Jennifer,
I had my jaw split and had half of my lower jaw removed. I was eating very well two weeks after the surgery. I did have a trach which was the part I disliked the most, but it was out within a few days and some don't mind it at all. The trach area took approx. 3 weeks to heal. My jaw wasn't wired shut.
The scar is small and I believe will continue to get smaller. Many don't realize I had anything done to my chin.
Good luck with it.

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.