Hello Bob,
Your history of leukoplakia was similar to mine. Came up negative over many years and biopsies until August 2006 when it was positive for SCC.
Like Cheryl my reconstruction (flap from wrist plus skin from thigh to cover wrist donor site) was all done during the 14 hour operation.
There was a team involved including the Oral Surgeon, the Plastic Surgeon and even a dentist to remove 4 teeth for where the flap would be anchored plus others.
I was in intensive care for a week being fed by a nasal (NG) tube and had lots of other tubes attached for other bodily functions plus IV antibiotics. Then I had a week in a room where slowly pureed food was introduced. It took a few weeks before I could talk and be understood.
I hope this has answered some of your question and I am happy to help with more information if I can.
I am a little unclear as to why you are having your reconstruction at a later time.
I can only presume it was not the same as my all-in-one operation which also included biopsies and a small amount of bone being taken for analysis.
Just to let you know I have been able to eat almost anything these last few years and even though my speech is not 100% I get by very well and can make myself understood without any problems.
Please keep us up to date with your results and second opinion which you are very wise to get
Gabriele