Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo

Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo is a board-certified Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgeon.

11/13/2025

Hi 👋🏼 everyone!

Watch the following video 🎥 cataloging this ’s progress over the last 3 months following her right unilateral incomplete cleft lip and nasal repair.

It is so very important for parents to see and understand the many changes that occur to the lip, nose and scar during the months and years following their child’s cleft repair.

The lip is often pink and firm for months after the surgery. The scar may also contract, causing shortening of the lip, making it appear as if the cleft is recurring.

I try my best to reassure parents along the way, as SO many changes happen over time. Some changes will require operative intervention, and others just need time and (of course) patience. 😇 👼

As you can see in this video 🎥, patience and time ⏰ are essential in allowing the lip and nose to soften and settle. 👌🏻

Mission: Transforming children’s lives, one smile 😃 at a time.

These images are the property of Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo and NYPSG and are not authorized for use by any other party.

This is my actual patient with real results who has given informed consent (directly or indirectly via parents) to appear on my website and social media pages.

11/12/2025

Hi 👋🏻 everyone! Today I wanted to talk about staged excisions of large congenital pigmented nevi.

This video highlights an 8 year old little girl that was born with a large pigmented nevus along her lower back. Surgical excision was recommended due to the lifetime risk of converting to a dysplastic or malignant lesion. Due to its large size, this needed to be excised in multiple stages. She underwent three surgeries in order to excise the entire lesion. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Listen 🎧 to and watch 👀 this video to learn more about this little girl’s journey.

These images are the property of Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo and NYPSG and are not authorized for use by any other party.

This is my actual patient with real results who has given informed consent (directly or indirectly via parents) to appear on my website and social media pages.

11/12/2025

Replying to another great question! This time about syndactyly and the timing of surgery. Listen here for the answer! 😊 # # # #

11/11/2025

Hi 👋🏼 everyone!!

Remember yesterday’s !? Here he is BEFORE and immediately AFTER his cleft lip 👄 and nasal 👃🏼 reconstruction.

Watch this video 🎥 to view his on-table transformation!

Stay tuned for updates on his progress over the next few weeks and months!

Mission: Transforming children’s lives one smile at a time.

These images are the property of Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo and NYPSG and are not authorized for use by any other party.

This is my actual patient with real results who has given informed consent (directly or indirectly via parents) to appear on my website and social media pages.

11/11/2025

Replying to Steinberg How do we manage post-operative pain after cleft lip repair? 🤔 Listen here to find out! 👍🏻

11/10/2025

Hi 👋🏼 everyone!

It’s !! 🖊️🖊️

Today I’m reviewing the intra-op markings of a recent RIGHT unilateral COMPLETE cleft lip 👄 and nasal 👃🏼 reconstruction.

Listen along as I’m highlighting a unique situation with this patient who has a Simonart’s band. This is a soft tissue bridge often appearing between the segments of the lip or at the base of the nostril. This band can often can make a complete cleft lip appear as an incomplete cleft. 🤔

It is important to keep in mind that EVERY cleft patient has unique anatomy. Therefore, my markings 🖊️ for each repair are different in each case, which ultimately leads to a unique surgery each and every time. 👍🏻

Stay tuned for updates on this baby’s progress!

I hope this video was helpful! As always, leave your questions and comments below. 👇🏼

Mission: Transforming children’s lives one smile at a time. 👍🏼

These images are the property of Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo and NYPSG and are not authorized for use by any other party.

This is my actual patient with real results who has given informed consent (directly or indirectly via parents) to appear on my website and social media pages.

11/08/2025

What happens to the teeth in a baby with a cleft lip/palate? 🤔 Listen here to find out!

11/07/2025

Hi 👋🏼 Everyone!

This little boy was born with a prematurely fused skull 💀 suture, otherwise known as craniosynostosis. In his particular case, his sagittal suture (located along the midline of the skull) was fused.

Craniosynostosis causes a restriction in growth of the affected part of the skull. When the sagittal suture is fused, it presents as an elongated skull, frontal bossing, and occipital narrowing.

At 8 months of age, this little boy underwent cranial vault remodeling (PCVR)💀. This involves removing the fused suture and affected skull bones, reshaping them, and placing them back in their new position with dissolvable plates, screws 🔩, and sutures. This surgery is always performed in conjunction with a pediatric neurosurgeon. 💜💜

Stay tuned for his progress over the coming months. 😊

These images are the property of Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo and NYPSG and are not authorized for use by any other party.

