Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. S.M. Balaji successfully performed a combined sphincter pharyngoplasty & rhBMP-2 surgery. Cleft individuals have hypernasality due to escape of air through the nose during speech. This is called velopharyngeal incompetence and is corrected by pharyngoplasty. Dr. Balaji created a dynamic sphincter by surgically rearranging the palatopharyngeus muscles. Due to the huge alveolar cleft in the right upper jaw, the right side of his nose appeared collapsed. Dr. Balaji employed the advanced rhBMP-2 technology to completely close the bone defect. This miracle protein stimulates the body’s own cells to form new bone at the site it’s placed ultimately healing the gap. This revolutionary technology avoids a second surgery for grafting bone from the rib or hip.