Changing Lives One Smile at a Time

How We Change Lives

On HUGS Foundation, Inc. mission trips, we provide surgeries to repair congenital facial deformities. The most common of these are cleft lip, cleft palate, and microtia. Recently, we added cleft rhinoplasty to our surgeries to ensure a continuum of service for our patients in need. Read on to find out more about these conditions.

Missions would not be possible without the generosity of others.

Microtia Surgery | HUGS Foundation, Inc.

What Is Microtia?

What is Microtia? Micro = small; Otia=ear. Microtia is a congenital deformity where the pinna (external ear) is underdeveloped; often referred to as “small ear.” Microtia can be unilateral (one side only) or bilateral (affecting both sides). One of the better-known people to suffer from microtia is KISS guitarist and frontman, Paul Stanley.

How Is Microtia Repaired?

The first step is to remove cartilage from several ribs through an incision on the child’s chest. This cartilage is delicately carved and arranged to form the framework of an ear. The framework is placed under the scalp to heal. Once it is healed, further surgeries are necessary to complete the reconstruction. Our doctors are highly skilled in the necessary precision and artistic creativity needed to effectively perform this procedure.

Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Surgery | HUGS Foundation, Inc.

What Are Cleft Lips and Cleft Palates?

Cleft lip and cleft palate are facial and oral malformations that can prevent children from breathing, speaking, eating, or smiling properly. A cleft lip is a physical split of the upper lip. The cleft looks like a narrow opening or gap in the skin. A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. These conditions can occur on either side of the mouth or on both sides. The lip and palate develop separately, so children may have a cleft palate without a cleft lip or vice versa. They may also have both a cleft lip and palate together.

How Are Cleft Lip or Palate Repaired?

The surgeries used to repair both cleft lip and cleft palate are highly individualized procedures. It is necessary to close the defect, restore normal function, and create a normal appearance. To repair a cleft lip, the surgeon will trim the tissues and sew the lip together. For a cleft palate, the doctor will close the cleft in layers. They will repair the muscles of the palate so they work effectively for speech, eating, and smiling.

We have experienced excellent results with our surgeries.

Cleft Rhinoplasty

Cleft rhinoplasty is the procedure used for nasal reshaping surgery. This is performed on fully-grown patients who have an abnormal nasal appearance due to a cleft lip and palate as an infant. Babies with cleft lip and palate have had nasal reshaping during the surgical correction of the clefts. During puberty, significant growth occurs. This rapid growth may result in uneven nasal shape due to scarring, asymmetry in the nasal cartilage, septum, or bones. We return to our patients to surgically correct the shape of the nose for optimal function and appearance.

Cleft Rhinoplasty is part of our continuum of service.

Join us in saving smiles.
Call 585-244-1000 or contact us to find out more.

HUGS Foundation, Inc.

973 East Ave
Rochester, NY 14607

Contact

Phone: 585-244-1000
Email: info@helpusgivesmiles.org

Get Directions

Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN): 58-2673458
HUGS Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations of cash and supplies are tax-exempt to the fullest extent of the law.