The recovery from the flap is pretty good. Assuming everything goes okay. The ENT usually does the removal and at my hospital a plastics guy does the graft. Mine did a great job. I was eating and drinking fine by week three (with a little maneuvering. I placed the food on my good side washed it back with water or almond milk). Mind you the first few days after surgery I looked horrendous and was all full of staples, stitches, bandages, etc...

had a trache, NG tube, catheter, and IV. Graft site and two donor sites.

Lost the trache day three, IV day 2, catheter day 1, and NG was removed day two and put back in day 4 (I demanded they remove it, it was wrapped around my trache on the inside)

went home day 10.

hugs.

Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan