Structured Programme
The region's first dedicated cleft programme, with a defined pathway from newborn assessment through adolescence.
Institute of Excellence
Cleft Lip & Palate
Every Smile Matters. Every Child Deserves Theirs.
The cleft care programme at Amandeep Hospitals is dedicated to advanced, compassionate treatment for cleft lip and cleft palate — two of the most common congenital facial conditions affecting children across India.
We are proud to be the first in the region to work in such a dedicated and structured manner for cleft treatment, bringing every essential specialist under one roof — plastic and maxillofacial surgeons, anaesthetists, orthodontists, speech therapists and specialist nurses — so each child receives complete, coordinated care from diagnosis to rehabilitation.
Our focus is simple:
To restore not just a child's appearance, but their ability to feed, speak, hear and grow up with confidence — regardless of their family's ability to pay.
- Free Surgery for Eligible Children
- Smile Train
- Surgeons · Orthodontists · Speech
- Multi-Team
- Staged Care Through Growth
- Birth → Teens
- Structured Cleft Programme
- Region's First
Free Surgery for Eligible Children
Surgeons · Orthodontists · Speech
Staged Care Through Growth
Structured Cleft Programme
2004
Smile Train Partner Since
About the Programme
Complete Cleft Care, From Diagnosis to Rehabilitation
Cleft lip and cleft palate occur when the tissues of the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth do not fuse correctly during early fetal development. They can appear as isolated or combined conditions, on one or both sides of the face.
If untreated, cleft conditions can lead to feeding difficulties, speech problems, ear infections and social stigma. Treatment is staged through childhood — beginning shortly after birth and continuing into adolescence — and needs a coordinated team rather than a single operation.
Since 2004, Amandeep Hospitals has partnered with Smile Train, a leading international NGO, to provide free-of-cost cleft lip and palate surgery to children from economically weaker sections — especially those below the poverty line or unable to afford treatment. The programme also supports families with travel assistance, speech therapy and orthodontic care.
The programme brings together:
- Plastic and maxillofacial surgeons
- Paediatric anaesthetists
- Orthodontists and dental specialists
- Speech and language therapists
- Specialist cleft nurses and feeding support
- Smile Train partnership for free surgery
No child left behind because of cost.
Through Smile Train, cleft surgery at Amandeep is free for eligible children — including those below the poverty line or otherwise unable to afford treatment.
We continue our mission to raise awareness, break myths and ensure that every child born with a cleft can reclaim their smile.
The Amandeep Advantage
More Than a Single Operation
Cleft care is a journey of several years and several specialists. The programme is built so that a family never has to coordinate that journey alone.
Every Specialist On Site
Surgeons, anaesthetists, orthodontists, speech therapists and nurses in one team — one appointment, one plan.
Free for Eligible Children
Smile Train partnership since 2004 covers surgery and supports travel, speech therapy and orthodontics.
Full Range of Procedures
From primary lip and palate repair to cleft rhinoplasty, bone grafting, VPI and orthognathic surgery.
Beyond Surgery
Feeding guidance, speech therapy, hearing checks and psychological support for child and family.
Conditions We Treat
Cleft and Craniofacial Conditions
The programme manages every form of cleft, the secondary problems that follow it, and rarer craniofacial clefts.
Cleft Lip
A separation in the upper lip, one- or two-sided, which may include the gum line.
Cleft Palate
A gap in the roof of the mouth from incomplete fusion during development.
Combined Cleft Lip & Palate
Both conditions together, requiring staged repair and long-term follow-up.
Cleft Nose Deformity
Asymmetry of the nostril and nasal tip that accompanies cleft lip.
Alveolar Cleft
A gap in the upper gum and jaw bone, treated with bone grafting before the adult teeth erupt.
Velopharyngeal Insufficiency
Nasal-sounding speech after palate repair, when the palate cannot seal the nose from the mouth.
Feeding & Speech Difficulty
Poor suction in infancy and articulation problems in childhood related to the cleft.
