Dr. Rajeev Agarwal, MD

Biography:

Dr. Agarwal went to medical school at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIIMS, in New Delhi, which is the premiere institution for medical training in India. After which, he came to the United States for his Pediatric Residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Subsequently went on to join the Pediatric Nephrology fellowship at University of Florida at Gainesville. Under the program, he also conducted bench research at Ohio State University. Dr. Agarwal worked on the Eastern Shore of Virginia for eight years in general pediatrics before moving to Arizona to establish Agave Pediatrics in 2005. Over the years Dr. Agarwal has developed his own style of practicing pediatrics, which is strongly supportive of natural ways of taking care of children and emphasis on breastfeeding. During his practice, he realized that one of the biggest impairments in breastfeeding was the presence of labial and lingual ties. Having performed some procedures during medical school, he re-educated himself about the procedure and started performing them in 2007. In the last 15 years, Dr. Agarwal has performed more than 18000 frenotomies. Now, along with a busy clinical practice, he has made it his goal to spread the awareness about the issues related to labial and lingual ties to pediatricians, lactation consultants, doulas, midwives -everybody who helps mothers with the process of breastfeeding and in taking care of children with feeding and speech difficulties.

Abstract: From Evaluation to Aftercare: A Pediatrician's Perspective on Tongue-Tie Care

Frenectomy can help with the breastfeeding dysfunction that is associated with ankyloglossia. Successful return to breastfeeding and improvement of symptoms for the dyad is the goal of the procedure. The procedure can cause significant anxiety in parents who often resort to reaching out on social media and getting inadequate and incorrect information. Appropriate medical and lactation evaluation is important for patient selection to ensure both medical appropriateness of the procedure and family readiness. Once the decision is made with input from both the physician and lactation professionals, pre and post procedure information and support plays a vital role in the success of the procedure. Learn more about what should be taken into consideration when deciding if and when to proceed with frenectomy, pre-fenectomy preparation of the family and post-frenectomy management and support.