Cleft Surgeries Philippines: Medical Mission Matters

Transforming Lives,

One Smile at a Time

Every contribution fuels transformative comprehensive cleft care for underserved patients, achieved through strategic partnerships with esteemed organizations.

Over the past decade, we have improved the lives of 6,912 children.
With your support, we plan to significantly broaden our impact in the next five years, guiding even more children toward a promising future.

What are Cleft Conditions?

Orofacial clefts also known as cleft lip and palate, are congenital anomalies involving a split in the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth. These occur due to incomplete fusion of facial tissues during fetal development (lip: weeks 4–7, palate: weeks 6–9).This results in an opening or gap in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth, or both.

These conditions, which include cleft lip and cleft palate, affect not only facial appearance but also key functions like eating, speaking, and breathing

Types of cleft lips

Unilateral: on one side
Bilateral: on both sides
Complete: extends all the way into the nostril
Incomplete: does not extend up into the nostril
Isolated: cleft lip without a cleft palate

Types of cleft palates (opening at the roof of the mouth)

Alveolar: a cleft in the upper gum line (alveolus) that may or may not extend into the cleft palate
Submucous: a cleft in the soft palate near the back of the roof of the mouth that is covered by a thin layer of skin or tissue; this type of cleft is often hard to diagnose because it’s not easily seen
Complete: extends from the front all the way to the back of the palate
Incomplete: does not extend all the way through the hard and soft palates
Isolated: a cleft palate without a cleft lip

According to Abumustafa et al. (2019), since 1980 – 2018, the birth prevalence of cleft lip and palate infants in the Philippines is 1.94/1000 and 5.7/10,000 newborns. In our own island of Panay, we estimate that 500-800 are born with cleft palate deformities

Image from: Healthdirect Australia Limited

"I was bullied to the point that I did not want to go to school anymore"

"It was difficult to feed him with anything, even when breastfeeding"

"He gets asthmatic attacks from time to time. It's difficult for us"

Without treatment, individuals with cleft conditions often face significant challenges. Infants may struggle with feeding, leading to malnutrition and slow growth. As they grow, children can experience speech difficulties, recurrent ear infections that may cause hearing loss, and dental issues. Beyond the physical hardships, living with an untreated cleft frequently brings emotional and social challenges, including stigma, bullying, and isolation, which can impact self-esteem and overall quality of life.

Children with cleft conditions often face a complex interplay of challenges, including feeding and nutrition difficulties, hearing and ENT complications, speech and language delays, dental and orthodontic concerns, psychosocial impacts, and significant financial and access barriers that can hinder timely care and holistic support.

How are Clefts Treated?

Cleft conditions are treatable through a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. Surgical repair, typically performed in multiple stages throughout childhood, is the primary treatment. This is complemented by supportive therapies such as speech therapy, dental and orthodontic care, and psychological support. Together, these interventions not only correct the physical defect but also aid in the overall development and well-being of the patient.

What are the available options?

Cleft lip and palate care involves a comprehensive approach that begins with early plastic surgeries—cheiloplasty to close the lip gap and improve nasal shape, and palatoplasty to restore feeding, speech, and ear function.

Follow-up may include:

revisions or bone grafts
essential therapies like speech therapy, ENT care with ear tubes
psychological counseling, and social work support.

Non-surgical aids such as orthodontic appliances and specialized feeding bottles help manage daily challenges, while long-term orthodontic treatment ensures proper dental and facial development.

Integrated Care Solutions

Our Comprehensive Services deliver expert medical care—from cleft surgery, speech, and psychosocial support—to proactive community outreach, education, and financial assistance, ensuring every life receives the holistic transformation it deserves.

The Face Hunters

Dedicated to unveiling every hidden smile, our outreach champions use innovative channels to locate and connect children with cleft conditions to life-changing care.