In China, “Smile Surgery” usually refers to functional and cosmetic restorative surgery for cleft lip and palate (congenital facial deformities), aiming to improve the shape of the patient's mouth and nose, restore speech/feeding function, and help patients regain their “natural smile”. The aim of the surgery is to improve the shape of the patient's mouth and nose, restore speech/feeding functions, and help the patient regain a “natural smile”. The procedure is described below in terms of the background of the procedure, the advantages of medical treatment in China, destination recommendations, and the international patient service process.
Core definition and demand for "smile surgery"
1. Cleft lip and palate repair surgery (functional + cosmetic)
Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital cranio-maxillofacial anomaly (prevalence of about 1/700), manifested by cleft upper lip and palate defects, which may lead to feeding difficulties, speech disorders, facial deformities and psychological problems. Repair surgery needs to be performed in stages (sequential treatment ):
. Infancy (3-6 months) : Cleft lip repair (to improve the shape of the mouth and lips); .
. 1-2 years old: cleft palate repair (restoration of the separation between the oral and nasal cavities and promotion of speech development); .
. Pre-school/adolescence: Nasolabial deformity correction (adjusting the shape of the nose and lips, refining the appearance); .
. Adulthood: further cosmetic restorations (e.g., lip molding, scar repair) are optional.
This type of surgery not only restores physiological function, but also gives the patient a natural “smile” through fine plastic surgery, and is therefore called “smile surgery”.
2. Cosmetic surgery “smile lip surgery” (non-essential medical treatment)
Some healthy people choose to adjust the muscle/skin tension of the mouth corners through surgery or injections (e.g., hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin) in order to pursue the aesthetic effect of “natural uplifting of the corners of the mouth”, which is in the category of aesthetic medicine. This type of surgery is also becoming a popular item in medical tourism due to its low trauma and quick recovery.
The medical advantages of “smile surgery” in China
China has reached the international advanced level in the field of cleft lip and palate repair, and has accumulated rich experience in the treatment of complex cases (e.g. bilateral cleft lip and palate, multiple failed repair cases):
1. Top experts and multidisciplinary collaboration
. Specialty strength: The 9th People's Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (rehabilitation surgery), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (oral and maxillofacial surgery), West China Stomatological Hospital of Sichuan University (oral and maxillofacial surgery) and other national key clinical specialties have gathered the top experts in the treatment of cleft lip and palate in China (e.g., the team of Prof. Wang Wei from Shanghai Jiu Hospital, the team of Prof. Shi Bing from West China Stomatological Hospital, and the team of Prof. Wang Wei from Shanghai Jiu Hospital, the team of Prof. Shi Bing from West China Stomatological Hospital, and so on). We have gathered the top experts in cleft lip and palate treatment in China (such as Prof. Wang Wei's team from Shanghai Jiu Hospital and Prof. Shi Bing's team from West China Dental Hospital).
. Multidisciplinary sequential treatment: Surgery is only the first step, which needs to be followed up by a combination of speech therapists, orthodontics, psychology, etc. to form a “surgery-speech-psychology” management. Large hospitals in China have generally established a multidisciplinary collaboration (MDT) model to ensure the effectiveness of treatment.
2. Technological innovation and advanced equipment
. Refined surgery: microscopic suturing, tissue flap transplantation, 3D printing-assisted design and other technologies are used to reduce scarring and improve symmetry; .
. Digital assistance: some hospitals have introduced 3D facial scanning and virtual surgery simulation systems to accurately plan incision and tissue adjustment before surgery.
. Anesthesia and monitoring for children: For infants and young children, we have mature anesthesia techniques for children (such as inhalation anesthesia and intravenous combined anesthesia) and perioperative monitoring system to ensure safety.
3. Significant cost advantage
Compared with Europe, America, Japan and Korea, the cost of cleft lip and palate surgery in China is only 1/3-1/2:
. Domestic public hospitals: about RMB 20,000-50,000 for unilateral cleft lip repair (including hospitalization and anesthesia); about RMB 50,000-100,000 for bilateral cleft lip + palate repair; .
. International comparison: the cost of similar surgery in the United States is about 100,000-200,000 U.S. dollars (about 700,000-1,400,000 RMB), and about 50,000-100,000 Euros (about 400,000-800,000 RMB) in Europe.
4. International cooperation and public welfare support
China actively participates in international cleft lip and palate treatment programs (e.g., the Smile Train Foundation) and has shared its experience with many countries around the world. Some hospitals (e.g. Shanghai Nine Hospitals) are also members of the International Society for the Treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate (ISAPS), which organizes international conferences regularly to enhance international influence.
Major destinations for “smile surgery” medical tourism in China
1. The Ninth People's Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Shanghai)
. Position: the “ceiling” of domestic plastic surgery, a global leader in the treatment of cleft lip and palate (more than 3,000 surgeries per year), with a high proportion of complex cases.
