Tongue-Tie Release (Frenuloplasty)

At VILIDA in Obolon, Kyiv, tongue-tie release is performed by the clinic’s oral surgeons for children and adults. They use a scalpel or a laser, under local anaesthesia, as an outpatient procedure. First the surgeon checks how well the tongue moves and works out with you whether the frenulum really is the cause of the problem.

• Children and adults

  the doctor decides on age and need at the examination

• Scalpel / laser

  the surgeon chooses the method with you

• Local anaesthesia

  no hospital stay

• 1⁠–⁠2 weeks

  for the tissue under the tongue to heal

How to tell if the frenulum is too short

Tongue-tie can be suspected from these signs:

• in babies, the baby struggles to latch on, tires quickly during feeds and gains weight slowly, and the mother has sore nipples;
• in children, the tip of the tongue does not reach the palate or the upper lip and looks heart-shaped when stuck out; licking the lips is difficult, and a gap appears between the lower front teeth;
• in adults, the tongue tires quickly when talking, cleaning the teeth is difficult, and a lower removable denture does not stay in place well.

These signs alone do not mean that surgery is needed: according to the consensus of American otolaryngologists (AAO-HNS), tongue-tie does not usually affect speech, so the decision depends on whether it causes problems in practice.

Who needs tongue-tie release

The procedure is recommended when limited tongue movement causes problems in everyday life, not just because it is visible at an examination.

At what age it can be done

There is no single “right” age. The consensus statement of the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO-HNS, 2020) states plainly that there is no maximum age for frenulum release, and the decision is based on symptoms rather than age.

• Babies. The frenulum is released only if it interferes with breastfeeding and help with feeding has not solved the problem. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, 2024) advises making this decision as a team, together with the paediatrician and a breastfeeding specialist.
• Older children. If the procedure is planned because of speech, the child first sees a speech therapist, who assesses whether the sounds really cannot be learned because of the frenulum. It is not done just in case, to prevent future speech problems.
• Adults. The frenulum can be released at any age if it gets in the way of speech, oral hygiene or dentures.

The surgeon will tell you at the examination whether you or your child need the procedure; dental care for young children is covered on the Pediatric Dentistry page.

How tongue-tie release is done

1. Examination

   first visit

   The surgeon assesses how much the tongue movement is restricted and where the frenulum is attached, explains whether release is needed and, if necessary, suggests seeing a speech therapist.

2. Anaesthesia

   local anaesthesia

   The area under the tongue is numbed within a few minutes, so you feel no pain during the procedure.

3. Release

   scalpel or laser

   The surgeon divides the frenulum and lengthens it if needed so that the tongue can rise freely; the procedure itself is short.

4. Stitches

   if needed

   After a scalpel procedure a few stitches are usually placed; after laser treatment the wound often heals without them.

5. Check-up

   when the surgeon advises

   The surgeon checks the healing and, if needed, recommends tongue exercises or sessions with a speech therapist.

Scalpel or laser

The frenulum is released with a scalpel or a laser, and the clinic offers both. A laser cuts and seals the tissue at the same time, so there is very little bleeding and stitches are often not needed; a scalpel makes it easy to lengthen the frenulum precisely and close the wound with stitches. According to the AAO-HNS consensus, neither method has a proven advantage, so the surgeon chooses the method for your particular case.

After the procedure: how healing goes

For the first 2⁠–⁠3 days the area under the tongue may ache and sting, and speech may feel unusual while the tongue gets used to its new freedom of movement. To help it heal quickly:

• do not eat until the numbness wears off, so that you do not bite your tongue;
• for the first few days choose soft food that is not hot or spicy;
• brush your teeth as usual and rinse your mouth after meals with water or the rinse the surgeon recommended;
• do not smoke until the wound has healed;
• stitches, if any were placed, are removed at the check-up or dissolve on their own.

The tissue under the tongue usually heals within 1⁠–⁠2 weeks. There is no standard set of tongue exercises that everyone must do: the surgeon will recommend exercises or speech therapy if you need them.

How much tongue-tie release costs

The surgeon will tell you the cost after the examination: it depends on the method, scalpel or laser, the extent of the procedure and the anaesthesia. The clinic’s other operations are in the Oral Surgery section.

Questions and answers