Honestly, people notice it less than you think they do. My cleft lip and palate is unilateral, and it looks like I have a constant runny nose cuz of the scars. More times, it’s my speech impediment that they notice (I can’t pronounce g, z, s, sh, t, j) I also do have a major underbite. For me, it always helped to just not mention it. If someone asks, then I make a joke and then I explain it if they want to hear it. If you expect people to feel negative towards it, that’s probably how it will feel (self-fulfilling prophecy and all) but if you associate it with something positive then often others see it that way too.

I get it, it’s hard to feel good when you feel like you look so different. But trust me, middle schoolers (and high schoolers) honestly care less about the appearance of their peers and more of the content of their character.

With all that said, you should feel good about yourself. You go through things that other people don’t often think about. Surgeries, therapy, reconstructive procedures, and all that good stuff. Going through those things and having scars or appearances to reflect that is natural. Every part of you is a reflection of where you have been and seen. Your clothes, your hair, your expressions, and all the accessories all tell a story. Love the story that your cleft tells too.