A lingual frenectomy (also known as a tongue-tie release) is the removal of a band of tissue (the

lingual frenulum The frenulum of tongue or tongue web (also lingual frenulum or frenulum linguæ; also fraenulum) is a small fold of mucous membrane extending from the floor of the mouth to the midline of the underside of the tongue. Development The tongue start ...

) connecting the underside of the tongue with the floor of the mouth. A lingual frenectomy is performed to correct ankyloglossia (tongue-tie). The removal of the lingual frenulum under the tongue can be accomplished with either

frenectomy A frenectomy is the removal of a frenulum, a small fold of tissue that prevents an organ in the body from moving too far. It can refer to frenula in several places on the human body. It is related to frenuloplasty, a surgical alteration in a f ...

frenuloplasty Frenuloplasty is the surgical alteration of a frenulum when its presence restricts range of motion between interconnected tissues. Two of the common sites for a frenuloplasty are: * Frenuloplasty of tongue * Frenuloplasty of prepuce of penis {{su ...

. This is used to treat a tongue-tied patient. The difference in tongue length is generally a few millimeters and it may actually shorten the tongue, depending on the procedure and aftercare. Results of lingual frenectomia via

laser surgery Laser surgery is a type of surgery that uses a laser (in contrast to using a scalpel) to cut tissue. Examples include the use of a laser scalpel in otherwise conventional surgery, and soft-tissue laser surgery, in which the laser beam vapor ...

have been thought to be superior to those of traditional cold steel methods, however, minimal evidence exists. The skill of the provider is most important in the success of this procedure. It is unknown if laser frenectomy results in a lower risk of relapse (i.e. adhesion).

Domenico Maceri Domenico Maceri is an Italian-American educator and journalist. He retired after teaching for thirty-five years at Allan Hancock College but continues his work as a journalist, writing a weekly column in Italian for America Oggi. Early life and ed ...

, a professor at

Allan Hancock College Allan Hancock College is a public community college in Santa Maria, California. History In 1920 Allan Hancock College was started by the Santa Maria High School District. Originally called Santa Maria Junior College, classes were held until ...

, claims that some

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

n parents have their children undergo frenectomy "which lengthens the tongue by about one millimeter" in the belief they will pronounce

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

better. Critics regard the surgery as unnecessary, as Koreans born in the United States have no trouble distinctly pronouncing /r/ and /l/.

Notes

{{Operations and other procedures on the nose, mouth, and pharynx Surgical removal procedures Tongue surgery