. Features: China Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, equipped with special operating room, speech therapy room and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU); .
. International Patient Service: Provide English consultation and translation service, some doctors can communicate in English, and support international medical insurance settlement (such as commercial insurance).
2. State Key Laboratory of Enclosure Disease Research (West China Stomatological Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu )
. Position: West China Stomatology is the “national team” of Chinese stomatology, with the treatment of cleft lip and palate characterized by “functional priority”, especially good at reconstruction of speech function after cleft palate repair.
. Characteristics: Early intervention (e.g., preoperative alveolar bone grafting) in conjunction with pediatric stomatology and orthodontics to improve long-term results; .
. International recognition: Participated in many international multi-center clinical studies and published many SCI papers, attracting patients from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
3. Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Beijing )
. Status : A top tertiary hospital with comprehensive strength, the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery focuses on synergistic treatment with systemic diseases in cleft lip and palate repair (e.g., children with combined congenital heart disease); .
. Characteristics : Relying on the strong multidisciplinary support of Xiehe (pediatrics, anesthesiology, genetics), providing individualized solutions for complex cases; .
. Service Advantage: International Medical Center (IMC) provides full English services for high-end international patients.
4. Guangzhou Medical University Stomatological Hospital (Guangzhou)
. Status: Cleft lip and palate treatment center in South China, with an annual surgery volume of more than 500 cases, featuring “minimally invasive” and “rapid recovery”. minimally invasive“ and ”rapid recovery" as the specialties; .
. Characteristics: For children of young age (within 3 months), “Cleft Lip Repair + Nasal Deformity Correction” simultaneous surgery is carried out to reduce the number of surgeries; .
. Geographic location: adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, convenient for Southeast Asian patients to seek medical treatment across the border (e.g. Vietnam, Thailand).
"Smile Surgery" process for international patients in China
1. Pre-consultation and Evaluation
. Online initial screening: Submit basic information (age, medical history, previous treatment records, facial photos/CT) via the hospital's website, the International Medical Department's email or video link.
. Expert assessment: The hospital organizes a remote consultation with a multidisciplinary team (plastic surgeon/stomatologist, speech therapist) to formulate a personalized surgical plan and cost estimate.
2. Visa and Entry
. Visa type: M-visa is required (Visiting Scholar/Business Visa is not applicable for medical purpose), some hospitals can assist in issuing “Invitation Letter for Foreigners in China for Medical Treatment”. Some hospitals can assist in issuing “Invitation Letter for Foreigners' Medical Treatment in China”.
. Preparation of documents: passport (valid for more than 6 months), visa application form, invitation letter from the hospital, diagnosis certificate (notarized translation is required for foreign language), round-trip air ticket booking form, accommodation certificate in China (optional).
3. Hospitalization and Treatment
. Pre-operative examination: complete blood test, coagulation function, imaging (CT/MRI), etc. Some children need to be evaluated for general anesthesia; .
General anesthesia evaluation is required for some children; . Surgery implementation: completed by the team of attending surgeons, after the operation, transferred to the general ward or ICU for observation (infants and young children need to be accompanied by their parents); .
. Postoperative rehabilitation: including wound care, speech training (cleft palate patients need long-term practice), psychological counseling (for children and parents).
4. Discharge and follow-up
. Discharge instructions: the doctor provides detailed care advice (e.g. diet, activity restrictions, scar management) and prescribes necessary medication; .
. Remote follow-up: The hospital will follow up on the recovery through email or video, and arrange for a follow-up visit to the hospital if necessary (some hospitals may coordinate with the international medical department for this purpose).
Precautions
. Language communication: It is recommended to contact the hospital's international department in advance to arrange for an interpreter (some hospitals provide free or paid interpreter services); .
. Transparent cost: Confirm the full cost of surgery, anesthesia, hospitalization, rehabilitation (e.g., voice training), etc., to avoid hidden charges; .
. Post-operative care: Infants and children need to be accompanied by their parents, and adult patients need to know the long-term rehabilitation needs such as scar repair and voice training; .
. Policy changes: Pay attention to China's visa policy (subject to the latest requirements at the time of entry).
Summary
China has become an internationally competitive country in the field of cleft lip and palate repair (“smile surgery”), and has become an important destination for global medical tourism due to its top-notch team of specialists, mature multidisciplinary collaboration model, and remarkable cost-effectiveness. For international patients, especially those with complex cases or those seeking cost-effective treatment, China's large public tertiary hospitals (e.g., Shanghai Jiu Hospital, West China Stomatology) are reliable choices. It is recommended to communicate in advance through the hospital's international department to plan the visa, treatment and recovery process to ensure the effectiveness and experience of the procedure.
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