The Cleft Lip and Palate Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is one of the largest in the nation. Your child will benefit from a team approach that brings together the many specialties needed for the long-term care and management of their condition.

Comprehensive care

Our team includes:

• Plastic surgeons
• Pediatricians
• Orthodontists
• Pediatric dentists
• Speech specialists
• Otolaryngologists (ear/nose/throat specialists)
• Audiologists (hearing specialists)
• Genetic counselors
• Nurse practitioners
• Nurse navigator
• Social workers

Everyone has the same goal: working together and with your family to provide the best possible outcomes and improve your child’s quality of life.

Specialized treatments

• Surgical repair of cleft lip and cleft palate
• One of the few centers in the country to offer a craniofacial orthodontics clinic for the complex dental issues that often accompany facial clefting
• Nasoalveolar molding, a surgical preparation therapy that may be needed for infants born with cleft lip and palate
• Jaw (orthognathic) surgery
• Specialized speech and language evaluation and treatment
• Ongoing psychosocial support from dedicated clinical psychologists and social workers
• Prenatal diagnosis, evaluation and management through CHOP’s Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment
• Access to CHOP’s pediatric specialists at every stage, including the Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Center, Psychiatry, Child Life Services, Lactation Program and more

Surgical specialists

Our world-renowned pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeons serve as consultants to other teams, both nationally and internationally. This experience means the best surgical results and long-term outcomes for your child.

Surgical management of children and adolescents requires a unique approach and extensive knowledge of how children grow. Our specialists are dedicated to meeting the needs of your child.

Expert diagnosis

We use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools in the diagnosis and treatment of children with cleft lip and palate. Accurate diagnosis guides treatment recommendations and ensures that each child receives individualized care based on their unique condition.

Innovation and research

We are a leader in pediatric plastic surgery research. We are committed to finding new surgical therapies, devices and techniques that will expand the treatment options and improve outcomes, both physical and psychological, for children with facial and body differences.