Hi Bette, my husband had this surgery in March.
It involved being cut from ear to ear. However the reconstruction surgeon was so great that looking at Kris you can not even see a scar.
His reconstruction involved formation of a tongue using free flap from his abdomen. However this just fills the space in his mouth and does not move. He can drink well but won't attempt anything thicker than moderately thick fluids. He does taste. Due to the laryngectomy he can not smell.
This is doable surgery, but it is difficult in the initial weeks. 8 months post op life is resuming a new normal and is really pretty good. Kris has just had a TEP speaking valve put in and I and others can understand his speech despite the challenges of both a laryngectomy and total glossectomy.
Hope all goes according to plan for you both. I will be here for any support you need.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!