About Tongue and Lip Tie
Are you having difficulty with breastfeeding? Has your doctor or lactation consultant recommended a possible tongue-tie or lip-tie procedure for your baby?
What is a tongue tie?
A tongue tie is when the membrane connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is too short, tight, and/or thick. This restricts the tongue’s range of motion.
What is a lip tie?
A lip tie is when the piece of muscle-less tissue connecting the upper lip to the upper gum restricts the mouth’s mobility, because it is too thick and/or tight.
Is this right for your new-born?
Not every baby needs both the lip and tongue revised. Often times only the tongue is tied but not the upper lip. Dr. Landau will do a full evaluation of your baby to assess the anatomy, performance, and movement of the tongue and lip and discuss treatment options, pros and cons, and determine together with you if a frenectomy would be beneficial.
What happens during a tongue/lip tie?
Dr. Landau will use a small handheld laser (a strong-beamed light) to precisely and relatively painlessly release the tongue or lip tie. Following the procedure the mother should try to nurse the baby.
Why does Dr. Landau use a laser?
The procedure by laser is very quick – usually taking only 1-2 minutes, with barely any bleeding before or after. There is no need for stitches or anesthesia/sedation. Laser release involves minimal discomfort to your baby, and healing is fast.
The laser sterilizes and cauterizes the tissue as it works, so infection from laser tongue tie procedure is very rare.
