What is the treatment for tongue and lip tie?
- PW&Lactation
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
If your baby has been diagnosed with a tongue or lip tie that is impacting feeding, you may be wondering what treatment looks like—and how it can help. At Pacific Wellness & Lactation, we provide laser frenectomy, a safe, fast, and precise procedure to release oral restrictions and improve feeding function.
What Is a Frenectomy?
A frenectomy (sometimes called frenotomy) is a minor surgical procedure that releases a tight frenulum—the folds of tissue causing the restriction. At our clinic, we use an advanced CO₂ laser to perform this procedure. In the hands of our experienced Family Nurse Practitioners, this method allows us to gently and precisely release the tissue with minimal discomfort and quick healing.
Why We Use a CO₂ Laser
After performing hundreds of frenotomies using other tools, we now use a CO₂ cold laser because of its many benefits:
Quick and precise: The laser targets the tissue with high accuracy, taking just 5–15 seconds for the release.
Minimal bleeding: The laser seals blood vessels as it works, making the procedure often bloodless.
Faster recovery: Laser treatment reduces trauma to surrounding tissue and, in our experience, supports quicker healing with less discomfort.
Comfort-focused care: We use in-office comfort measures to make the experience as gentle as possible for babies and families. Some of these include warm swaddles, gentle lavender oil, acetaminophen and oral arnica.
What to Expect at Your Visit
The entire visit takes about 10–15 minutes, with only a few seconds needed for the actual procedure. After the release, your baby will be offered a feeding—right away.
A Registered Nurse, Board-Certified Lactation Consultant remains with you after the procedure to:
Help with baby’s first post-release latch
Support feeding and positioning
Create a custom feeding plan if needed
Support Beyond the Procedure
We know that treating a tongue or lip tie is just one part of a bigger feeding journey. That’s why we:
Offer same-day evaluations and procedures when appropriate
Include lactation and feeding support with every visit
Provide ongoing follow-up for infant oral function, latch, and healing
We’re here to help you feed with comfort and confidence. If you’re considering a tongue or lip tie release for your baby, our experienced team offers compassionate care and cutting-edge technology to support your journey—every step of the way.
References:
Cordray, H., Mahendran, G. N., Tey, C. S., Nemeth, J., Sutcliffe, A., Ingram, J., & Raol, N. (2022). Severity and prevalence of ankyloglossia-associated breastfeeding symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Paediatrica. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.16609
Ghaheri BA, Lincoln D, Mai TNT, Mace JC. Objective Improvement After Frenotomy for Posterior Tongue-Tie: A Prospective Randomized Trial. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. September 2021. doi:10.1177/01945998211039784
Ghaheri, B., Cole, M., Fausel, S., Chuop, M. & Mace, J. (2016). Breastfeeding improvement following tongue-tie and lip-tie release: A prospective cohort study. Laryngoscope 127(5): 1217-1223. DOI: 10.1002/lary.26306
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