Correction to Cleft Palate in Adults

[Shannon Johnson]

I'm 27 years old and am considering having my unilateral cleft palate operated on (for what I hope will be the last time).
I have had 3 skin flaps done in the past (at ages 2, 4 and 10) and all have failed. The surgeons who performed the operations don't know why they've failed.

The option that the surgeon gave me today was the tongue flap. I realize that this is a fairly new procedure that has been performed in the last 10 years.

Has anyone heard of this being done on an adult before? If so, what was the outcome? What occurs during the recovery?

I'm trying to learn as much as I can before my interdisciplinary meeting in September to discuss the options further.