Correct positioning of the child is important for the plastic surgeon, who sits at the head of the operating table. Head extension must be maximal for cleft palate surgery. The entire body is raised with a thick foam mat or folded blanket, allowing the head to drop back hyperextended into a head support. Not only does this position provide good surgical exposure, but it also allows blood to flow away from larynx and toward the nasopharynx so it can be removed by suction.