Purpose: Cleft lip patients have characteristic features due to congenital anomalies. Such features become notably worse if they are not treated adequately. We value early and staged treatment according to patient growth so that specific adverse features do not occur.
Methods: We describe the treatment planning in three parts: (1) For the upper lip, the rotation-advancement method (Millard) and a small triangle flap are used in primary repair; (2) For the red lip, a boot flap is secondarily used for tissue deficiency or depressed deformity of the free border; (3) For the nose, an incision along the piriform margin and tagging up sutures are employed in primary repair. Reverse-U incision rhinoplasty is secondarily performed before a patient enters primary school.
Results: Cases involving a long follow-up period (more than 15 years) were investigated. Our staged treatments according to patient growth showed good results.
Discussion: The first operation for primary cleft lip repair is considered to be the most important, and surgeries during the growth period should be minimized.
Conclusion: Staged repair for a unilateral cleft lip is considered to lead to favorable growth and good results.
