Visakhapatnam, 13th December, 2025: Cleft lip and palate, a condition present from birth, should be corrected through surgery during childhood. If not treated early, it can trouble individuals throughout their lives. Early correction enables children to eat and speak normally like everyone else. Otherwise, they may face social stigma and embarrassment, said renowned dental specialist and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Y.S.N. Reddy.

He was speaking at a press conference organized at KIMS Icon Hospital, Sheelanagar, Visakhapatnam, on the occasion of completing over 3,000 cleft lip and palate surgeries since 2004.

“At our hospital, along with cleft lip and palate surgeries, we also correct various facial deformities. Cleft lip and palate are congenital conditions. Till now, we have performed these surgeries for patients ranging from 15-day-old infants to 66-year-old adults. However, performing the surgery at a younger age reduces feelings of inferiority and boosts confidence.

Thanks to the support of Doshi Smiles doctors Dr. Nitin Doshi and Dr. Leena Doshi from the USA, and through the INGA Foundation, KIMS Icon Managing Director Dr. Satish Kumar and Executive Director Dr. Sai Balaram have extended strong support to this entire initiative. Under this banner, we have performed these surgeries completely free of cost for underprivileged patients. We also provided transportation facilities from their homes to the hospital and back,” said Dr. Y.S.N. Reddy.

The event was attended by INGA Foundation Managing Trustee & Medical Director Dr. Krishna Shyamarao, INGA Foundation Trustee Dr. Chetan Kumar, Association of Maxillofacial Surgeons of India (AOMSI) President Dr. R. Manikandan, AOMSI AP Chapter President Dr. P. Vasundhar, KIMS Icon Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Gopal Raju, and KIMS Icon Operations General Manager Mamata Devi Reddy, among others.