When a child is born, parents' greatest wish is to see their little one with a healthy face—able to smile freely, feed smoothly, and speak clearly. Yet for families of children with cleft lip and palate, this wish is often shattered by harsh reality: milk spilling from the nostrils during feeding; children growing up too afraid to speak; hiding behind their parents to avoid stares due to facial differences. What adds to the anxiety of many international families is the scarcity of local medical resources—either surgical waiting periods stretch for years, or post-op scars remain prominent with poor speech function recovery. Time and again, treatments fail to fulfill the simple dream of "letting the child smile normally."
Treating cleft lip and palate is far more complex than "stitching a gap." It requires balancing facial appearance restoration, functional recovery (feeding, speech), psychological counseling, and even long-term considerations for the child's facial development as they grow. Dr. Jin Xiaoju's professionalism lies in these critical "details":
Covering a full spectrum of conditions—from unilateral cleft lip, bilateral cleft lip, to complex cases involving alveolar cleft and cleft palate with hearing impairment—Dr. Jin has performed over 3,000 cleft repair surgeries, boasting a 99.6% success rate.
Last year, 3-year-old Xiao Ao from Nigeria, who had undergone 2 local surgeries for bilateral complete cleft lip and palate, still suffered from crooked mouth corners and an inability to close his lips properly. Dr. Jin's team first used 3D modeling to accurately measure his facial bone structure, then innovatively adopted the "modified Millard technique." Not only did the surgery repair the cleft gap, but it also adjusted the shape of his nasal alae. Three months post-operation, Xiao Ao could clearly say "Mom." His parents later sent a photo of him smiling while blowing out birthday candles—an image they once thought impossible.
Dr. Jin's top priority is ensuring children "not only smile, but smile with confidence." Her team develops "stage-specific treatment plans" tailored to the child's age:
1. Neonatal Period (0–3 months): "Pre-surgical cleft lip orthopedics" is conducted first. Customized orthotic devices gently stretch the lip tissue, laying a solid foundation for subsequent surgery and minimizing scarring.
2. Surgical Period (3–18 months): Cleft lip repair uses "minimally invasive cosmetic suturing" with absorbable threads finer than a strand of hair—leaving almost invisible post-op scars. For cleft palate repair, the focus is on "soft palate function reconstruction" to prevent the child from developing "heavy nasal sounds or unclear speech" in later life.
3. Long-Term Post-Op Follow-Up: From age 1 to 18, the team tracks the child's speech development, dental alignment, and facial growth at regular intervals. They also collaborate with orthodontists, speech therapists, and psychologists to provide "multi-disciplinary support."
Take Lily, a girl from Thailand: For 5 years after her surgery, she received adjusted speech training programs through the hospital's remote follow-ups. Today, she can sing English songs just like her peers.
For families traveling abroad for medical care, language barriers, visa applications, accommodation, and insurance can feel like insurmountable hurdles. At Beijing Jingdu Children's Hospital, these concerns are resolved through "one-stop international services":
The hospital has 24/7 multilingual medical concierges (proficient in English, Spanish, Arabic, etc.), who provide translation support throughout the entire journey—from initial consultation to post-op follow-ups.
Sara, a mother from Egypt, shared: "My English is poor, but the concierge not only helped me translate test reports, but also explained the surgical process with pictures. They even wrote down clearly what complementary foods my child should eat after surgery."
Worried about visa delays? The team assists in issuing "medical invitation letters" to help children apply for medical visas quickly. Upon arriving in Beijing, families are picked up from the airport by chauffeur-driven cars. The hospital also recommends family-style apartments near the facility (equipped with kitchens and children's play areas) to make it easier for parents to care for their children.
A detailed cost breakdown—including surgery fees, examination fees, and post-op care costs—is provided before treatment, with no hidden charges.
Mark, a father from Australia, calculated: "The full cleft treatment locally would cost 100,000 Australian dollars, but here it's less than half that amount—with even better results."
1. Xiao Jun from Vietnam: Born with a severe cleft lip and palate, he couldn't feed normally and weighed only 2.1 kg at birth. Dr. Jin's team performed emergency cleft lip repair when he was 45 days old. One week post-op, he could breastfeed smoothly. Now 2 years old, Xiao Jun runs and chases butterflies—his smile free of gaps.
2. Twin Sisters from Tanzania: The elder sister had a unilateral cleft lip, while the younger one had a cleft palate. Dr. Jin's team designed a "simultaneous treatment plan" and completed two surgeries within 3 months. Now, the sisters hold hands and sing local children's songs together. Their mother said: "They dare to take the initiative to play with neighborhood kids now."
If your child is struggling with cleft lip or palate, no matter which country you're in, you can contact Dr. Jin Xiaoju's team through the following channels:
1. Remote Initial Consultation: Send the child's photos and test reports to the email: tony.li@jdetyy.com. You will receive Dr. Jin's professional evaluation and treatment recommendations within 48 hours.
2. Exclusive Liaison: Add the hospital's international service WeChat account. A dedicated concierge will help you schedule consultation times and prepare necessary documents.
3. Post-Op Follow-Up: Even after returning to your home country, you can conduct post-surgical check-ups via video calls. Speech therapists will also provide remote guidance on training methods.
In Beijing—a warm, international city—Dr. Jin Xiaoju's team is building a "smile bridge" for cleft lip/palate children worldwide with their expertise and compassion. Every child deserves a carefree smile, and that smile will be within your child's reach from the moment you contact us.
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