Tongue Tie FAQs
What is Tongue Tie?
Tongue tie, medically known as ankyloglossia, is a condition present at birth that restricts the tongue’s range of motion. With tongue tie, a short, tight band of tissue (the lingual frenulum) tethers the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth.
How does it affect infants and children?
In infants, tongue tie can cause difficulties with breastfeeding, affecting the baby’s ability to latch effectively. This can result in insufficient feeding and may lead to issues such as poor weight gain and maternal discomfort during breastfeeding. In older children and adults, tongue tie can affect the ability to speak clearly and may contribute to oral hygiene problems, as it can be challenging to sweep food debris from the teeth.
How is Tongue Tie diagnosed?
Tongue tie is typically identified through a physical examination. Symptoms suggesting the presence of tongue tie can include difficulty sticking out the tongue past the lower front teeth or lifting it to the upper teeth, trouble moving the tongue from side to side, and a V-shaped notch at the tip of the tongue.
What can be done about Tongue Tie?
If tongue tie is causing significant problems, a simple surgical procedure known as a frenulotomy might be recommended. This procedure involves snipping the lingual frenulum to free the tongue and is often effective in alleviating the major restrictive effects of the condition.
What does the Tongue Tie Procedure Involve?
The tongue tie procedure is typically performed without anaesthesia for babies up to 1 year of age (this may vary depending on the service and the experience of the practitioner) and involves cutting the small fold of tissue that restricts the movement of the tongue – frenulum – with sharp, blunt scissors. The procedure takes seconds and is generally well tolerated. During the procedure, the baby is swaddled and the head and shoulders are securely held to minimise movement.
Is there any pain management for the baby?
For infants older than 2 months, it is permissible to administer paracetamol before and after the procedure for comfort, although it may not be necessary as the procedure is usually very well tolerated even without anaesthesia.
What happens immediately after the procedure?
Immediately after the procedure, it is encouraged to breastfeed to comfort the baby and to help the tongue press down on the wound which minimises bleeding. There is typically minimal bleeding involved.
What are the risks of the procedure?
Complications such as prolonged bleeding or infections are exceptionally rare, occurring in about 1 in 10,000 cases. Most babies recover and heal very well after the procedure.
What does aftercare entail?
Aftercare includes ensuring the wound site remains very clean. Avoid letting the baby suck on unwashed fingers. If the baby uses a dummy or bottle, make sure these are sterilised regularly. Massage of the wound area several times a day can be beneficial to prevent regrowth or reattachment of the frenulum, although there is no definitive scientific proof supporting this practice. Additionally, specific exercises that encourage tongue movement will be shown to parents and should be performed 4-5 times a day for 3-4 weeks.
What should parents be cautious of after the procedure?
Ensuring a deep latch during breastfeeding post-procedure is crucial for promoting proper tongue movements. Unfortunately, in about 2-4% of cases, the frenulum may reattach, requiring a revision of the procedure if symptoms recur.
Aesthetic FAQs
Will Wrinkle Relaxing Injections, Profhilo or filler injections hurt?
With most aesthetic treatments, a mild level of discomfort can be expected; local anaesthetic and/or an ice pack can be offered to help with this.
Wrinkle relaxin injections, dermal fillers and Profhilo injections can hurt, but the needles used for are very small, so pain is minimal.
Different areas can be more uncomfortable than others and to a degree, pain is relative: some people will feel it more than others. Areas can be numbed with a topical anaesthetic cream, nerve blocks or cold packs 10-20 minutes before the injections are given, so you discomfort will be mild, if any.
Does a chemical peel hurt?
You may experience a little tingling, tightness, or heat, but chemical peels do not hurt. While you shouldn’t feel pain during or after the procedure, you may experience slightly increased sensitivity after. To avoid irritation or discomfort on your newly resurfaced skin, do not exfoliate for 7 days after your chemical peel, avoid saunas and keep well moisturised! Steer clear of the gym for 24 hours after and drink plenty of water to protect your skin and prolong the results you see post-treatment. As the skin will be thinner, it is essential that you wear an effective SPF.
Does micro-needling/microneedling hurt?
This can be uncomfortable during the treatment so we always use an anaesthetic cream to reduce the discomfort.
If I start having treatments like Wrinkle relaxing injections or dermal fillers, do I have to keep it up forever?
All of our treatments will eventually wear off with time – the length of time will depend on which treatment you have. If you decide not to upkeep the treatment, then your face will simply return to normal and continue to age naturally as before. And you can always come back and try it again at any time.
Will my Wrinkle relaxing injections, dermal filler or other skin treatment wear off?
Yes, all our treatments will eventually wear off with time – the length of time will depend on many things; which one you have, metabolism, alcohol intake, length of time between treatments and medication. In general:
• Wrinkle relaxing injections will last 3 -6 months.
• Dermal fillers can last 6-18 months.
• Profhilo is advised to be carried out every 4-6 months
• Chemical peels are recommended to be done every 3-6 months but this will depend on which type you have.
