With any operation, the cleft lift procedure included, healing of the incision has to occur. In general, this is a six week process after which wounds are at about 95% of their full strength. It gains that last 5% over the remainder of a year. However, the body is constantly strengthening and remodeling wounds for a lifetime. (This is evidenced by the fact that with severe vitamin C deficiency, called “scurvy”, old wounds will open up and start bleeding.)
There are things that can cause the incision after a cleft lift to separate: