Tongue-tie and feeding: what a laser release visit looks like at Westside

Most parents first hear the words tongue-tie from a lactation consultant, a midwife or a public-health nurse, usually because feeding is hard. This article explains what we look for, what a release visit involves, and what happens afterwards – so you know what to expect before you book.

The signs people notice

A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a short or tight band of tissue under the tongue that limits how it moves. A lip-tie is the same under the upper lip. In a baby the signs are usually about feeding: a shallow latch that slips off, clicking sounds, very long or very frequent feeds, poor weight gain, and nipple pain or damage for the mother. Some babies also have reflux-like symptoms from swallowing air. Not every tie causes a problem – the question is always function, not how it looks.

How it is assessed

At Westside, Dr. Zubaida Hussain assesses the tongue and lip for movement and function – lift, extension, suction – alongside the feeding history. We work with lactation consultants: if you are already seeing one, bring their notes, and we send a summary back after the visit. Sometimes the right advice is to work on positioning and latch first and reassess; sometimes a release is clearly indicated. You will be told which, and why.

The release itself

The release (a frenectomy) is done with the Solea laser. Depending on age, a topical numbing gel may be used; the baby is swaddled and held by a parent or an assistant, and the laser releases the tight tissue in a minute or two. There are no stitches and very little bleeding, because the laser seals as it works. Most babies cry for a moment and settle quickly; you can feed right away, and many parents notice a deeper latch at that first feed. The whole visit is about half an hour.

Afterwards

We show you simple stretches to do for a couple of weeks so the tissue heals open rather than back together, and what normal healing looks like (a small white patch under the tongue is expected). A follow-up with your lactation consultant in the first week helps the baby learn to use the new movement. We check the healing at a short review visit.

Children and adults

Ties are not only a baby problem. In older children a tie can affect speech sounds, swallowing, and how the jaw and palate grow; in adults it shows up as jaw tension, mouth breathing, snoring and a tongue that cannot rest on the palate. For children and adults the release is combined with a short myofunctional therapy program – exercises that teach the tongue its new range – so the result lasts. Tongue-tie at every age explains the signs.

Booking

No referral is needed. Book an assessment online with Dr. Zubaida Hussain or call (587) 288-8190; the fee for an assessment and, if needed, a release is explained before anything is done. Laser tongue-tie release at Westside.