Kansas Cleft and Craniofacial Center

Kansas Cleft and Craniofacial Center The Kansas Cleft and Craniofacial Center is a multi-disciplinary team of specialists for the treatment of complex congenital anomalies of the head & neck.

Join our team for a fun-filled Trunk or Treat after clinic in October 18! Family members are welcomed. Costumes encourag...
10/03/2025

Join our team for a fun-filled Trunk or Treat after clinic in October 18! Family members are welcomed. Costumes encouraged but optional! 🎃

This baby was born with an incredibly wide bilateral cleft lip and palate with a very severe cleft nasal deformity. He i...
10/01/2025

This baby was born with an incredibly wide bilateral cleft lip and palate with a very severe cleft nasal deformity. He is shown 4 weeks from cleft lip and nose repair. ✴️Adequately dissecting and repairing orbicularis muscle ( the muscle around the mouth) is critical to pull the central segment back into alignment. This was done without nasoalveolar molding (aka NAM) and without need for premaxillary osteotomies (breaking the bones).

If your child is affected by or you have a prenatal diagnosis of a cleft lip and/or palate, we’d love to see you.
Wesley Children’s Hospital
☎️ 316-962-4062
Hutchinson Clinic
☎️ 620-694-4444
For any questions, DM us!

Our goals in every cleft lip & nose repair are✅to restore each baby’s anatomy to as close to symmetric as possible, ✅to ...
09/15/2025

Our goals in every cleft lip & nose repair are
✅to restore each baby’s anatomy to as close to symmetric as possible,
✅to prevent any future teasing and feeling self-conscious for the child
✅to avoid recurrent revisionary procedures during childhood
✅ to reconstruct the lip to facilitate palate repair in the future.

If your child is affected by or you have a prenatal diagnosis of a cleft lip and/or palate, we’d love to see you.
Wesley Children’s Hospital
☎️ 316-962-4062
Hutchinson Clinic
☎️ 620-694-4444
For any questions, DM us!

09/08/2025

Care for our cuties with cleft and craniofacial conditions does not just stop at surgery. It requires long term follow up in a multidisciplinary setting to optimize growth and development. Get a glimpse of what a visit is like as our sweet Ryleigh sees all of the team!

The Kansas Cleft and Craniofacial Center, a multidisciplinary clinic certified by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, is one of only two approved clinics in all of Kansas, providing much-needed services for children affected by cleft and craniofacial conditions in our state. ACPA certification means that our team has the necessary disciplines and the requisite experience needed to care for children with cleft and craniofacial conditions.

We see and treat children from birth to 18 years of age, as well care for adults affected by cleft and craniofacial conditions. We offer the full spectrum of surgical care, including minimally invasive approaches such as endoscopic and spring-assisted cranial procedures.

👂✨ Cup Ear Deformity & Early Ear Correction ✨👂Cup ear deformity is a congenital condition where the upper part of the ea...
08/31/2025

👂✨ Cup Ear Deformity & Early Ear Correction ✨👂
Cup ear deformity is a congenital condition where the upper part of the ear appears folded or constricted, sometimes making the ear look smaller or tight against the head.

👶 Early treatment is key!
The EarWell Infant Ear Correction System is a non-surgical, pain-free device that gently reshapes the ear cartilage during the first few weeks of life—when cartilage is still soft and moldable.
💡 Treatment is most effective when started in the first 2–3 weeks after birth.
💡 Avoids the need for future surgery in many cases.

✨ A simple, safe solution for beautifully shaped ears from the start!

This little boy and his parents are true WARRIORS! He was born with campomelic skeletal dysplasia, a very rare often-fat...
08/25/2025

This little boy and his parents are true WARRIORS! He was born with campomelic skeletal dysplasia, a very rare often-fatal disease that limits most children’s lifespan to several months only.

