A doctor must wait for a full year to make certain everything has taken and there is no rejection before they are able to go in at the patients request and fine tune their work. When having a mandibulectomy there is alot of swelling so its not easy to make someone look perfect right from the start. Reconstruction is not a big deal but can make major changes in how someone looks, especially if they have had any complications.



***INA, please make your own thread for asking questions. It takes away from the original posters responses. I can help you if you need help.***


Ina, is your mother in law at a major cancer center like Johns Hopkins? Thats the very best bet for her with this major surgery. A cancer center will be more familiar with the procedure and will have a whole team of specialists on board helping to make important decisions regarding her individual situation.

What you described is where the doctor will be taking muscle, veins, tissue, skin, etc from one area and reusing it to replace what he is removing. Usually they use inside forearm material before they would consider it from another location. Sometimes Its thigh, breast (called a pec flap), hip, etc. But the forearm is usually used as its closest to the facial skin in appearance. When the doc removes part of the bone he will be replacing it with a piece of titanium. He will be taking some of her cheek and then will be covering it all up with skin from her armpit.

A mandibulectomy is a huge surgery. Mine was 10 hours long, some are 8 while others are 14. Its very invasive and she could have staples holding things together when she is finished. Make sure the doc gives her good pain medication. She could be in alot of pain from this for a couple day or weeks. Its a long recovery for some while others are ok in a month or 2. This is one example of where everybody really is different. They will all recover at their own pace. If she will have a trach ask for a possey muir valve so she can easily talk afterwards. Dont be surprised if the doctors dont keep her asleep for a day or two after this surgery. Someone should stay with her in the hospital to be her voice. In my opinion (speaking as someone who has had this surgery) she should not be left alone. She may not be quite herself when she comes out of this. But for others they are just amazing and bounce right back immediately. I was a bit of a slow poke with everything but I had some complications with mine.