Cleft and craniofacial anomalies are conditions affecting the skull and face. Some children are born with craniofacial anomalies, while others develop the conditions later in childhood. The most common congenital (present from birth) craniofacial anomalies are cleft lip and/or cleft palate. These conditions occur in approximately 1 in 600 newborns in the U.S.
Children with facial differences can undergo a variety of procedures and therapies throughout their lifetime. Often, multiple specialists are required to provide comprehensive care. This can be both daunting and intimidating for patients and families. The Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program at Riley at IU Health streamlines your visits to the hospital so that multiple specialists can see your child, if necessary, and develop a unified plan of care. This approach limits your visits to the hospital while providing your child with a personalized plan designed to improve health and ensure quality of life.
Our multidisciplinary cleft and craniofacial anomalies team includes board certified doctors, therapists and nurse specialists who are dedicated to caring for children with facial differences. We provide a comprehensive, personalized care plan so your child receives the most effective treatments and procedures.
Riley at IU Health has provided services to patients with facial anomalies since 1933. Our Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program was one of the first established in the U.S. and remains at the forefront of pediatric and facial reconstruction. We continue to define the standard of care for facial reconstruction by publishing our clinical outcomes, delivering lectures regionally, nationally and internationally and actively participating in national and international surgical societies.
Our physician specialists are faculty members of the Indiana University School of Medicine. Additionally, our craniofacial surgeons have completed a year of intensive training in reconstruction of the face and skull after achieving board certification in plastic surgery.
We have earned recognition as an affiliate with the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association because of our high level of training and staff expertise. Members of our faculty have held top leadership positions with the Ohio Valley Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Craniofacial Surgery and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons and have been recognized as Top Doctors by Indianapolis Monthly.
We have received national recognition for the development of Camp About Face, which is a week-long residential summer camp for children with facial anomalies, and the Camp About Face Leadership Academy, which is a companion program for youth ages 16-18.
Our staff members also raise awareness of cleft and craniofacial anomalies in the community by speaking to college classes, nonprofit organizations and other groups.
Conditions & Services
Conditions Treated
Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.
Doctors
and Locations
Doctors
Our doctors define the standard of care for cleft and craniofacial anomalies treatment. Our team includes doctors and craniofacial surgeons who have completed a year of intensive training in reconstruction of the face and skull after achieving board certification in plastic surgery.
Locations
Locations
In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.
Riley Pediatric Plastic Surgery
575 Riley Hospital Dr
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Program Forms & Resources
Program Forms & Resources
The Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program at Riley at IU Health provides the following forms for parents, healthcare providers and personnel. We have also curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.
Forms
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Your Visit With Us (Riley at IU Health)
This handout answers some of the most common questions we receive from parents and caregivers.
Resources
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The Cleft Palate Foundation serves patients and families affected by cleft lip and/or cleft palate and other craniofacial conditions.
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AmeriFace provides educational and emotional support to patients and families living with craniofacial anomalies.
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Children's Craniofacial Association
This nonprofit shares educational, financial and supportive resources with patients and families.
Related Departments
Related Departments
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related departments.
Related Stories
Related Stories
Growing up while facing fears
“For kids with craniofacial differences, you see a lot of teasing and bullying going on, and that can be traumatizing. But what’s important to know is we’re all just normal kids.” – Brian Jay, 44, diagnosed with Apert syndrome at birth
Continue readingHealth Professionals
For Health Professionals
We accept patient referrals from all across Indiana and beyond. Our board certified specialists are recognized leaders in clinical care, research and education.
Our current physicians have published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and have presented their work at numerous regional, national and international scientific meetings. Their research interests include evidence-based outcomes, clinical studies and translational research—all of which aim to enhance patient care and safety through improved techniques and technology.
Refer A Patient
Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond.
Refer A PatientEducation
Helping to train the next generation of physicians is a key priority. Riley at IU Health collaborates with the IU School of Medicine to provide training opportunities for medical students and residents pursuing pediatric surgery. We also offer a craniofacial fellowship program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.