The surgery for the tongue caught in the baby is usually only done after 6 months and is only recommended when the baby can not nurse or, later, when the child can not speak properly due to lack of movement of the tongue, for example.
Generally, surgery is the only way to cure the tongue trapped in the baby, especially when there is difficulty in sucking or speech delay due to the problem. However, in milder cases, where the tongue stuck does not affect the baby's life, treatment may not be necessary and the problem may resolve itself.
So all cases of tongue trapped should be evaluated by a pediatrician to decide which treatment is the best time to do the surgery and which type of surgery best fits the baby's needs.
Types of surgery to cure prey tongue
The types of surgery to cure the prey tongue vary according to the age of the baby and the main problem being caused by the tongue, such as difficulty in suckling or speaking. Thus, the most commonly used types include:
| Type of Surgery | How is it done? | What is it for | Recommended age | Recovery time |
| Frenotomy | Simple surgery that can be done in the pediatrician's office without anesthesia and consists of cutting the tongue brake with sterilized scissors. | It helps release the tongue quickly and helps the baby to suck the breast better, making breastfeeding easier. That is why it is done when the tongue trapped presents only risk of affecting breastfeeding. | It can be done at any age. | 24 hours. |
| Frenuloplasty | Surgery that should be done at the hospital with general anesthesia and that helps rebuild the tongue muscle. | It allows rebuilding of the tongue muscle when it does not develop properly due to the change in the brake and therefore, besides facilitating breastfeeding, also avoids speech problems. | It should be done after 6 months of age, due to the need for general anesthesia. | 10 days. |
| Laser Surgery | It is a frenzied surgery that uses a laser to cut the tongue brake. It does not need anesthesia, being done only with the application of an anesthetic gel in the tongue. | Helps to free the tongue, allowing the baby to breastfeed better in the mother's breast and is only made when there is only risk of the problem affecting the feeding. | It should be done after 6 months because it is necessary for the baby to be able to remain still. | 2 hours. |
After any type of surgery, the pediatrician usually recommends doing speech therapy sessions to improve language movements that have not been learned by the baby through the use of exercises that should be adapted to the child's age and problems.
What can happen if the tongue stuck is not treated
Complications of tongue trapped when not treated with surgery vary according to the age and severity of the problem. Thus, the most frequent complications include:
- Difficulty in suckling;
- Delay in development or growth;
- Speech problems or delay in language development;
- Difficulty introducing solid foods into the child's diet;
- Risk of choking;
- Problems in teeth related to the difficulty to maintain oral hygiene.
In addition, tongue tethering can also cause changes in appearance, especially in children and adults, resulting in self-confidence problems.
