Is Tongue-Tie Surgery painful?

This surgery is not painful especially if done at the newborn stage. The older a child is, the more painful it will be, and in some cases, an anesthetic is needed but the healing is within a few hours to a few days. Any pain can be managed with pain medication.

How many appointments will I need?

A tongue-tie surgery is a single-appointment surgery. Usually, no follow-ups are needed unless there is a complication in the surgery. Dr. Cohn will let you know at every appointment if he needs to see you again.

How long until I see results?

Your results will be instantaneous with this surgery. In the case of newborns, they will begin to latch and breastfeed immediately without much pain to the mother. Once any swelling or bruising abates within a day, the tongue should immediately be seeing more movement and relief.

Can I combine Tongue-Tie Surgery with other procedures?

Since tongue-tie surgery is usually meant for babies and children, it is not advisable to engage in further combined procedures unless necessary.

What are the risks associated with Tongue-Tie Surgery?

Even though a Tongue-Tie surgery is fairly basic, there are some risks that we would like to discuss with our patients, especially given they are children. Irritability Bruising Bleeding Reattachment of tongue Infection Scarring Damage to tongue muscles If you notice these or any other concerning or long-lasting reactions, please call our office immediately and if you are very concerned, do not hesitate to call 911.

Tongue-Tie Surgery

In Long Island

2 babies being babies | Cohn Plastic Surgery Long Island

What is TONGUE-TIE SURGERY?
Who are the best candidates?
What are the benefits?
What’s the first steps?
What to expect?
TONGUE-TIE SURGERY recovery
What’s the cost?
TONGUE-TIE SURGERY FAQ’s

Introduction

Tongue-Tie Surgery

Being Tongue-tied (Ankyloglossia) is a condition present at birth that restricts the tongue’s range of motion. This immediately manifests in the inability of a baby to breastfeed and if left untreated can sometimes cause challenges in the way a child eats, speaks, and swallows food.

With tongue-tie, an unusually short, thick band of tissue tethers the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Someone who has a tongue-tie might have difficulty sticking out his or her tongue. If your child has this condition, it is a very easy fix with a Tongue-Tie Surgery in Long Island and the surrounding area.

Dr. Jason Cohn routinely sees Tongue-Tie Surgery patients from all over Nassau County, Suffolk County, Long Island, and even from Manhattan. His boutique office, Cohn Plastic Surgery, is in Smithtown, New York, making it a convenient destination for any Tongue-Tie Surgery patients on the North Shore.

baby looking at camera | Cohn Plastic Surgery Long Island

The Basics

What is Tongue-Tie Surgery?

Tongue-tie surgery, medically known as Frenotomy, involves cutting the excess piece of skin between the underside of the tongue and the bottom of the mouth. It’s a fast and almost pain-free procedure that doesn’t require anesthesia and usually improves an infant’s capability of feeding straight away and also provides the mother’s relief of breast pain during breastfeeding.

Some tongue-tied children might need a more involved procedure called a Frenuloplasty, which uses sutures to help prevent the tie from reforming. Older children with tongue ties might also need to see a speech therapist after having any procedure to correct a tongue tie.

Who are the best candidates for the Tongue-Tie procedure?

The best candidates for a Tongue-Tie procedure in the Long Island area will have the following characteristics:

No underlying medical condition
Causes pain during breastfeeding
Realistic expectations from the procedure
Speech impediments
Trouble with the full range of tongue movement
Trouble with their baby’s breastfeeding

What are the benefits of Tongue-Tie Surgery?

Our patients who have received Tongue-Tie Surgery have reported the following benefits:

Efficient breastfeeding
Full range of tongue movement
Instant nipple and breast pain relief during breastfeeding
No speech issues
Rapid and healthy feeding of babies leading to baby’s weight gain

First Steps

What’s the first step?

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The first step to getting a Tongue-Tie surgery in the Long Island area is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cohn so that he can examine your child’s mouth to see if they are a good candidate for the procedure. Dr. Cohn will also ask you about any medical history of the child and then discuss the procedure and any risks it might entail.

Once you have arrived at a treatment plan of your liking together, Dr. Cohn will connect you with our patient coordinator who will help you schedule the surgery, and discharge any pre-operative instructions and pricing options.

What to expect on the day of Tongue-Tie surgery

On the day of your Tongue-Tie surgery, Dr. Cohn and his friendly staff will welcome you and discuss the treatment plan again to make sure everyone agrees.

In newborns, and very young babies, the tongue-tie surgery is done without an anesthetic. The procedure does not seem to hurt babies. This is because there are very few nerve endings in the area around the bottom of the mouth. Some babies sleep through the procedure, while others may cry a bit. For older babies with teeth, anesthesia will be applied so that they are sedated through the procedure.

The baby’s head is held securely while sterile scissors are used to cut the excess tissue between the underside of the tongue and the bottom of the mouth.

The frenotomy only takes a few seconds, and you can start feeding your baby immediately afterward.

Tongue-Tie Surgery recovery

Tongue-tie surgery has instantaneous recovery in infants. They can breastfeed immediately after surgery and despite a cut, there should not be much bleeding. Your baby may get a white scar under their tongue, but this should heal in 1 to 2 days. Even though it might appear uncomfortable to you, it will not bother your baby due to the lack of nerve endings in that area.

Tongue-Tie Surgery Cost

How much does Tongue-Tie Surgery cost in Long Island, NY?

The cost of Tongue-Tie Surgery in Long Island depends on the technique used and the surgeon’s fees. Please schedule a consultation with Dr. Cohn at your earliest so he can give you a treatment plan that our patient coordinator can help provide a price breakdown for you.

Patient chair inside a plastic surgery office | Cohn Plastic Surgery Long Island

Rediscover your true self

Why choose Cohn Plastic Surgery?

Dr. Jason Cohn is a Long Island native and AAFPRS fellowship-trained facial plastic reconstructive surgeon based in Smithtown, NY. Dr. Cohn enjoys connecting with his patients in a meaningful, approachable demeanor. He aims to assist you in achieving your aesthetic goals with natural, high-quality results. Dr. Cohn is also a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).

Contact

Schedule a consultation

If you are in the Long Island area and suspect your baby is Tongue-Tied, consider a consultation with Dr. Cohn of Cohn Plastic Surgery. If Dr. Cohn determines that they do, a Tongue-Tie surgery might be the easiest way to address the challenge. Please call our practice or visit our website at your earliest and do not sustain unnecessary pain for no reason.

Tongue-Tie Surgery FAQ’S

Even though a Tongue-Tie surgery is fairly basic, there are some risks that we would like to discuss with our patients, especially given they are children.
- Irritability
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Reattachment of tongue
- Infection
- Scarring
- Damage to tongue muscles
If you notice these or any other concerning or long-lasting reactions, please call our office immediately and if you are very concerned, do not hesitate to call 911.