If your child has a lip tie, “lip tie surgery near me” is probably what you just typed. Dr. Susan Kim at Evergreen Pediatric in Kirkland, WA performs laser lip tie release. She treats infants, toddlers, and older children. She trained at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and holds LightScalpel CO2 laser certification. Families across Kirkland, Juanita, and Finn Hill trust her because she gives straight answers, not runarounds.
A lip tie that goes untreated causes more than feeding problems. Babies who cannot latch well transfer less milk per feed. That puts real pressure on nursing mothers. Older children with unresolved ties can develop a tooth gap, speech differences, and trouble eating certain foods. Get an evaluation early and you keep more options open.
What Exactly Is a Lip Tie?
A lip tie is a tight band of tissue called the frenulum. It connects the upper lip to the gum line above the front teeth. When it is too short or tight, it limits how far the upper lip can move. Dr. Susan sees this in children of all ages at her office near Totem Lake Blvd NE in Kirkland.
Lip ties are graded 1 to 4. A grade 1 or 2 tie is thin and causes few problems. A grade 3 or 4 tie extends further onto the gum and creates more restriction. That is the type Dr. Susan most often sees in children referred by a lactation consultant. Grade 3 and 4 ties appear in roughly 10 to 12 percent of newborns. Many go undiagnosed because newborn exams rarely include a functional frenum check.
Is Lip Tie Surgery the Right Term?
Most parents search “lip tie surgery” because that is the phrase that fits what they are imagining. The clinical name is a frenectomy. It means releasing the frenum tissue that causes the restriction. Dr. Susan performs this with a LightScalpel CO2 laser. That means no scalpel, no sutures, and far less bleeding than a traditional approach. Most parents are surprised by how quick and calm the procedure actually is.
Laser frenectomy takes under 15 minutes. The laser seals tissue as it works, so bleeding is minimal. Children usually return to normal feeding within a day or two, and many infants show latch improvement within hours. The word “surgery” makes parents brace for something significant. In practice, families consistently describe the visit as far easier than they expected.
You can review what Dr. Susan’s lip tie and tongue tie services include before you call. That page walks through the evaluation and what to expect. Coming in with questions already formed makes the visit more useful for you.
What Does the Lip Tie Release Procedure Look Like?
Dr. Susan starts every visit with a full oral exam. She also has a real conversation about what you have been observing at home. She combines her clinical findings with what you report as the parent. That combination drives the diagnosis, not just a quick glance at the tissue.
Parents often ask Dr. Susan what to expect on the day of the procedure. She walks them through each step before it begins:
- Topical numbing gel applied first
- Local anesthetic for the treated area
- LightScalpel laser release taking 5 to 10 minutes
- Gauze placed to stop any minor bleeding
- Written aftercare instructions given before you leave
After the release, Dr. Susan shows parents stretching exercises that take about 30 seconds each. Done 4 to 6 times per day, they prevent the tissue from reattaching as it heals. Most families fit them into a feeding or diaper-change routine.
How Do You Know If Your Child Needs a Lip Tie Release?
The clearest signs depend on your child’s age. For newborns and infants, the biggest red flag is a breastfeeding latch that causes pain for the mother. The baby may also click, gulp air, or gain weight slowly. Lactation consultants in Kirkland and Juanita often raise this concern first and send families to Dr. Susan for a functional evaluation.
This table shows common signs by age group:
| Age Group | Common Signs |
| Newborn (0-3 months) | Poor latch, painful nursing, slow weight gain |
| Infant (3-12 months) | Bottle fatigue, frequent gas, lip blisters |
| Toddler (1-3 years) | Gap between front teeth, speech delay |
| School Age (4+) | Tooth gap, trouble with certain foods, lip posture |
The table above is a starting point, not a diagnosis. Dr. Susan evaluates each child based on what the tissue can do functionally, not just what it looks like. A visible gap does not always mean a release is needed. A frenulum that looks mild can still cause real feeding pain. That is exactly why a clinical evaluation matters.
