ABSTRACT
Clefts of the lip and/or palate are the most common craniofacial birth anomalies and are among the most common of all birth anomalies, with birth prevalence ranging from 1 in 500 to 1 in 2 000 depending on the population. Successful management of patients born with cleft lip and/or palate requires multidisciplinary, highly specialised team management from birth to adulthood. The essential objectives of cleft lip repair are the restoration of normal function and appearance of the lip and nose. This is achieved by re-establishing normal insertions of the nasolabial muscles and correct anatomical position of the soft tissues, including the mucocutaneous elements. The Millard repair is based on a rotation flap on the medial cleft side coupled with an advancement flap on the cleft lateral side. The incision is then bowed in a curvilinear fashion near the base of the columella crossing the philtrum towards the far lateral extent of the columellar base.
