Hi Everyone,
When I had my free flap I was in the hospital for 11 days, but I also had a neck dissection at the same time. I had a trach and once the trach was removed (three days I believe it was) I was talking normally, exactly as I did before the surgery. It didn't affect my speech. The incision on my leg was closed with simple staples, no graft needed whatsoever. Unless you look closely, you can barely see the scar on my leg today. I don't have any paddle shaped scar, I don't know where that came from. My chin and underneath of it was quite swollen for approx 5-6 weeks but I had no pain from it. Once the swelling started going down, it went down quickly. My jaw is not proportioned with the rest of my face and people find it hard to believe that half of my jaw was removed.
My leg isn't as strong as my other leg in terms of jumping and running. But in everyday functions, I don't even think about it. I can stand up all day if needed, althogh there will be a slight burning sensation in my donor leg after hours of standing. Please believe me when I tell you that the leg is not an issue to worry on. When I came home, I had a walker but mine was more because they had put the cast on my leg to tight and when it was removed, we discovered a huge decubitus ulcer on my heel and on the top of my foot. That caused me many problems as I couldn't put my heel on the ground to walk. Even with that unusual side effect, I was walking on my own with a walking boot within two weeks, up and down stairs and anywhere else I needed to go.
I was also eating two days after leaving the hospital, eating normally and anything I wanted. mind you this was before I had radiation.

Hope all of this helps. The surgery is worth the advantages you will get from the few weeks of discomfort.

Love,
Minnie