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Frenuloplasty / frenotomy (tongue-tie division)
Category: Minor Procedures, Injections & Pain Relief · All minor procedures, injections & pain relief
What it is
A frenotomy divides the thin band (lingual frenulum) under the tongue in babies with tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) when it interferes with feeding; a frenuloplasty is a more formal release and repair used in older children or adults with significant restriction.
Why it is done
It is offered when tongue-tie is clearly affecting breastfeeding (pain, poor latch, poor weight gain) despite skilled support, or when speech, eating or dental hygiene is affected in older children. Many tongue-ties cause no problems and need no procedure.
How to prepare
Assessment by a specialist feeding team or paediatrician/ENT surgeon confirms the restriction and that feeding support has been optimised first. Tell the team about bleeding disorders and any family history of clotting problems.
What happens during the procedure
For babies, the procedure is quick: a small scissors cut of the thin band without anaesthetic (or with a dab of numbing gel), followed immediately by breastfeeding, which comforts the baby and encourages movement. Frenuloplasty in older children/adults uses local or general anaesthetic with stitches to repair the floor of the mouth.
Afterwards — recovery & results
A small white diamond-shaped wound appears under the tongue and heals over one to two weeks. Parents are shown gentle tongue-stretching exercises. A review checks feeding improvement; not all feeding problems are explained by tongue-tie, so feeding support continues.
Risks & considerations
Risks include minor bleeding, infection (rare), damage to the tongue or salivary glands (rare with a skilled operator), and re-attachment (scar) if exercises are not done. Benefit is greatest when the tie is clearly significant.
Watch: Frenuloplasty / frenotomy (tongue-tie division) videos
Real procedure videos from the MedicalVideos.com library. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
Will it fix breastfeeding straight away?
Often improvement is quick, but a baby may need to re-learn latching after release, so continued feeding support matters as much as the procedure.
Should all tongue-ties be cut?
No. The decision is based on function — feeding or speech — not on appearance alone. Many tongue-ties are harmless variants.
Related procedures — Minor Procedures, Injections & Pain Relief
Browse the F section of the A–Z list or return to the Procedures & Tests hub.