Stephany, in a partial answer to your question, I had a tumor removed and the surrounding tissue with it, then a graft was taken from my arm, along with a vein, and someone with very small hands stitched that into my mouth to cover the resulting hole. I am amazed that arm skin turned into gum skin so completely that I have trouble identifying exactly where the graft was -- and it was pretty large. This was done about five weeks prior to the commencement of rad and chemo. And I am here to tell about it, so you know it worked just peachy keen! It is my understanding that any surgery involving grafts takes a very long time. I went in before daylight, and when I awoke in recovery, it was night.