My best friends husband had his out last year (age 35). He couldn't eat solid food for 2 weeks. Hurt for 4 weeks or so, mostly it was ear pain (reffered pain from his throat). He also developed Thrush from the antibiotics they gave after surgery to prevent infection. It was really painful, and he went back to the MD 6 times the first week. If you can avoid it, I wouldn't have it done. It was awful to watch and he said he would rather die than do it again. I need mine out, but after watching his ordeal, I won't do it.