Dr. Mason would like to extend a very special “thank you” to both Dr. Lawrence Kotlow and Dr. Bobby Ghaheri, for their help and expert knowledge and training they provided and for allowing us to use some of their information on our website. We couldn’t be more thankful for their help.
Frenectomies (Tongue and Lip Tie Revisions) for Infants and Toddlers
What is a Frenectomy?
It is normal to have frenum attachments at various areas of the oral cavity. Only frenum attachments that are likely causing significant restriction of movement and function are recommended for revision.
Dr. Mason’s goal is to make nursing your child a pain-free and enjoyable experience. To learn more about the benefits of a tongue or lip tie revision (frenectomy), please call our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Mason.
Who Can Benefit from a Frenectomy and is it Right for my Child?
Scheduling a Frenectomy Consultation
During the consultation appointment, Dr. Mason will review the symptoms you selected on your checklist to determine if they are possibly related to a lip or tongue restriction of normal movement. After reviewing these items with you, a gentle “lap to lap” examination of your baby’s mouth will be performed. A “lap to lap” examination is when your baby is partially resting on your lap, facing up and towards you with his or her head resting on Dr. Mason’s lap. During the examination, Dr. Mason will be looking at the elasticity, length, muscle tension and insertion points of frenulums, the range of opening of the mouth, and the ability to flange the top lip. This part of the visit usually takes less than a minute.
Following the examination, Dr. Mason will let you know which (if any) revision(s) are recommended and explain how your babies’ specific findings may be related to any symptoms you and your baby may be experiencing. Dr. Mason will explain the revision procedure and healing process thoroughly with one or both parents. Dr. Mason will also demonstrate post-revision stretches and discuss whether a consultation with a lactation consultant would be beneficial (if you haven’t seen one already).
The typical frenum consultation can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. If the decision is made to perform the procedure, we will have you sign a consent form and will usually complete the tongue or lip tie revision on the same day as the consultation. In this case, the appointment will generally take about one hour.
If you’re ready to move forward with the procedure, you can access and complete the frenectomy consent form by clicking the button below.
How is the Procedure Performed?
The revision procedure is done in our treatment room with the infant wrapped in a swaddling blanket and a specialized pillow to keep them in place. Older children simply relax on our memory foam chair and are able to watch a movie. Protective eyewear is given to all who are present in the room and we have special infant-sized glasses for your baby. Prior to the procedure, preoperative photos are taken (unless already taken at the consultation) and your baby is given a small amount of sucrose solution (a sterile mixture of sugar and water) if they are under the age of 6 months as a safe and effective form of analgesia. If your child is over 6 months old we can administer a local or topical anesthetic to minimize any discomfort during the revision. Using a state-of-the-art soft tissue laser, the procedure usually takes about 30 seconds, with a few breaks for visualization and positioning. Post-revision photos are then taken.
Using the soft tissue laser has 3 important advantages over traditional revision methods.
- There is minimal to no bleeding. This is because the tissue is cauterized as it’s being revised.
- There are no sutures needed.
- If you have a nursing infant, you are able to soothe your baby by nursing him or her right away.
After the revision is complete and before you leave, the clinical team and Dr. Mason will give you our after hours phone number (in case you have any emergent questions or concerns), review stretching techniques again, schedule your 1-week postoperative follow-up, and answer any questions you may have.
Postprocedure Follow-up
For more information on postoperative stretching please visit our Post Procedure Care page.
Still Have Some Questions?
We have the answers. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on this page, we recommend the following: