David, You're correct in your description of the flap looking like boiled meat, and no, it never does become a pretty pink or red, the same color as your old tongue was. But as long as it's functional......

The tip of my tongue turned a creamy white and looked somewhat like cottage cheese. On inspection my ENT just said that the blood supply was not good enough, would never take, and just pulled off the dead part. No pain, no nothing. It was weird, but nothing throughout this ordeal is ever normal. Is it?

Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Sincerely, Donna