Frenuloplasty – Boulder, CO

What Is the Difference Between a Frenectomy and a Frenuloplasty?

Although both were designed to treat lip and tongue ties, there are some key differences between a frenectomy and a frenuloplasty.  Frenectomies can be done on babies as young as a few days old up until about the age of four and are designed to release the lingual frenulum back to the position where it should have developed in the first place. Conversely, a frenuloplasty can be done on patients four and older and removes this tissue entirely to free up the movement of tongue to make eating and speaking easier.

Why Does a Lip or Tongue Tie Need to Be Treated?

While the lingual frenulum may be small and even seem insignificant, if it is too small or tight, it can cause a variety of problems throughout you or your child’s life. In infants, lip and tongue ties create difficulties breastfeeding and lead to malnourishment and poor weight gain. As they get older, it can make things like eating solid foods and speaking clearly more difficult and can even increase their risk of dental problems and breathing issues.

By treating the lip or tongue tie early on, you can improve your child’s ability to eat, speak, and breathe properly, giving them a solid foundation for growth and development as they age.

The Frenuloplasty Process

The frenuloplasty procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia to numb the area so no pain is felt during the procedure. Once numb, Dr. Witkoff will use the CO2 laser to release the frenulum to ensure optimal lip or tongue movement.  In some cases, sutures may be needed to close the incision site, but these are usually dissolvable and should not need to be removed.

The recovery time for a frenuloplasty is usually very short. Your child may experience some minor discomfort or pain at the surgical site for several days, but this is typically well-managed with the help of over-the-counter pain relievers.

Recovering from a Frenuloplasty

Immediately following the frenuloplasty procedure, your child may experience some pain or discomfort. You can give them over-the-counter pain relievers as directed by Dr. Witkoff or their pediatrician. This discomfort should clear up within one to two weeks with proper rest and adherence to the post-op guidelines. It is not uncommon for them to also experience some bleeding, pain, or in rare cases, numbness.

• Pain can also be treated with topical analgesic gel applied to gauze and placed on the surgical site every one to two hours (up to four times a day).
• Swelling and inflammation can occur for three to five days post procedure, and your child’s tongue may feel larger than normal or painful to move. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used as needed.
• Be sure to maintain your child’s oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) as usual. You can also help them rinse with warm saltwater a few times a day to help keep their mouth clean and soothe their surgical site.
• Provide your child with a soft diet during the first few days after treatment and be sure to avoid anything too hot or spicy, or anything that requires a lot of chewing.
• If sutures were used, these should dissolve or fall off on their own within three to five days but could take up to ten days to disappear. As they do, you may notice some granulation healing tissue in the open wounds. Should this become overgrown, simply brush the site with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove any debris, however there’s no need to completely remove this tissue, so leaving it in place will not harm your child’s results.