• Microneedling will last for years, although it is not “permanent” because microneedling can’t stop aging and wrinkles which will eventually start to re-form.
What is Aqualyx and how does it work?
Aqualyx is an injectable fat dissolving treatment. It is a gel-based solution, derived from cholanic acid, which is produced by our bile duct to help up break down fats.
It is licensed for use in the UK for localised or spot removal of fat from areas such as the chin, knees, hips, thighs, tummy or under the buttocks and is generally regarded as safe. It is not a weight loss solution and is suitable for smaller, stubborn pockets of fat, not large area fat reduction.
This solution was developed by Professor Pasquale Motolese, president of the Italian Society of Aesthetics and Medicine, and has been in use since 2009.
Aqualyx is a non-surgical way of body-shaping. This gel-based solution is injected into areas of unwanted fat. The solution works by disrupting the surface of the fat cells, causing them to weaken and become permeable. The fat is then absorbed by the body and excreted. It is a permanent result assuming the person having the treatment doesn’t gain weight afterwards.
Can I have more than one treatment at the same time?
Some treatments are compatible and others are not. Some treatments are uncomfortable so you may want to break it up over a few visits. Book a free consultation to discuss your goals and we can make a plan together.
Will anyone be able to tell I’ve had a treatment?
This will depend on what you have done and how your skin reacts. Sometimes there can be slight bruising, red marks or minor swelling; these tends to heal and disappear within a couple of hours or at most, days.
Arnica is advised to help expedite the natural healing process. We also offer a more complete recovery system called InSupport as manufactured by the award winning producers of SkinAde – ask your practitioner for more information on this.
All our treatments are done with the aim of natural looking beauty, to rejuvenate and restore the skin so no: most people will not be able to tell.
Will I have bruises after Wrinkle relaxing injections/Dermal filler injections?
Bruising after receiving a Wrinkle relaxing injection/dermal filler treatment (or any treatment involving needles) can happen. Even the best, most experienced practitioner can cause a patient to bruise after injecting. It occurs when the needle catches a small blood vessel, allowing blood to leak below the skin’s surface and causing the surface to appear reddish and/or purple. However, bruising is minimal and heals within a couple of days. Again; InSupport, arnica, ice and plenty of water can help keep bruising to a minimum. And don’t forget, concealer can hide a multitude of sins!
I’ve heard horror stories about lip filler and Wrinkle Relaxing Injections. What if it goes wrong?
A common concern with new clients, who have never had any treatments before is ‘how can I be sure that it won’t end up a mess?!’. Concerns over asymmetry, ‘trout pout’, ‘wonky eyebrows’ and generally fear of the unknown are usually the first and biggest stumbling block. I think mostly, people are concerned about how the final effect will look. Will money be spent making things worse?
Let me put your mind at rest right now: No, things won’t end up wonky and unnatural. I am not only a qualified medical doctor but received professional certification for all the treatments I offer and have years of experience, so I have a good understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the body and the impacts of treatment on it.
At Dermis Skin Aesthetics, our ethos is to aim for a natural looking beauty: less is definitely more – with the all our treatments we advised a tiered or layered approach to achieve improvement. The treatments are not permanent and there are many techniques to improve the results if you are unhappy.
Will my face look natural if I have Wrinkle relaxing injections or Dermal filler?
At Dermis Skin Aesthetics, we only ever seek to create a natural improvement in your appearance. Our aim is to restore and rejuvenate the skin. Deciding whether or not to have any treatment is a personal choice. Some prefer to do nothing while others go to the other extreme; and it’s your right to do what you fee like!
If you’re thinking about having fillers or wrinkle relaxing injections for natural-looking results but are nervous that instead, it might be too much, then you’ve come to the right place. Our ethos is ‘less is more’ we start with subtle updates and work upwards where you want to see greater results.
What areas can Aqualyx fat dissolving injections treat?
Aqualyx is suitable for treating: double chin, jowls, upper arms, armpits, waist, hips, knees, chest, inner thighs, tummy, buttocks as well as folds on the back.
How many Aqualyx treatments will it take to get results?
Some people may see an improvement after 1-2 session but up to 8 may be required depending on the amount of fat in the area. Chins, where there is less fat for example, may require one treatment while hips or thighs may require repeated treatments.
Treatments will usually be spaced 4 weeks apart.
Is there downtime or risks associated with Aqualyx fat dissolving injections?
There may be redness and bruising that could last up to 48-72 hours. You can take over-the-counter painkillers but are advised not to take anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen as they will work against the treatment. Swelling is common and can last a few weeks. It is advised to use compression garments to help reduce the impact of swelling and also massage to improve lymphatic drainage. It is not uncommon to develop inflammatory nodules at the injection sites which can last several weeks before subsiding completely; these are not normally visible though.
It is regarded as a safe treatment. The Aqualyx manufacturer has reported no major side effects.