Plastic Surgeons For Children

[mattos]

My baby boy is 4 weeks old today and was born with a bilateral cleft lip. Although not a handicap, I want to ensure he gets the best start in life, and with advances in cosmetic procedures it can look almost perfect as he grows as a young boy.

I've made appointments with a surgeon at Yanhee and at Vibhavadi but wanted to know if anyone can recommend other surgeons that have experience with children or with cleft lip in either Bangkok or Pattaya.

Thanks for feedback in advance

[craigt3365]

Let's try this over in the Health forum.

[geriatrickid]

Pediatric corrective surgery calls for an experienced surgeon. It is not my place to second guess, but I urge you to choose carefully. The Thai Speech and Hearing Association partners with operation Smile in Thailand. Operation Smile is a volunteer program that both finances and brings in the skilled surgeons to do this surgery. My understanding is that 1 in 500 Thai babies are born with cleft lips or palates, and Operation smile hits the rural areas where children do not have access to the facilities or expertise. I suggest you contact the Thai association and ask for its advice.

Here's a contact;

Thai Speech and Hearing Association

Division of Communication Disorders

Department of Otolaryngology

Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital

Mahidol University

Rama VI Road Bangkok 10400 Thailand

Tel: (66-02) 245-9505

Fax: (662) 246-2123, 201-1515

Edited June 16, 2012 by geriatrickid

[Sheryl]

There is a lot of experience in Thailand with cleft lip repair, and you should definitely get a surgeon with specific experience in same, i.e. a specialist in craniofacial reconstructive surgery. the services of an ENT specialist is also often needed and a team approach is bets. This is not just a cosmetic issue. Many of the large government hospitals have dedicated cleft lip clinics.

Costs of this surgery will be considerable at a private hospital, much less at a government hospital and you are more likely to get the needed team approach in one. Fair amount of red tape getting in initially but excellent care thereafter.

I know there is an excellent Cleft Lip Hospital down in Songkla, must be some in the larger hospitals of Bkk (e.g. Chuls, Siriraj) but I don't have the details. As you are in Pattaya area I suggest you start at the Chonburi Provincial Hospital and seek a referral. They'll know where..