This study investigates the effects of the two stage palatoplasty combined with Hotz' plate on sagittal midfacial development in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) individuals, using an optical surface scanner. The sample included 48 UCLP patients (age : 10-19) treated by two different surgical techniques : one-stage palatoplasty and two-stage palatoplasty and 24 age- and gender-matched non-cleft subjects with skeletal Class I. Facial depth was determined by evaluating the z-coordinate values of 15 corresponding facial measurement points on both sides for each cleft group and the control group. Mid-facial depth asymmetry was obtained by calculating the difference between both sides in z-coordinate values of these 15 corresponding facial measurement points between both sides for cleft groups and left and right sides for the control group and then evaluated by paired t-test. The differences among the three groups were statistically compared by ANOVA's Fisher ratio, at a significance level of p<0.05. Mid-facial depth assessment revealed significant differences (p<0.05) between the three groups, in almost all the measurement points values calculated. No significant difference was found in the case of sagittal mid-facial asymmetry, except on the level of exocanthion plane in the one-stage palatoplasty group. The study clearly demonstrates that two-stage palatoplasty combined with Hotz' plate has a beneficial effect on mid-facial development and facial balance in UCLP patients.