Jaw Growth Problems
Underdevelopment of the upper jaw in adolescence needing orthognathic surgery.
Rare Craniofacial Clefts
Uncommon facial clefts assessed and treated by the craniofacial team.
Treatments & Procedures
Staged Surgery, Timed to Your Child's Growth
Each procedure is performed at the age when it does the most good — and the whole sequence is planned with the family from the first visit.
Cleft Lip Repair
Primary repair of the lip, usually in the first months of life, restoring a natural shape and symmetry.
Cleft Palate Repair
Closure of the palate, typically by 9–12 months, to enable normal feeding and speech development.
Cleft Rhinoplasty
Correction of the nasal deformity that accompanies cleft lip, in childhood and again after growth.
Alveolar Bone Grafting
Grafting bone into the gum cleft so that adult teeth can erupt and the jaw is stable.
VPI Surgery
Procedures for velopharyngeal insufficiency that improve nasal-sounding speech after palate repair.
Orthognathic Surgery
Repositioning of the jaws in adolescence when cleft has affected facial growth.
Revision Surgery
Refinement of lip, nose and scar in childhood and adolescence for the best possible appearance.
Speech Therapy & Orthodontics
Non-surgical care that runs alongside every stage — feeding support, speech therapy and dental alignment.
Has your child been born with a cleft?
Bring them to the programme as early as possible. Feeding guidance starts immediately, and a full treatment plan will be explained to you in detail.
Get EvaluatedTechnology & Infrastructure
Built for Children and Their Families
Cleft surgery is delicate work on the smallest patients. The programme is equipped for both the precision and the safety that demands.
Paediatric anaesthesia, modular theatres and specialist nursing sit alongside speech therapy and orthodontic services — so every stage of care, surgical and non-surgical, happens in one familiar place.
What supports the cleft team:
- Modular operation theatres
- Paediatric anaesthesia and recovery
- Operating loupes and microsurgical instruments
- Specialist cleft nursing and feeding support
- Speech and language therapy service
- Orthodontic and dental clinic
- Audiology and ENT for hearing assessment
- Smile Train support for travel and follow-up
Small patients. Highest standards.
A cleft repair performed well in infancy shapes a child's face, speech and confidence for life.
That is why the programme brings experienced surgeons, paediatric anaesthetists and dedicated nursing together for every operation.
Why Choose Amandeep
Because a Cleft Is Treatable — Completely
With the right team and the right timing, a child born with a cleft can grow up with a near-normal appearance, clear speech and full confidence. The programme is built to make that the expected outcome.
- 01Early assessment
- 02Feeding support
- 03Staged surgery
- 04Speech therapy
- 05Orthodontics
- 06Long-term follow-up
Region's First Cleft Programme
The first structured, dedicated cleft service in the region, with two decades of experience.
Smile Train Partner Since 2004
Free surgery and support for eligible children — cost is never the reason a child goes untreated.
One Team, One Plan
Surgeons, orthodontists and speech therapists plan together so treatment stages fit each child's growth.
Care Beyond the Face
Feeding, speech, hearing and confidence are treated as seriously as the surgical result.
Your Child's Journey at the Programme
From the First Visit to a Confident Smile
Seven coordinated stages — from newborn assessment to the final refinements of adolescence.
- 01
Early Assessment
Evaluation by the plastic surgeon as soon as possible after birth — or during pregnancy if diagnosed prenatally.
- 02
Feeding Support
Specialist bottles, positioning and guidance so the baby feeds well before the first surgery.
- 03
Lip Repair
Primary cleft lip repair in the first months of life.
- 04
Palate Repair
Palate closure, usually by 9–12 months, in time for speech development.
- 05
Speech & Hearing
Speech therapy and hearing checks through early childhood, with VPI surgery if needed.
- 06
Bone Grafting & Orthodontics
Alveolar bone grafting and dental alignment as the adult teeth develop.
- 07
Final Refinements
Rhinoplasty, revision or jaw surgery in adolescence for the best long-term result.
Start at step one.
Book an assessment — the earlier we meet your child, the better the outcome.
