Fast track your treatment
To book an appointment or speak with one of our friendly team, please get in touch using the options below.
Treatment for tongue-tie, a condition that occurs from birth
Tongue-tie is present in up to 10% of newborns.
In some cases, tongue-tie may not cause any problems, but it may make breastfeeding difficult and cause problems with speaking, eating, and swallowing in later life.
Tongue-tie can be treated with surgery, which we offer here at Circle Health Group.
Call or book online today to arrange a consultation to discuss private tongue tie treatment with a consultant of your choice at Circle Health Group.
This page explains what tongue-tie is, what the symptoms are, and how the condition is treated.
Symptoms of tongue-tie include:
There are two surgical procedures available to treat tongue-tie: frenotomy and frenuloplasty. These will be discussed in more detail later on this page.
Your consultant will ask about you, or your child’s, symptoms and perform a physical examination of you, or your child’s tongue and frenulum. They will ask you to move your tongue to assess the level of restriction. They may also ask about any problems you, or your child have experienced, such as problems breastfeeding, speaking, or eating.
A diagnosis of tongue-tie is made based on a physical examination of the tongue and frenulum.
At Circle Health Group, your first appointment is very important as it’s where you first meet your consultant, the doctor responsible for your care. Your first consultation is also where we get to know you, discuss your expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have. It is important to us that you are as well-informed and comfortable as possible before, during, and after your treatment, so please ask your consultant any questions you may have during your appointment.
After making a diagnosis, your consultant will discuss possible treatment options with you and decide on the best option based on you, or your child’s symptoms and diagnosis.
Before your surgery, tell your consultant about any medical conditions or allergies you, or your child have, and any medication, including over the counter medicines, vitamins or supplements you, or they are taking.
Adults should stop smoking as soon as possible before surgery.
If the operation is to be performed under general anaesthetic, you, or your child will not be able to eat anything from midnight on the day of the procedure. You may be allowed clear fluids such as water or broth for up to 2 hours before the surgery, but check first with your healthcare team.
A frenotomy is a quick and simple procedure that involves cutting the frenulum free from the floor of the mouth with a laser or sterile scissors. It can be performed with or without anaesthesia as there are few nerve endings in the frenulum. Local anaesthetic gel may be applied to the inside of your baby’s mouth to numb the area and minimise any discomfort. Recovery from a frenotomy is usually quick, and feeding normally improves immediately after the procedure.
This is a more complex procedure that may be performed if the frenulum is too thick for a frenotomy, or if further repairs are needed.
During a frenuloplasty, the frenulum is released, and the wound closed with dissolvable sutures. A frenuloplasty is performed under a general anaesthetic, which means you or your child will be asleep for the procedure and will not feel any pain.
Your consultant will give you an estimated recovery timeline based on your individual circumstances.
If your baby has a frenotomy, you will be encouraged to breastfeed them straight after surgery. This will help to soothe your baby and encourages them to move their tongue.
If you had a general anaesthetic, you will be taken to the recovery room where your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and oxygen levels will be monitored closely until the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off.
Within the first three days after surgery, a white patch (ulcer) will form over the area. This normally heals in around two to three days. Within a week, your stitches (if you had any) will dissolve, and any pain, bleeding and swelling will be reduced.
Your healthcare team can recommend an over-the-counter painkiller if you, or your child experiences pain after surgery.
You, or your child can eat and drink as normal straight after the procedure. If a numbing medication was used during the surgery, stick to soft foods, and avoid hot drinks until the medication has worn off completely.
Many babies show an immediate improvement in breastfeeding after tongue-tie surgery. If you continue to experience difficulty breastfeeding after surgery, contact your healthcare team or lactation consultant for advice.
Your consultant may recommend tongue exercises for the first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. These exercises are important to strengthen your tongue muscle, improve your tongue’s range of motion and prevent the frenulum from reattaching or the development of excessive scar tissue. If your child or baby had surgery, you will need to help them with these exercises, or manipulate their tongue for them. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water beforehand.
It’s important to keep the surgical site clean after tongue-tie surgery. For adults and older children, your consultant may recommend gargling with salty water a few times a day.
Tongue-tie surgery is performed as a day case, meaning you or your child will be able to go home later the same day.
Recovery from tongue-tie surgery is normally quick and complications are rare. Providing there are no complications, you can expect to be back to normal within 4 weeks of surgery.
Tongue-tie surgery is a relatively simple and straightforward procedure that has a low risk of complications. However, as with all types of surgery, complications may occur. Your consultant will explain all the potential risks and complications before your surgery and answer any questions you may have about your procedure. Being as well-informed as possible about what to expect from your surgery will help put your mind at rest and allow you to make an informed decision, so please ask any questions you may have.
Possible complications of any surgery include:
Possible complications specific to tongue-tie surgery include:
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you or your child has any of the following symptoms after surgery:
If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about tongue-tie surgery, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.
Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in January 2024. Next review due January 2027.