Cleft and lip palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common congenital craniofacial anomalies, affecting approximately 1 in 700 babies worldwide. These conditions occur when the tissues of the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth do not fuse properly during early pregnancy.

Dr. Reza Jarrahy offers full-spectrum care for children and families navigating cleft lip and palate diagnoses—from prenatal consultation through surgery, therapy, and long-term follow-up. His multidisciplinary team is here to support every step of your journey.

Your First Visit with Us

Your first consultation is focused on education, planning, and reassurance.

  • Comprehensive assessment of your child’s condition and overall health.

  • Discussion of treatment options and surgical timeline.

  • Feeding evaluations and tips, including specialized bottles and techniques if needed.

  • Access to family resources including genetic counseling, support groups, and financial assistance navigation.

Whether you're seeking care for the first time or looking for a second opinion, our team is here to help.

Prenatal Diagnosis & Support

Cleft lip and palate can often be diagnosed during a routine anatomy ultrasound around 18–22 weeks of gestation. If a cleft is detected prenatally:

  • We offer prenatal consultations to explain the diagnosis, answer your questions, and coordinate care before birth.

  • You’ll meet our cleft team, including surgeons, pediatricians, and specialists in feeding and speech.

  • Family-centered support ensures you’re emotionally and practically prepared for delivery and postnatal care

At Birth

If a cleft is not detected prenatally, it is typically diagnosed shortly after birth during a routine physical exam. We work closely with your birth hospital or pediatrician to ensure:

  • Immediate evaluation and feeding guidance, as some babies may have trouble breastfeeding or bottle feeding.

  • Referral to our cleft team, which includes a craniofacial surgeon, ENT, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, orthodontist, geneticist, and more.

  • A personalized timeline for treatment, based on your baby’s unique condition and medical needs.

  • “Dr. Jarrahy is the most exceptional teacher, mentor and physician I have had in my career.His dedication to his students and patients is unparalleled. He deserves every accolade known to mankind. I cannot endorse him enough. I owe him so much of my career. He enabled me to match into plastic surgery at Stanford and has guided my career like a guardian angel.”

  • “Thank you so much for the excellent care.

    With much gratitude”

  • “Dr. Jarrahy, there are very few people I would consider both personal & professional mentors/role models. I greatly appreciate your guidance in the technical arts of surgery, but maybe even more so, admire your genuine passion for connecting deeply & authentically with others.The value you place on relationships/human connection was clearly evident and I aspire to bring this element to my future endeavors, regardless of the setting. I admire your life priorities & balance, which I think very few in medicine, let alone surgery, do well.”

  • “Dr. Jarrahy is the best!! As a medical student Dr. Jarrahy was my mentor and he cares so much about education and the well-being of his students. Amazing teacher and great person to be around.”

  • “Excellent teacher, takes time to teach residents, allows autonomy to improve surgical education while providing adequate supervision.”

cleft study

Application of Hydroxycholesterols for Alveolar Cleft Osteoplasty in a Rodent Model: By Reza Jarrahy

Hydroxycholesterols, naturally derived from cholesterol, show promising results in promoting bone regeneration for alveolar cleft repair—offering similar benefits to BMP-2 but with fewer side effects and lower cost. This study highlights their effectiveness in both lab and rodent models, potentially paving the way for safer, more accessible craniofacial therapies.

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