Frenectomy Surgery

Welcome to our practice and thank you for coming to assess your child’s midline structures and possible benefits from Lip tie (LT) and/or Tongue tie (TT) revisions. Dr. Richter, a frenectomy specialist in Lehi, UT, and our staff are pleased to be able to address your child’s condition with the latest advancements in laser technology making this procedure safe and more precise with a faster recovery than ever before. Some of the many benefits that come from having a TT or LT revision include improved structure for nursing, speech, eating and swallowing along with increased physical, emotional and psychological development. We are grateful to be able to assist you with evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of TT and LT revisions with gentle care, expertise and individual attention.

Why a laser?

Through the use of modern technology and lasers, TT and LT revisions have become more precise and complete with less bleeding and quicker healing time than conventional methods. Dr. Richter uses a diode laser that provides an analgesic effect lasting 4-6 hours while sealing the vessels as it removes the excess tissue. A diode laser also eliminates the need for stitches and minimizes infection risk, promoting faster healing time.

Tongue Tie (TT)

Lip Tie (LP)

Symptoms

Baby: Some of your baby’s challenges related to the TT or LT thus far may have included difficulty establishing or maintaining a latch (manifested as clicking, snapbacks or breaking latch), excessive air intake due to inadequate seal (Aerophagia) leading to bloating, fussiness, colic, reflux (GERD), gassiness, weight loss, feeding refusal (defensive protective mechanism), failure to thrive, extended feeding times, falling asleep at the breast due to exhaustion, and/or restless sleeping due to inadequate feedings leading to continual feeding cycles.

Mother: Common problems for the mother may include pain when nursing, plugged ducts, mastitis, bleeding, cracking, structural damage to the nipples, and/or early loss of milk supply, not to mention the psychological, mental and emotional impact of the difficulty in providing for your newborn.

The Laser Procedure

Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of the patient during the LT or TT revision. Smaller babies and infants are gently wrapped in a swaddler to limit their movements and protect them during the oral examination and evaluation and for the surgical procedure. Sugar water is used to provide an analgesic effect in the mouth as scientifically recommended. A topical anesthetic cream will be used to minimize pain. Our staff will, with two hands, gently stabilize the patient’s head. The laser is then used to remove the excessive attachment, this takes between 2 and 10 minutes, depending on age, behavior, and size of the LT or TT. A final assessment is done and then the patient is immediately returned to his/her parents. Nursing is encouraged immediately after the procedure.

Post-Op Tongue Tie

Post-Op Lip Tie

Pre-Op

Immediate Post-Op

Post-Operative Care

Stretches are recommended to be done for at least 3-4 weeks after the procedure in order to keep the areas open until healing is complete. Those will be shown to you before and/or after the procedure. Once the tissue looks completely pink and healed, stretching twice a day for one more week is recommended. There may be discomfort for 1-3 days after the procedure. Nursing is recommended to help comfort your baby; infant Tylenol may also be used for up to 24 hours if needed.

Follow up

When possible, a 1-week follow-up visit should be done to assure adequate stretching is happening. It is also recommended that the patient follow up with other specialists that work with infants, including a Lactation Consultant or IBCLC, and a CranioSacral Therapist, Chiropractor or Osteopath, Massage Therapist, Orofacial Myologist, Speech Language Pathologist or other qualified specialist for physiotherapy (“body work”) to help the patient learn how to use the newly released muscles that have not been functioning properly up to this point in his/her life.