Answered by SecondMedic Expert
Dermatologist · Plastic Surgery
Verified
Cleft lip and palate are birth defects that happen when the tissues that form a baby's mouth don't join together properly. A cleft lip is an opening in the upper lip. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth.
Cleft lip and palate can occur separately or together. They can range from a small notch in the lip to a large hole in the roof of the mouth that goes all the way down to the throat.
