Labial Frenotomy for Symptomatic Isolated Upper Lip Tie

Cecilia G Freeman; Jason F Ohlstein; Nicholas A Rossi; John B McIntire; Luis D Neve; Shiva Daram; Harold S Pine

doi:10.7759/cureus.32755

Labial Frenotomy for Symptomatic Isolated Upper Lip Tie

Cureus. 2022 Dec 20;14(12):e32755. doi: 10.7759/cureus.32755. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Cecilia G Freeman¹, Jason F Ohlstein^{1

2}, Nicholas A Rossi³, John B McIntire⁴, Luis D Neve³, Shiva Daram³, Harold S Pine³

Affiliations

¹ Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, St. Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, USA.
² Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Specialty Physician Associates, Bethlehem, USA.
³ Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA.
⁴ Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Premier Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, Newark, USA.

Abstract

Background: The benefits and challenges of successful breastfeeding for both mother and child have been well-established in the literature. While ankyloglossia, or tongue tie, alone or in combination with upper lip tie has been the focus of several previous studies, very few have directly addressed isolated symptomatic upper lip tie and the role of surgical correction for breastfeeding difficulties.

Materials and methods: Seven infants with isolated upper lip tie and breastfeeding difficulty were taken to the operating room for labial frenotomy. These infants were assessed at their follow-up visits for their degree of weight gain since their procedure. Their mothers were surveyed regarding their experiences with breastfeeding since the frenotomy was performed.

Results: In this article, we present seven infants with isolated upper lip tie and breastfeeding difficulty who were treated with labial frenotomy. Subsequently, these infants demonstrated improved weight gain, and all mothers reported increased ease of breastfeeding.

Conclusion: These findings implicate lip tie as an underrecognized cause of breastfeeding difficulty and suggest that labial frenotomy is an effective treatment in these patients. Larger-scale randomized controlled studies are necessary to further evaluate this topic.

Keywords: ankyloglossia; breastfeeding; feeding difficulties; frenotomy; labial frenotomy; otolaryngology; pediatric otolaryngology; pediatrics; upper lip tie.