Wellspring Craniofacial Group was founded on the belief in transformation: the idea that every person is a unique blessing and that while differences from birth present big challenges, they also present tremendous opportunity. A beautiful cleft lip repair does not stop with a natural, reconstructed lip—attention also needs to be directed to a natural nasal reconstruction.

Our board-certified plastic and craniofacial surgeons are specialists who have dedicated years to the practice of comprehensive cleft care, including procedures such as cleft rhinoplasty. The impact that a cleft lip can have on the nose is sometimes minor and sometimes significant, affecting both function and form. Few surgical procedures have such an interplay between aesthetics and reconstruction, and this interplay is our specialty.

Initial Care for Your Child. Support for Your Family.

Cleft nasal reconstruction is a critical component of every one of the reconstructions that we perform for patients with a cleft lip. Accordingly, nasal repairs are key components of our surgical protocols from the very beginning. This page is dedicated to those patients who had a lip repair when they were young, but now hope to improve harmony in the shape and function of their nose.

We are fortunate to treat patients who were repaired in different countries or with older techniques that, despite satisfaction with the function and appearance of the cleft lip repair, left the nose with residual differences. Sometimes the nasal asymmetry becomes more noticeable over time, and can affect a person’s ability to breath comfortably.

Since cleft rhinoplasty involves improvement in function and in shape, the ideal surgeon would have rich experience in cleft surgery and in cosmetic rhinoplasty. This combination is rare in Texas and rare in the United States, but it is exactly who we are. Wellspring Craniofacial Group has earned a reputation for excellence in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. As specialists with extensive experience in cleft rhinoplasty, we bring both anatomical and cosmetic expertise to your care.

Just as importantly, you and your family will always be a partner in the process. When we have the privilege of caring for you, we walk side by side on the road from diagnosis to completed treatment. Forming close relationships with families and seeing patients benefit from our work is our central joy as physicians and healers.

How We Approach Cleft Rhinoplasty for Our Patients

Wellspring Craniofacial Group invites you to schedule a visit with us. Having cleft rhinoplasty early in life can significantly improve function and aesthetics for patients, and it can also mean less extensive follow-up surgeries. During your initial visit, your doctor will:

  • Take the time to evaluate your needs.
  • Discuss the treatment process.
  • Answer any questions you may have.

With the guidance Wellspring Craniofacial Group provides, you will be able to make care decisions with greater comfort and confidence. To that end, we offer families a typical schedule for treatment below.

Two Weeks to 3-4 Months of Life: Nasal Alveolar Molding

The early weeks of a child’s development provide an excellent opportunity for bringing together the lip and reshaping the nose. Wellspring Craniofacial Group doctors are some of the best practitioners in the country at using nasal alveolar molding (NAM) to accomplish this goal. In fact, Dr. Hobar was one of the first craniofacial surgeons in the coutry to use this technique in practice, and we have refined it extensively.

A NAM is a small plastic appliance that your child will wear daily to provide a better surgical outcome. We know that caring for an infant has challenges all on its own, so our practice will take the time to show you how to apply the NAM, talk you through questions, and be there to assist you with any concerns.

3-4 Months: Primary Cleft Lip and Nasal Repair

Wellspring Craniofacial Group will perform the first cleft nasal repair procedure at a dedicated pediatric hospital. These facilities are specially designed for children and offer an experienced and supportive staff.

This procedure is the primary surgery to correct the cleft. Children who have bilateral clefts may have an additional procedure at 18 months of age to revise certain features of the nose.

Older than 16-18 Years of Age: Cleft Rhinoplasty

If you or your child is older and has not had a primary procedure—or still has asymmetry despite the primary repair—Wellspring Craniofacial Group can perform a cleft rhinoplasty. Timing this procedure after a person is mature gives him or her time to develop physically and promotes a better long-term result.

Our surgeons perform the procedure under general anesthesia, so you or your child will sleep throughout the experience. If breathing hasn’t been a problem, the surgeon will focus on bringing the nose into greater harmony with other facial features. If function is also a concern, then our surgeons will use specialized techniques to address both function and aesthetics, and provide patients with greater comfort and better cosmetics.

Let’s Begin the Journey Together

Whether your child is new to the world or is a teen ready for the next stage of treatment, we invite you to contact Wellspring Craniofacial Group for an appointment to discuss cleft rhinoplasty. We will work collaboratively with your family, treat you as a partner in the process, and support you with personal, outstanding, and transformative care.

If your child has a cleft that affects breathing or the appearance of the nose, Wellspring Craniofacial Group can guide your family to a functional, cosmetic outcome. Patients can reach the practice online or by phone by calling (512) 600-2888.