Dear sanam, There is no exact answer for how long you should wait before having the surgery. However, you have time to make a decision, get scheduled and proceed with the surgery, you wouldn't want to take months to take care of this but a week here or there should not be a problem. The recovery after reconstructive surgery depends on the type of reconstruction, and also the individual. In general recovery time is about 4 to 6 weeks.
Regarding reconstruction recovery-I had bilateral with immediate single-stage reconstruction using adjustable saline implants in September. I was laid up for a couple weeks (slept in a recliner), didn't drive for three weeks, and went back to work at six weeks. If one chooses flap reconstruction I believe the recovery is somewhat longer. Check out bcsupport.org and breastcancer.org. Both sites have good message boards where women can give you feedback on their experiences. Take care!