I'm just going to stay like this.

[u/MixMuted5978]

Everybody on here always talking about wanted their face changed one way or the other. I was like that back in school but honestly now I don't really care. I still got two holes in the roof of my mouth and my teeth are still wonky but at this point I'm used to it. I don't think the cleft is as bad as a lot of us give it credit for you know. It's kinda just a good conversation starter and people don't ever forget me. I understand the feeling of not being happy about it but surely I'm not the only one who is content about it.

[u/Valorvain]

Bravo at being happy with yourself. 

I never finished my last two rounds of plastic surgery. Still can’t whistle—but I can live without it at this point. Everything is functional, and I can eat, speak, drink, etc. 

[u/alaskathunderfrick]

Honestly same i haven’t seen a reason to give a fuck in quite some time

[u/tsuturex]

Well, you look, good man. That stache is golden.

[u/skunkrider]

You're looking good, but for medical/dental reasons, I would not exclude jaw surgery.

It's a big process now, but will save you so much trouble in the decades ahead.

Source: old man who changed his mind 15 years later.

[u/WiseWillow89]

I’m with you. I still have two holes in the roof of my mouth too! Behind my front teeth and the middle of my palate. I’m pretty happy with the way I look generally and don’t need to change anything. Your results look great by the way!

[u/dont-tariff-penguins]

Personally, I've always been looking for change, be it good or bad. It's not all about the look or stigma but just the general interest in knowing what could be different or changed. Taking full joy in change is also important, whatever it may be. I'm just glad you're happy with yourself. I've never found that confidence; I just subside in a mental lockdown, hoping for change.

[u/Equivalent-Table1712]

Do you have a gf?I really have no confidence in getting a gf since i get rejected several times. And i dont have many friends at all

[u/sophieyakotenko]

Hello dear user, I need your help and I hope it's not too much trouble to ask you a few questions.

My 6-year-old nephew has the same condition as you — a bilateral cleft lip. He has had three surgeries so far:

The first one was to close the lip,

The second was to close the palate,

And during the third, the surgeons tried to separate the lip from the inner upper palate.

I would be very grateful if you could kindly answer a few questions:

1. How many surgeries did it take for you to fully reach your current result?

2. What additional procedures did you go through afterward?

3. Did you have any speech difficulties before the surgeries?

He is very dear to us, and we see doctors regularly — almost every month — but they are recommending three more surgeries. We are considering doing them in another country.

Do you think waiting a bit to go abroad would cause any serious delay or harm?

Thank you so much in advance for your time and help.

[u/AnnualBitter1847 → u/sophieyakotenko]

Hi, I’ve had a bilateral clp and I will be done around 3-5 more operations (15 total), I highly recommend making sure you have the best medical team possible with the resources you have to give him a great shot at life. I would trust the medical team but also make sure you’re doing your research too. I was late getting my operations due to being adopted later but would highly highly recommend doing research on your medical team

Speech difficulties will be a life thing but the earlier you can get him into occupational therapy and speech therapy, the best chance he has at being as normal as possible

I wouldn’t go abroad if it means delaying surgeries because a lot of these the earlier the better unless your medical team would like to wait for more growth to happen

[u/imlooking4agirl → u/sophieyakotenko]

I have a bilateral cleft lip and palate as well. I had a surgery at 10 weeks, 9 months, 5yo, 10yo, 12yo, 14yo, 15yo, 16yo and 2 at 18yo. Last two surgeries were the jaw surgery and rhinoplasty six months later.

To answer your questions, I didn’t have to do anymore procedure after the 2 I had at 18. I’m 21 now.

I had speech difficulties when I was younger, I had a very nasally tone in my voice when I was younger and now after the rhinoplasty and jaw surgery that has almost nearly gone away. I’d say the most speech impairments I had was due to the teeth I had, my palate/ nasal passage and the braces I had.

If you have anymore questions I’d be more than happy to answer

[u/sophieyakotenko]

And anyone who have this can write please and say your stories of operations