Book Now
Beyond the Operating Room
We Measure Success in Smiles
A cleft repair is successful when a child forgets they ever had one.
For one family, that means a baby who can finally feed without struggle. For another, it means a child speaking clearly in class, or a teenager looking in the mirror with confidence.
Our approach therefore extends far beyond the operation itself.
Feeding & Growth
Babies who feed well and thrive from the first weeks.
Clear Speech
Palate repair and therapy timed for normal speech development.
Natural Appearance
Lip, nose and jaw refined through growth for a near-normal look.
Confidence
Because the real outcome of cleft care is a child who belongs.
Technology With a Human Touch
Modern Surgery, Patient-First Compassion
It is Surgeon + Team + Family + Child.
Modern surgical techniques restore the lip, palate and nose with precision.
Orthodontics and speech therapy complete what surgery begins.
But a cleft affects a whole family — their worry, their hopes, their finances.
At Amandeep, cleft care combines clinical excellence with a patient-first, compassionate approach — with one objective:
Restore the smile.Restore the voice.Restore the confidence.
Meet the Team
Our Cleft & Craniofacial Specialists
Plastic, reconstructive and maxillofacial surgeons supported by paediatric anaesthetists, orthodontists and speech therapists.
Dr. Ravi Kumar Mahajan
HOD & Chief Plastic, Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgeon
MBBS, MS, M.Ch Plastic Surgery
View ProfileDr. Devyani Dudeja
Resident- DrNB Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
MBBS, MS General Surgery DrNB Resident
View ProfileDr. Shruti Chawla
Resident- DrNB Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
MBBS, MS General Surgery, DNB General Resident, DrNB Resident
View ProfileDr. Anurag Salwan
Clinical Fellow in Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch. (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery)
View ProfileDr. Samridhi Gupta
Assistant Consultant in the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch
View ProfileFAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers for parents about cleft lip and palate.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital conditions that occur when a baby's lip or mouth does not form completely in the first months of pregnancy; globally they affect about 1 in 600 births. A cleft lip is a separation in the upper lip that may include the gum; a cleft palate is a gap in the roof of the mouth. They can occur alone or together, on one or both sides.
Clefts arise from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors include a family history of cleft, maternal smoking or alcohol use, advanced maternal age, folic acid deficiency during pregnancy and certain syndromic conditions. In most cases no single cause can be identified — and it is never the parents' fault.
Yes. Cleft conditions are successfully treated through staged surgery and multidisciplinary care that begins shortly after birth and continues into adolescence. With proper treatment, children can enjoy a normal appearance, clear speech and a full social life.
Babies with a cleft may have difficulty breastfeeding because they cannot create suction. Special feeding bottles with long, wide teats are used; the baby is fed upright at about 45° and burped frequently. Our nurses teach this from the first visit, and it continues until the palate is repaired, usually by 9–12 months.
There is no prenatal treatment for cleft lip or palate, but a diagnosis in pregnancy gives the family time to prepare. If the cleft is not associated with a life-threatening syndrome, it can be managed very effectively after birth. We are happy to meet expectant parents before delivery to explain the plan.
Have your child evaluated by a plastic surgeon as soon as possible. Early feeding guidance and orthodontic consultation are also important. A treatment plan — including the timing of each stage of surgery — will be discussed with you in detail.
With timely, expert surgery your child's appearance can be near normal. Some minor scarring may remain, and revision procedures in later childhood can correct most residual differences in the lip and nose.
Yes. With palate repair at the right age and speech therapy, most children with cleft palate develop near-normal speech. Where nasal speech persists, VPI surgery can help.
Institute of Excellence
Every Smile Matters
A cleft is not a life sentence. With early care and the right team, it is a condition your child will grow up beyond.
Bring your child to the programme — and if cost is a worry, know that through Smile Train it need not be.
Expert Cleft Surgery.Complete Team Care.Free for Eligible Children.
AmritsarPathankotFirozpurSrinagar
Restoring smiles. Reclaiming childhoods.