Tongue tie operation

What is it?

A tongue tie is a web of skin that holds the tip of the tongue down to the floor of the mouth. This sometimes causes talking or eating difficulty. It is not the fault of either parent. The tongue tie is called ankyloglosia from the Greek words ankylo which means difficulty in moving and glosa which means tongue. It happens in about 3 to 4% of children and is more frequent in boys compared with girls (some studies show that it is twice as common in boys than girls).

The operation

Leavings things as they are does no harm. You may find that your child's talking problems get better within the next few months. If not, cutting the tongue tie is all that is needed. Bigger operations with stitches are no better. There are no drug treatments or creams for tongue tie.

Any alternatives

Your child must have nothing to eat or drink for about six hours before the operation. This means not even a sip of water. Your child's stomach needs to be empty so that the anaesthetic can be administered safely. If your child has a cold in the week before admission to hospital, please telephone the ward and let the ward sister know. The operation will usually need to be put off. Your child has to get over the cold before the operation can be done because by having an anaesthetic the cold could turn into a serious infection in the chest. Sort out any tablets, medicines, and inhalers that your child is using. Keep them in their original boxes and packets. Bring them to the hospital with you. On the ward, your child may be checked for past illnesses and may have special tests to make sure that he or she is well prepared and can have the operation as safely as possible.. Many hospitals now run special preadmission clinics, where you and your child visit for an hour or two, a week or so before the operation for your child to have these checks.

Before the operation

Your child must have nothing to eat or drink for about 4 hours before the operation. This means not even a sip of water. Your child's stomach needs to be empty for a safe anaesthetic. If your child has a cold in the week before admission to hospital, please telephone the ward and let
Sister know. The operation usually needs to be put off. Your child has to get over the cold before the operation is done. Sort out any tablets, medicines, and inhalers that your child is using. Keep them in their original boxes and packets. Bring them to hospital with you. On the ward, your child may be checked for past illnesses and may have special tests, ready for the operation. Many hospitals now run special preadmission clinics, where you visit for an hour or two, a week or so before the operation for your child to have these checks. 

After - in hospital

Your child may have a little oozing of blood from the cut. It is not painful. Your child will be able to drink again about two to three 2-3 hours after the operation. He or she should be able to eat normally the next day. Usually you can take your child home on the day of the operation. You may be given an appointment to bring your child to the outpatient department a month after leaving the hospital for a check-up. Sometimes the family doctor checks the operation.

After - at home

There is very little to the operation. Your child can clean his or her teeth as long as care is taken not to brush under the tongue. If your child goes to school, he or she can return to lessons in a couple of days. Any sport can restart in a week or so.

Possible complications

As with any operation under general anaesthetic, there is a very small risk of complications related to the heart and the lungs. The tests that your child will have before the operation will make sure that he or she can have the operation in the safest possible way and will bring the risk for such complications very close to zero.

Complications are rare and seldom serious. There may be a little swelling under the tongue for a day or two. Rarely, the area of the operation can be infected but this settles quickly with antibiotics. There may be minor spotting of blood after a week. This will settle down. Very rarely, there may be some bleeding in the area of the operation that might require another small operation to stop it.

General advice

This is basically a simple and safe operation.. Very rarely the tongue tie comes back. These notes should help you and your child through the operation. They are a general guide. They do not cover everything. Also, all hospitals and surgeons vary a little. If you have any queries or problems, please ask the doctors or nurses.