begins, per Cleveland Clinic and published craniofacial-surgery guidance. |
| What the surgery involves | The surgeon makes incisions on either side of the cleft, brings the skin and muscle together, and closes with absorbable stitches to reshape the lip and nostril; the operation itself generally takes under 2 hours, per Cleveland Clinic. | The surgeon rearranges tissue layers in the roof of the mouth and nasal cavity, closing the separation and securing it with absorbable stitches; the operation itself generally takes 2 to 3 hours, per Cleveland Clinic. |
| Typical hospital stay | An overnight hospital stay is generally required, per Cleveland Clinic. | At least one to two days, with some children needing a longer stay depending on recovery, per Mayo Clinic. |
| Main purpose | Restores the continuity of the lip muscle, which also guides healthy growth of the mouth, and improves the appearance of the lip and lower nose, per published craniofacial-surgery guidance. | Supports normal speech development and stops nasal regurgitation of food and liquid, per published craniofacial-surgery guidance. |
| Follow-on care | Sets up the foundation for later palate repair and, for some children, an alveolar bone graft in later childhood. | Followed by ongoing speech-language assessment starting around age 1, with some children needing palate revision surgery at ages 4 to 6. |
The description below outlines the general process for cleft lip and cleft palate repair. Your craniofacial/plastic surgeon will confirm the specific technique, timing, and any adjustments for your child's case.
Pre-operative assessment and preparation
A craniofacial or plastic surgery team examines the cleft, reviews feeding and growth history, and confirms fitness for anesthesia; some infants first undergo non-surgical nasoalveolar molding or lip taping to narrow the gap before surgery, per Mayo Clinic.
General anesthesia
Both cleft lip repair and cleft palate repair are performed under general anesthesia, so the child is fully asleep and feels nothing during surgery, per Cleveland Clinic.
Surgical repair
For lip repair, the surgeon closes the cleft in the lip and nostril tissue with absorbable stitches; for palate repair, the surgeon rearranges and closes the tissue layers in the roof of the mouth. Lip repair typically takes under 2 hours; palate repair typically takes 2 to 3 hours, per Cleveland Clinic.
Recovery room monitoring and arm restraints
The child is monitored in a recovery area as anesthesia wears off. Soft splints or cuffs are placed around the arms for a period after surgery to prevent the child from touching the healing lip or palate, per Cleveland Clinic.
Hospital observation continues; swelling and small amounts of blood-tinged saliva are normal. Feeding is limited to clear liquids from a cup only — no straws or utensils near the surgical site, per Mayo Clinic.
Soft splints/arm cuffs generally stay on to prevent the child from touching the mouth. Diet is limited to soft foods and liquids by cup or specialized bottle/syringe; stitches are absorbable and typically dissolve within this window, per Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.
A follow-up appointment with the surgical team is typically scheduled to check healing of the incision, per Cleveland Clinic.
Most visible surface healing is complete by around 4 weeks, though internal tissue continues to mature for longer; speech-language evaluation begins in the following months as part of ongoing care, per Cleveland Clinic and published craniofacial-surgery guidance.
Source: Cleveland Clinic; Mayo Clinic. Individual recovery varies and is guided by your craniofacial/plastic surgery team.
Known Risks & Limitations
Source: Cleveland Clinic; peer-reviewed craniofacial-surgery outcome studies; published cleft-care timeline guidance aligned with ACPA (American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association) protocols. No procedure is without risk; your surgical team will review your child's individual case.
Remote craniofacial team review
Share your child's cleft type, feeding history, growth records, and any prior imaging. Our coordination team forwards the case to a craniofacial/plastic surgery team for an initial suitability and staging assessment.
Surgeon & hospital matching
Based on your child's age, cleft type, and whether lip repair, palate repair, or a later stage (such as bone grafting) is needed next, we match you with a craniofacial surgeon and a hospital equipped with pediatric anesthesia and nursing facilities.
Cost estimate & travel planning
A consolidated cost estimate covering pre-operative assessment, the surgery itself, and the immediate post-operative stay is issued before you travel, along with guidance on the recommended minimum stay before flying home.
Surgery day & recovery monitoring
Your child's pre-operative work-up, the surgery, and recovery-room monitoring are coordinated with the care team, followed by discharge with clear feeding, wound-care, and arm-restraint guidance.
Continuity of lifelong cleft care
Because comprehensive cleft care spans childhood — including future stages such as bone grafting, orthodontics, speech therapy, and possible revision surgery — discharge summaries and surgeon contact details are shared so your child's future care, wherever it takes place, can build on a clear record of what was done.
Average coordinated costs across our partner centres. Final pricing depends on clinical complexity and chosen hospital.
| Country | Avg. cost | vs. cheapest |
|---|---|---|
🇮🇳 India New Delhi · Chennai · Bengaluru · Hyderabad · Mumbai · Kochi | $3,000 | —chevron_right |
🇹🇷 Turkey Istanbul | $3,500 | +17%chevron_right |
Costs are indicative estimates and vary by procedure specifics, hospital, and clinical complexity. Request a personalised estimate for your specific case.
Faridabad, India
Asia's largest private hospital — 2,600 beds, 64 operation theatres, 81 specialties on a 130-acre campus in Delhi NCR. NABH & NABL accredited. Centres of excellence in oncology, cardiac surgery, BMT, organ transplantation, neurosciences, and IVF.
800+
Specialists
2,600+
Beds
Cleft lip repair is typically performed between 3 and 6 months of age, while palate repair is done between 9 and 18 months to support normal speech development. Alveolar bone grafting is usually performed between ages 7 and 10 when the canine tooth begins to emerge.
No fees. No commitment.
We are compensated by our partner hospitals — never by patients. You get independent clinical matching, cost transparency, and end-to-end coordination at no cost to you.