What Other Signs Should Parents Watch For?
What Other Signs Should Parents Watch For?Lip tie often appears alongside tongue tie. The two together affect more than just feeding. In her experience, Dr. Susan regularly finds an unidentified tongue tie alongside the lip tie that brought the family in. Her full pediatric dentistry program addresses both. Families near 132nd Ave NE and Finn Hill do not need multiple referrals to get a complete picture.
Watch for these secondary signs in toddlers and older children:
- Mouth breathing at rest or during sleep
- Drooling past the age of 4
- Snoring or restless sleep
- Food pocketing or slow eating
- Difficulty saying certain sounds clearly
None of these symptoms confirm a lip tie on their own. They are reasons to come in. Dr. Susan examines the frenum, assesses tongue function, and explains what she finds in plain language. She also flags anything that connects to airway or sleep patterns. That is something most pediatric dental offices do not check for, and it matters.
What Happens If You Wait?
Some parents take a watch-and-wait approach after a pediatrician says the tie looks mild. That is reasonable when functional symptoms are absent. For moderate to severe cases, waiting extends the problem. It does not resolve on its own.
Toddlers with unresolved grade 3 or 4 ties often develop a midline diastema. That is the gap between the upper front teeth. It rarely closes on its own and often needs orthodontic treatment later. Research supports early release when functional symptoms are present, with stronger outcomes before 12 months. Read about Dr. Susan Kim’s background to understand the training behind these recommendations.
The decision to treat is always the parent’s. Dr. Susan gives you the clinical facts, explains what she sees, and lets you decide. She gives you what you need to make a confident call.
Your Child Deserves a Straight Answer in Kirkland
For years, Kirkland parents pieced together answers from a pediatrician, a lactation consultant, and a specialist across town. They still walked away unsure. Dr. Susan Kim at Evergreen Pediatric ends that loop. She examines your child, tells you what she finds, and gives you a clear recommendation. You leave with a real answer, not another referral and not another year of watching and waiting.
Call Evergreen Pediatric at 425-814-3196 or visit evergreenkidsdentist.com to schedule a lip tie evaluation. The team serves Kirkland, Juanita, Finn Hill, and the broader Eastside. Dr. Susan also evaluates pediatric sleep and airway signs that connect to the same issue. Bring those questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does lip tie surgery hurt?
The procedure itself causes very little discomfort. Dr. Susan applies topical numbing gel before giving a local anesthetic. The child feels pressure but not pain during the release. Most infants calm quickly after the procedure, and many nurse within minutes of leaving the chair. Recovery discomfort is typically described as minor in a 2023 randomized clinical trial on laser frenectomy outcomes.
How long does lip tie surgery take?
The laser release itself takes between 5 and 10 minutes for most children. The full appointment, including exam, numbing, procedure, and aftercare review, runs about 30 to 45 minutes. Parents leave with written instructions and a clear picture of what the healing exercises look like. A 2022 systematic review on frenotomy techniques found laser frenectomy to be a safe, low-risk office procedure.
Will a lip tie cause a gap in my child’s teeth?
A grade 3 or 4 lip tie inserting low on the gum can cause a midline diastema. That is the gap between the two upper front teeth. Not every child with a lip tie develops a gap. Not every tooth gap comes from a lip tie. The link between labial frenum attachment type and diastema is examined in a 2023 integrative review on labial frenum morphology and midline diastema.
Can a lip tie come back after the procedure?
Reattachment can happen if the post-procedure stretching exercises are not done consistently. The exercises prevent the healing tissue from reconnecting in a restricted position. Done 4 to 6 times daily for 3 to 4 weeks, they reduce reattachment risk significantly. Post-frenectomy reattachment and wound care are examined in a 2023 clinical review on post-frenectomy wound care and reattachment outcomes.
