Will wound-stretching exercises help after a frenotomy?

Wound stretching exercises after frenotomy don't change the way the oral tissue heals.

If you were advised to have a laser frenotomy performed on your baby, you are likely to be advised to follow up with wound stretching exercises a number of times a day, for a number of weeks, and also bodywork exercises and stretches in or around your baby's mouth and body. You might even be advised to do these exercises if your baby has a scissors frenotomy, too.

But wound stretching exercises won't stop the mucosa and underlying connective tissue healing with a scar, won't stop opposing edges of the wound adhering, or the healed tissues re-forming in the shape similar to the frenulum prior to the frenotomy. The belief that wound stretching exercises alters the way wounds in the mouth heals misunderstands the nature of oral mucosa and oral wound-healing.

Wound-stretching exercises can, however, causes pain or discomfort, and may result in baby developing a conditioned dialling up with breastfeeds. You can find out about this here.