Part of this disease includes features of Pierre Robin sequence, namely small lower jaw and blockage of breathing due to this. Not giving up, his parents opted for surgery to give him a chance at coming off the ventilator and going home. He underwent a mandibular distraction to lengthen his lower jaw, allow him to breathe without a tracheostomy and go home. He’s successfully home without any supplementary oxygen.

Since being home, he’s growing, gaining weight and, more recently, has been cleared to eat foods by mouth! He’s definitely defied expectations and amazed everyone he meets! 🌟

This little boy is 8 months out from a very wide bilateral cleft lip repair. Although skin markings and approximation ar...
08/19/2025

This little boy is 8 months out from a very wide bilateral cleft lip repair. Although skin markings and approximation are critical, can’t over-emphasize the importance of a solid floor of the nose and muscle repair.

If your child is affected by a cleft lip and/or palate,
Wesley Children’s Hospital
☎️ 316-962-4062
Hutchinson Clinic
☎️ 620-694-4444
For any questions, DM us!

Finding a cleft and craniofacial team you can trust is important because these conditions often require specialized, coo...
08/11/2025

Finding a cleft and craniofacial team you can trust is important because these conditions often require specialized, coordinated care over many years—sometimes from infancy into adulthood.

Here’s why trust is essential:



1. Long-Term Relationship
• Cleft lip, palate, and craniofacial differences aren’t “one-and-done” problems—care often involves multiple stages (surgery, speech therapy, orthodontics, etc.).
• You’ll be seeing the same team for years, so mutual trust helps you feel confident in each decision.

2. Coordinated Expertise
• A trusted team brings together surgeons, orthodontists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, psychologists, and more.
• Good teamwork ensures treatments are timed and sequenced properly for the best outcomes.

3. Consistent, Evidence-Based Care
• Trust means you can rely on their recommendations to be grounded in the latest research and tailored to your child’s unique needs.

4. Emotional Support
• These journeys can be emotionally taxing. A team you trust will not only care for the medical side, but also help support your family’s well-being.

5. Advocacy & Guidance
• Trusted providers can guide you through school accommodations, insurance issues, and community resources, making sure your child has the support they need beyond the clinic.

In a cleft lip, several key anatomical structures of the upper lip and nose are disrupted. The extent of disruption depe...
08/04/2025

In a cleft lip, several key anatomical structures of the upper lip and nose are disrupted. The extent of disruption depends on whether the cleft is unilateral or bilateral, complete or incomplete. Here’s a breakdown of the main affected structures:



🔹 1. Skin and Vermilion (Lip Red)
• The skin and red part of the lip (vermilion) are visibly separated.
• The Cupid’s bow is distorted or absent on the cleft side.
• The philtral column (vertical ridge from nose to lip) is often interrupted.



🔹 2. Orbicularis Oris Muscle
• This is the main muscle of the lip, responsible for lip movement and function.
• In a cleft lip, the muscle fibers are misaligned or discontinuous, failing to form a complete ring around the mouth.
• This leads to poor muscle function and contributes to lip asymmetry and reduced strength.



🔹 3. Nasal Structures
• The base of the nose on the cleft side is typically widened and flattened.
• The lower lateral nasal cartilage may be displaced or underdeveloped, affecting nostril shape.
• The columella (central tissue between nostrils) may be shortened or deviated, especially in bilateral clefts.



🔹 4. Mucosa (Inner Lining)
• The inner lining of the lip is also cleft, exposing the oral cavity to the external environment.



🔹 5. Alveolus and Hard Palate (if cleft extends)
• In complete cleft lip, the cleft may extend into the alveolar ridge (gum line) and hard palate.
• This disrupts the continuity of the dental arch and can affect tooth eruption and alignment.



July is Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month💡 What Are Cleft and Craniofacial Conditions?Cleft and craniofacial condit...
07/01/2025

July is Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month

💡 What Are Cleft and Craniofacial Conditions?

