When is the best time to treat cleft lip and palate?

Unilateral cleft lip repair surgery is generally performed when a child is between three and six months of age, bilateral cleft lip surgery around six to twelve months, and severe cases mostly undergo cleft lip repair between twelve and eighteen months. If the surgery is performed too early, the risks increase and the surgical outcome may be less effective; however, if delayed too long, it may cause adverse psychological effects on both the child and parents.