Autologous fat grafting in cleft lip and palate

Structural fat grafting is a technically simple procedure that has revolutionized the field of plastic surgery, with applications ranging from tissue regeneration to scar modulation to volume restoration. This technique has found applications in the treatment of cleft lip and palate, where it can be used to fill deficient midfacial volume and treat velopharyngeal insufficiency. In this article, the authors summarize the current literature supporting the use of fat grafting in patients with clefts. Evidence as to the safety, efficacy, longevity, and potential complications of the technique are discussed.