Paediatrics in Lagos
Cleft lip and palate repair in Lagos, planned stage by stage
A written all-in price after a consultation from ₦50,000 in Lagos, so you know the total before anything is booked.
How the price is set
Consultation, then a written price
From ₦50,000
Consultant paediatric surgeon opinion
- The cleft surgeon, the anaesthetist and the theatre for the stage being quoted
- Your baby's bed for the stay that stage needs, with a parent staying
- Routine medication while admitted
- Reviews after that stage
Your written price covers the lines above, agreed before you pay.
Cleft Lip and Palate Repair at Mezo Health in Lagos, Nigeria is priced in a written quote after a consultation from ₦50,000, because the right operation and its cost depend on what the surgeon finds. The quote covers routine medication while admitted, plus reviews after that stage. Prices last checked 3 November 2026.
A cleft is a gap in the lip, the roof of the mouth, or both, that forms before birth. It is one of the most treatable differences a baby can be born with. The lip is usually repaired at around three to six months and the palate before about eighteen months, so feeding and speech develop well. Care continues as the child grows, with speech therapy, hearing checks and dental care, and sometimes later operations.
Also called: Cleft lip repair, Cleft palate repair, Cheiloplasty, Palatoplasty, Hare lip surgery
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana
How the price is set
Written quote after consultation
Consultant paediatric surgeon opinion: from ₦50,000
Your price is a written quote for each stage after the cleft surgeon has examined your baby, because the type of cleft and the number of stages change it. It does not move without your written agreement.
What your written quote covers
- The cleft surgeon, the anaesthetist and the theatre for the stage being quoted
- Your baby's bed for the stay that stage needs, with a parent staying
- Routine medication while admitted
- Reviews after that stage
Not in the quote
- The first consultation
- Later stages, each quoted in writing before it is booked
- Speech therapy, hearing tests, dental and orthodontic care over the years
- Intensive care, if it is needed
What decides your quote
- A cleft of the lip, the palate or both, on one side or both sides
- Your baby's age and weight at surgery
- Other conditions that affect the anaesthetic
- Grommets placed at the same operation for glue ear
HMO cover for conditions present at birth varies, and some plans exclude them. The desk files prior authorisation once the written quote exists, and what you would pay is confirmed before anything is booked.
How we pick your surgeon
Every Mezo surgeon is MDCN verified and approved for this operation before they take a case. You meet them before you pay.
Is it right for you
Who this is for
A good fit
- A baby born with a cleft lip, on one side or both
- A baby born with a cleft palate, including one hidden at the back of the mouth
- An older child or adult whose cleft was never repaired, which can still be done
- A child whose earlier repair needs revising for speech or appearance
When it is not the right answer
- A baby who is not feeding or is losing weight, who needs feeding help and a doctor today before any surgery is planned
- A baby with breathing difficulty or a small lower jaw that blocks the airway, who needs a hospital now
What happens
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Consultation with a cleft surgeon₦50,000
Your baby is examined, the type of cleft explained, and the plan for each stage set out. Feeding help starts at this visit.
- 2
Feeding and weight
Special bottles or cups, and regular weighing, so your baby is growing well before the first operation.
- 3
A written plan and price for each stage
Timing, the operations and the price of each, in writing.
- 4
Lip repair
Usually at around three to six months, about one to two hours under general anaesthetic.
- 5
Palate repair
Usually between six and eighteen months, so speech develops well.
- 6
Care as your child grows₦25,000
Hearing checks, speech therapy and dental care, with later operations where needed.
Afterwards
Recovery, realistically
First days
In hospital with your baby for one to a few days. Arm splints may be used so your baby cannot rub the repair.
Weeks 1 to 3
Feeding as the surgeon advises, keeping the repair clean, and no hard objects in the mouth after palate repair.
Weeks after
The scar is red at first and fades over months.
Through childhood
Speech, hearing and teeth are checked at set ages, and further care is planned with you.
Risks you should be told about
- Infection or bleeding
- A small hole remaining in the palate, which can be closed later
- Speech that needs further therapy or another operation
- A scar or lip shape that may benefit from revision as your child grows
- Anaesthetic risk, low with an anaesthetist experienced with babies
Every operation carries risk. A surgeon who lists none is not being straight with you. Yours will go through these with you before you consent.
Questions people ask
Did I cause my baby's cleft?
Almost always no. A cleft forms very early in pregnancy, usually for reasons nobody could have prevented. It is not a curse, and it is not anything the mother did.
Can my baby breastfeed?
Many babies with a cleft lip alone can. A cleft palate makes sucking harder, and special bottles or cups help. You are shown how at the first visit.
Is it too late for an older child or adult?
No. A cleft can be repaired at any age, and repair still improves appearance, eating and speech, though earlier repair gives speech the best start.
Why is there no fixed price on this page?
Because a cleft of the lip alone is one operation, and a cleft of the lip and palate on both sides can be several. Each stage is quoted in writing before it is booked.
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Cleft lip and palate. NHS. Patient information.
- Cleft lip and palate: treatment. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 3 November 2026.
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Prices shown are in naira and were last checked on 3 November 2026. A “from” price is the all-in starting price for the standard case. Every operation is confirmed in a written quote after your consultation, because the right operation for you, and its cost, depend on what the surgeon finds.