Loja, March 31, 2023
A child under two and a half months of age, who presented a deformity in his lip, was successfully operated on by the plastic surgery team of the Isidro Ayora de Loja General Hospital, an establishment of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP).
Christian Silva Jiménez, plastic surgeon, explains that this surgical intervention (cheiloplasty, to correct a malformation in the lips) is necessary to help the functionality and aesthetics of the baby. The treatment and recovery is complemented by the reconstruction of the palate, a procedure that must be carried out after one year, according to the professional.
In this type of surgery, a multidisciplinary team is involved that includes: pediatric dentistry, pediatrics, plastic surgery and psychology, the latter requiring the accompaniment of family members during the recovery process.
The hospital treats between 4 to 5 cases per month. The cases must be referred from the health center closest to the patient’s home, while others access directly when the minors were identified in the hospital at the time of birth.
It is recommended that children with these deformities access treatment in a timely manner. Sometimes, due to ignorance, they are taken to a hospital after years, this generates language deficiencies, according to health specialists.
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