Is Tongue Tie Surgery Worth It?

Real Parent Experience

If you're asking this question, I know exactly where you’re at - I asked it with my own two babies. You're probably deep in research, exhausted, overwhelmed, and trying to figure out if a release is necessary for your baby, or if it’s something they don't even need.

Those concerns are so common. Instead of just giving you my opinion, I wanted to walk you through a real story from a mom in my DMs because it’s the perfect example and hopefully gives you the peace of mind you need to make an informed decision.

Shared with permission. Mom and baby are kept anonymous.

The Symptoms

This mom had been dealing with months of symptoms with her baby:

• Clicking during feeds

• Long, slow feeds

• Arching back during feeds

• Very gassy

• Silent Reflux

• Avoiding car rides because baby was so uncomfortable

They had been putting in a lot of work too… Professional Bodywork from a chiropractor/CST and mom had been practicing At-Home Bodywork with her baby from birth. She was even keeping baby upright after feeds to manage the reflux and gas.

Why She Almost Didn't Get It Checked

Here's the part that I think matters the most: both the hospital and her chiropractor said they didn't see any ties. The chiropractic care (coupled with CST) did help the clicking and tummy time improved also, but they were still struggling.

When I asked this sweet mom if anyone had done an oral function exam (checking how well baby's mouth and tongue are able to move and function, not just looking for a visible tie), the answer was no.

The mom shared with me that she was worried about going to an actual tongue-tie clinic because she was afraid of bias. She worried that they'd diagnose a tie even if her baby didn't have one, just to make money. She also didn't like the idea of the procedure itself and causing pain for her baby.

All totally valid concerns! Unfortunately, those things do happen.

But here’s the thing (and the whole reason I’m so passionate about sharing this information)… Not every provider has the right training to properly diagnose ties. As a sidenote: if a provider diagnoses a tie and pushes you to get a release without proper preparation (or tells you it’s just a “quick-snip”), they're the last person you want doing the release. Skill and training matter!

What Changed This Mom’s Mind

I recommended that the mother seek out an IBCLC with specialized tongue-tie training. The IBCLC did an oral function exam, gave a detailed explanation of what she was seeing, and actually showed the mom how restricted her baby's tie was and why.

That is what quality care looks like and it makes a huge difference!

They had already been doing a lot of bodywork up until this point, so the provider decided to move forward with a release that same day. Same day releases aren’t usually a good idea (if no preparation has been done) but this provider felt confident that baby was ready based on what she was seeing.

The Pros: What Improved

Mom said the procedure itself was hard to watch and she was nervous leading up to it, but it was quicker than she expected. The changes started happening right away:

• Baby was latching better right after the procedure

• Baby's tongue was able to suction to the roof of the mouth and stay there

• Feeds became much more efficient and didn’t take as long

Mom was thrilled!

The Cons: What Can Be Hard

I don't want to gloss over the harder parts, because they're real too:

• Watching the release itself was emotionally hard (some providers let you be present for the procedure)

• There are often wound stretches that can be difficult (emotionally and physically)

• Healing isn't always instant (This mom and baby had follow-up appointments with a bodyworker and the clinic to continue support through the recovery process)

• Daily oral motor exercises are often recommended by skilled providers to help baby learn to use their new range of motion fully and build strength since they’ve never used their mouth in this new way. This is what help symptoms improve even more over time.

• Bodywork is often recommended afterwards as well. Read my post about “What is Bodywork for Babies” here.

Tongue tie surgery isn't a quick fix. It's one part of a bigger picture that often includes bodywork, oral motor exercises, follow-up care, and patience while your baby adjusts.

Her Answer to "Was It Worth It?"

In her own words…

The whole experience felt "surreal." She shared with me that her only regret was not knowing about the tie sooner.

That’s the key right there. When a mom gets the right support, I don’t hear "I wish we hadn't done it." Instead, they tell me "I wish we'd known sooner."

So, Is It Worth It?

Based on this story, my own stories with my babies, and what other moms share with me, the question shouldn’t be “is the procedure worth it?”.

The real questions need to be:

• Is your baby’s tongue functioning the way it’s supposed to for comfortable, efficient feeding (and healthy development down the road)?

• Do the people checking your baby have the training to actually assess function, not just take a quick look and say "I don't see anything."

• Do you have the right support and providers guiding you along the way?

The difference between a scary, uncertain experience and one that feels like relief is THE RIGHT SUPPORT.

This Can Be Your Story Too ❤️

If you feel nervous like this mom did at the beginning, and you want to have a clear gameplan to walk through this the right way, The Tongue-Tie Directory Guide is exactly that.

You can skip the guesswork and the runaround, and know exactly which provider you need on your team and in what order, what questions to ask, and where to find them all - regardless of where you live.