- Types of surgery to cure stuck tongue
- 1. Frenotomy
- 2. Frenuloplasty
- 3. Laser surgery
- What can happen if the stuck tongue is not treated
Surgery for the baby's tongue is usually only done after 6 months and is only recommended when the baby is unable to breastfeed or, later, when the child is unable to speak correctly due to lack of tongue movement, for example. However, when the difficulty to suck the breast during breastfeeding is noticed before 6 months, it is also possible to perform the frenotomy to release the tongue.
Surgery is usually the only way to cure the baby's stuck tongue, especially when there is difficulty in feeding or delayed speech due to the problem. However, in milder cases, where the tongue does not affect the baby's life, treatment may not be necessary and the problem can resolve itself.
Thus, all cases of tongue-tied must be evaluated by a pediatrician to decide what is the best treatment at the time of surgery and what type of surgery is best suited to the baby's needs.
Types of surgery to cure stuck tongue
The types of surgery to cure the stuck tongue vary according to the baby's age and the main problem that is being caused by the tongue, such as difficulty in feeding or speaking. Thus, the most used types include:
1. Frenotomy
Phrenotomy is one of the main surgical procedures to solve the stuck tongue and can be done at any age, including newborns, since the stuck tongue can make it difficult to grip the breast and suck the milk. Phrenotomy helps to release the tongue quickly and helps the baby to get a better grip on the mother's breast, facilitating breastfeeding. That is why it is done when the tongue is only at risk of affecting breastfeeding.
This procedure corresponds to a simple surgery that can be done in the pediatrician's office without anesthesia and that consists of cutting the tongue brake with sterile scissors. The results of the frenotomy can be observed almost immediately, between 24 and 72 hours.
In some cases, just cutting the brake is not enough to solve the baby's eating problems, and it is recommended to perform a frenectomy, which consists of the total removal of the brake.
2. Frenuloplasty
Frenuloplasty is also a surgery to resolve the stuck tongue, however its performance is recommended after 6 months of age, since general anesthesia is required. This surgery must be performed in the hospital under general anesthesia and is done with the aim of reconstructing the tongue muscle when it does not develop correctly due to the change in the brake and, therefore, in addition to facilitating breastfeeding, it also prevents speech problems. Full recovery from frenuloplasty usually takes about 10 days.
3. Laser surgery
Laser surgery is similar to frenotomy, however it is only recommended after 6 months, as it is necessary for the baby to remain quiet during the procedure. Recovery from laser surgery is quite fast, about 2 hours, and consists of using a laser to cut the tongue brake. It does not need anesthesia, being done only with the application of an anesthetic gel on the tongue.
From laser surgery, it is possible to free the tongue and thus help the baby to breastfeed, being recommended when the tongue interferes with breastfeeding.
After any type of surgery, the pediatrician generally recommends taking speech therapy sessions to improve the movements of the tongue that were not learned by the baby through the use of exercises that must be adapted to the child's age and the problems he presents.
What can happen if the stuck tongue is not treated
Complications of the tongue stuck when not treated with surgery vary according to age and the severity of the problem. Thus, the most frequent complications include:
- Difficulty in breastfeeding; Delayed development or growth; Problems in speech or delayed language development; Difficulty in introducing solid foods in the child's diet; Risk of choking; Problems in teeth related to difficulty in maintaining oral hygiene.
In addition, the stuck tongue can also cause changes in appearance, especially in children and adults, resulting in problems of self-confidence. Learn how to identify the tongue stuck in the baby.