Cleft and craniofacial conditions are a group of congenital (from birth) anomalies that affect the head and face. They can involve:
• Cleft lip and/or cleft palate — openings or splits in the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth.
• Craniosynostosis — early fusion of skull bones affecting brain and skull growth.
• Microtia — underdevelopment of the outer ear.
• Hemifacial microsomia, Treacher Collins syndrome, and other rare disorders.

👶 Cleft Lip & Palate Fast Facts:
• Affects 1 in 700 babies worldwide.
• Can cause challenges with feeding, speech, hearing, and dental development.
• Most babies undergo corrective surgery within their first year of life.
• Early treatment involves a team of specialists: surgeons, orthodontists, speech therapists, and more.

💪 Why This Month Matters:
• To educate the public and reduce stigma.
• To celebrate the strength and resilience of individuals and families.
• To highlight the importance of early diagnosis, access to multidisciplinary care, and long-term support.










Unilateral cleft lips are generally classified into three main types based on how much of the lip and surrounding struct...
06/11/2025

Unilateral cleft lips are generally classified into three main types based on how much of the lip and surrounding structures are affected:



1. Incomplete Unilateral Cleft Lip
• Definition: The cleft does not extend into the nostril.
• Anatomy affected:
• Part of the upper lip only.
• Nasal structures are usually less deformed.
• Subtypes by severity:
• Mild: Small notch in the red part of the lip (vermilion).
• Moderate: Involves more of the lip, possibly disrupting the muscle (orbicularis oris), but nostril remains intact.



2. Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip
• Definition: The cleft extends from the lip all the way into the base of the nostril.
• Anatomy affected:
• Lip, possibly the alveolus (gum ridge).
• Nasal base on the affected side is usually displaced.
• Characteristics:
• The lip is fully divided.
• The philtral column and Cupid’s bow are often asymmetrical.
• Nasal asymmetry is common—nostril may appear wider and flatter.



3. Microform (or “Forme Fruste”) Unilateral Cleft Lip
• Definition: A very mild, partial cleft—a “hidden” cleft.
• Anatomy affected:
• Minimal skin defect (may look like a scar or indentation).
• Muscle underneath may be partially separated.
• Clinical features:
• Cosmetic concern more than functional.
• Often discovered on close exam or when muscle function is impaired.

If your child is affected by a cleft lip and/or palate,
Wesley Children’s Hospital
☎️ 316-962-4062
Hutchinson Clinic
☎️ 620-694-4444
For any questions, DM us!

malformations (like an ear that sticks out too much) are very common, occurring in as many as 20% of newborns. Though so...
06/03/2025

malformations (like an ear that sticks out too much) are very common, occurring in as many as 20% of newborns. Though some shape differences can resolve, many do not. For those that don’t, ear molding is a non-surgical way of reshaping an infant’s ear saving the need for a more invasive surgical procedure later in life, such as an otoplasty. Many parents/pediatricians are not aware that something can be offered to treat this.

The EarWell is
✅ totally PAIN-FREE,
✅ NON-surgical procedure,
✅ COVERED by insurance,
✅ takes only about 20 minutes to apply, ✅ requires once-weekly visits while in place.
⚠️Molding is time sensitive and, ideally, needs to happen BEFORE 6 weeks of age.

Address

1861 N Webb Road
Wichita, KS
67206

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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The Wichita Cleft and Craniofacial Center at the Plastic Surgery Center

The Wichita Cleft & Craniofacial Team is a multi-disciplinary team of specialists for the treatment of complex congenital anomalies of the head and neck.

We are a dedicated team of professionals who have been serving the children of Kansas for over 30 years. We see patients from birth to adulthood, and we address any and all needs from feeding in the first days of life to final orthodontia. Our team includes a pediatric plastic surgeon, oral surgeon, otolaryngologist, orthodontist, speech pathologists, dental hygienist, audiologist, social worker, and nurse coordinator.

And now, we are very proud to announce that our team is certified by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and Cleft Palate Foundation, a nation accrediting agency.