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Kids Health Info

Tongue tie

  • Pain control

    Give paracetamol as required for pain (available from pharmacies without prescription). Do not give aspirin. Local anaesthetic is injected into the area at the time of surgery; this should wear off within 24 hours and an increase in pain may occur at this time.

    Diet

    Start with clear fluids then progress to a soft diet when tolerated. Avoid foods that require chewing for five days. Foods such as custard, yoghurt, jelly, ice cream and any pureed food are of the appropriate consistency. Encourage sips of water after eating to wash the mouth. You should offer your child sips of fluid frequently in the first few days and ensure that he/she is receiving enough fluids.

    What to expect

    Absorbable sutures will fall out in the following weeks. Rarely children require re-operation if insufficient tongue length is achieved with the first operation. Your child may seem more "clingy" than usual due to mild discomfort and a change in his/her routine. Tender loving care is recommended. Encourage gentle, quiet activities for the first few days after the operation.  Check your child's breathing when he/she is asleep in the first few days after the operation to ensure that any post operative swelling is not interfering with breathing.

    Medical attention

    Seek medical attention if your child has:

    • Increasing pain or pain not relieved by medication
    • Persistent fever
    • General unwellness
    • Bleeding from the mouth
    • Difficulty with breathing

    Follow-up

    Your follow-up appointment will be at one of the following:

    • Plastic Surgery Outpatients (Registrar Clinic), Blue Desk, Ground Floor, The Royal Children's Hospital (morning appointment)
    • Consultant Clinic 
    • Consultant Private Rooms 
    • Local doctor

    If you are unable to keep your appointment please call to reschedule.

    If you have any concerns contact:

    Plastic & Maxillofacial Surgery Office - 9345 5391
    Outpatient appointments - 9345 6180
    Plastic Surgery Resident or Registrar - via switchboard on 9345 5522

    Call an ambulance (000) immediately in an emergency.

    Developed by The Royal Children's Hospital Speech Pathology and Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery departments. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

    Reviewed November 2015.

    This information is awaiting routine review. Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.