What to Expect After a Tongue Tie Release?

After your baby’s tongue tie (Frenulotomy) procedure, there are a few things you can do to help ease their recovery. The first thing to do is relax! Your baby’s tongue tie issue has been taken care of, and now you just need to follow your practitioner’s aftercare instructions. 

Here are some common things you can expect after your baby’s tongue tie procedure:

Snuggle and care for your baby as usual

Your baby might be a little fussy after the procedure, which is normal. Soothe your baby as you normally would, including breastfeeding or bottle feeding. 

Don’t be alarmed by the diamond patch that may appear after a frenulotomy

In many patients, a small diamond patch appears at the wound site. This patch is usually white, but can be yellow if your baby is jaundiced. This patch a normal healing response. If you’re concerned about infection or bleeding, give your doctor’s office a call immediately. 

Follow the stretching and sucking exercises that your doctor gives you

The tongue is a muscle, and you need to gently stretch and recondition it to work properly once the tongue tie has been fixed. Your doctor will give you a series of tongue stretches and exercises to do with your baby. Make sure to do these stretches as directed - doing them for too long is unnecessary, but you want to make sure you’re doing them correctly. 

Know when to call the doctor after a frenulotomy procedure

Call your doctor if your baby refuses to feed, if they get a fever, if you think the wound may be infected, or if there’s uncontrolled bleeding that doesn’t go away after applying pressure for a few minutes. 

Dr. Harry Pantelides is a leading tongue tie specialist. If your baby needs frenulotomy, please get in touch with our office for an appointment here. We offer flexible hours in both our Astoria, Queens and Williamsburg, Brooklyn locations.