Jane,
My husband had a similar surgery in which part of his iliac crest and surrounding tissue were used to form a cheekbone, palate, cheek, eye socket, etc.

Actually, he has had 2 'free flap' surgeries - and both times, he had trachs and he was in ICU for 4 days. The first time, he was in the hospital for 16 days and then stayed at the hospital guest house for 7 days and had daily dressing changes. We had trouble with some of the skin grafts taking, but the flap did well.

The 2nd time, he was in the hospital for 7 days and went back 7 days later to get his stitches out.

It has been 5 weeks since his free flap surgery and he still has a lot of pain in the neck, ear and shoulder - but the incisions have finally healed.

I asked the surgeon, too, 'what happens if the flap doesn't take?' and he said that they have to take it out. I don't know if that's always the case. The flap seemed to enhance the result, but in his case, he would not die if the flap did not take...he would die, if he didn't have the surgery.

In order to optimize the healing chances for this and for other post-radiation surgeries, he has undergone many sessions of hyperbaric oxygen treatments (before and after surgeries). We really think that that has helped, but it seems to be controversial.

If you think I can be of any help, please don't hesitate to email me personally. I'll be happy to share anything. This is tough enough to see someone go through, without the added frustration of their smoking. I'm sorry to hear that.

I hope the leeches have helped. Please keep us updated, and let me know if you have any questions for me, personally. Am sending you warm hugs and good wishes!

Sincerely,
Betty