Frenectomy Post-Operative Care For Infants
Please consider making appropriate modifications based on age, size, or other limitations to these recommendations.
What to expect immediately following procedure:
If breastfeeding, your baby will be placed directly skin to skin post procedure. Let baby calm down and when ready, let baby breastfeed. If exclusively bottle feeding only, allow your baby to calm down and when ready, offer a bottle in a semi-reclined position.
Baby’s procedure site has been numbed with a numbing gel prior to procedure for maximum comfort. Sometimes, babies can get frustrated when trying to feed for the first time due to the numbness. Numbness should start slowly wearing off within 15-30 minutes of returning to you.
Extra skin to skin, cuddle time, warm co-baths, and increased time at the breast is very beneficial in the healing process for your baby.
Some discomfort and discoloration are to be expected following a frenectomy. In addition, some bruising of the tongue or site is common. If the above methods for comfort aren’t sufficient, Tylenol can be given per your pediatrician’s recommendation. Ibuprofen is not recommended under age 2 or 12 pounds.
Some bleeding or mild oozing following oral surgery is normal. Since we used a soft tissue laser, this is minimized. However, if excessive bleeding occurs, please seek immediate medical care. The surgery site will form a “wet scab” in the mouth. The wound might look white/yellow and might flake off when rubbed. This is normal. Infections of the surgical site are very rare, but if you have concerns please reach out to us at (281) 608-7535.
At Home Care and Stretches:
It is important to manipulate the area of the frenectomy to minimize reattachment.
If left immobile, the body will attempt to heal itself (reattach) as it was prior to the frenectomy.
Completing the recommended exercises is the best way to reduce the chance of the body healing unfavorably.
Begin aftercare stretches a few hours after the procedure. Continue to do after care stretches for a minimum of 6 weeks and 6 times per day
It is helpful to do the stretches before or after a feeding. If Baby sleeps for more than 4 hours at night, you need to wake to perform. Some babies will sleep through stretches!
Tongue lifts: Place baby in lap with head near your stomach, feet away from you. Place both fingers beneath the tongue, on either side of the diamond shaped wound. Be sure you can see the diamond during lifts. Lift your fingers and the tongue towards roof of the mouth. Hold tongue in a stretch for 5 full seconds. Do 6 lifts per day.
Lip lift: If lip frenulum is lasered, Position baby same as tongue lifts. Fingers placed on either side of the wound, lift/flip the lip up to nose and hold for 5 seconds. Do 6 per day.
Cheek rubs: If buccal ties were lasered, rub cheeks where site was performed after doing other stretches. Lift cheeks at site and hold 3 seconds