Cleft lip and palate

The most common congenital deformity of the head and neck, cleft lip and pa late, presents the surgeon with a unique esthetic and reconstructive challe nge. The complexity of these deformities demands the skills of a multidisci plinary team of professionals to optimize surgical outcome. This article di scusses the embryology, epidemiology, and genetics of cleft lip and palate and details the history and modern methods of their surgical correction, th e proper goal of which is restoration of normal facial form and velopharyng eal function.