This is my actual patient with real results who has given informed consent (directly or indirectly via parents) to appear on my website and social media pages.

  

11/06/2025

Hi 👋🏼 everyone!

I have been receiving a lot of questions regarding my cleft lip suture 🪡technique (i.e. Do I use dissolving or permanent sutures for cleft lip repair?), as well as questions about nostril retainer placement. 👍🏻

Watch the following video 📹 where I highlight my prolene suture technique. I temporarily place permanent sutures at the end of the surgery to accomplish the desired skin eversion, but remove them after the Dermabond has dried. This avoids the need to have to remove lip sutures in the office post operatively. (Which can be quite challenging with a little baby!)

Keep watching 👀 to see how I secure the nostril retainer 👃🏼 in place. These nostril stents stay in place for up to three months. 👍🏻

I hope this was helpful! Please leave your questions in the comments below! 👇🏻

Mission: Transforming children’s lives, one smile 😃 at a time.

These images are the property of Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo and NYPSG and are not authorized for use by any other party.

This is my actual patient with real results who has given informed consent (directly or indirectly via parents) to appear on my website and social media pages.

11/05/2025

Hi 👋🏼 everyone!

It’s time for our November 🍂🍁🦃Cleft & Craniofacial Team Conference photo shoot 📸 . Here are a few sweet captured moments with our !!

🧡 Callen is 2 years following unilateral cleft lip and palate repair.
🤎Angel is 8 years following asymmetric bilateral cleft lip repair
🧡 Jacob is 7 years following unilateral cleft lip and palate repair.
🤎 Derek is 11 years following cleft palate repair.

Where does time ⏰ go!?!?

Swipe ⬅️ to see their pre-op pictures! 👶🏼

I can’t stress how important it is in craniofacial surgery to be part of a strong team. I am so grateful to be surrounded by this amazing group of orthodontists, oral surgeons, dentists, geneticists, ENT’s, nurses, social workers and speech pathologists. We meet together once a month to evaluate our patients and formulate current and long term plans for these kids. It is so important for parents to know that there is strong, cohesive team behind the care of their kids.

Mission: Transforming children’s lives one smile at a time. 😄

These images are the property of Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo and NYPSG and are not authorized for use by any other party.

This is my actual patient with real results who has given informed consent (directly or indirectly via parents) to appear on my website and social media pages.

11/04/2025

Hi 👋🏼 everyone!

Watch the following video 🎥 cataloging this ’s progress over the last 10 months following her right unilateral cleft lip repair and 4 months following her cleft palate reconstruction.

Where does time 🕰️ go?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

It is so very important for parents to see and understand the many changes that occur to the lip, nose and scar during the months and years following their child’s cleft repair.

The lip is often pink and firm for months after the surgery. The scar may also contract, causing shortening of the lip, making it appear as if the cleft is recurring (You can see these very changes in this little girl’s lip during her first few months of healing!)

I try my best to reassure parents along the way, as SO many changes happen over time. Some changes will require operative intervention, and others just need time and (of course) patience. 😇 👼

As you can see in this video 🎥, patience and time ⏰ are essential in allowing the lip and nose to soften and settle. 👌🏻

Mission: Transforming children’s lives, one smile 😃 at a time.

These images are the property of Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo and NYPSG and are not authorized for use by any other party.

This is my actual patient with real results who has given informed consent (directly or indirectly via parents) to appear on my website and social media pages.

11/03/2025

Hi 👋🏼 everyone!

It’s !! 🖊️🖊️

Today I’m highlighting the intra-op markings 🖊️ of a recent  unilateral forme fruste (aka microform) cleft lip 👄 reconstruction.

The FORME FRUSTE cleft lip is the most mild type of a cleft lip. Just like other types of cleft lips, microform cleft lips can be unilateral (right or left), bilateral, or asymmetric bilateral.

This type of cleft can be characterized by downward depression of the alar rim, skin striae of the upper lip (often mistaken for a “scar”), notching of the Cupid's bow, and/or deformity of the vermilion border. 

Interesting fact 🧐: Forme fruste clefts make up 9.2% of unilateral incomplete cleft lips.

Stay tuned for a more detailed discussion about microform cleft lip repairs. 👍🏻

Mission: Transforming children’s lives one smile 😀 at a time.

These images are the property of Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo and NYPSG and are not authorized for use by any other party.

This is my actual patient with real results who has given informed consent (directly or indirectly via parents) to appear on my website and social media pages.


Address

Garden City South, NY

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 7pm
Wednesday 8am - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 7pm

Telephone

+15165043014

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