Six weeks until PS

It's been almost seven years since I got to my goal weight and I've finally saved up enough to have my excess skin removed.  I'm getting an extended abdominoplasty, thighplasty, and brachioplasty.  I've got 6 weeks until the procedures and I'm looking for advice. 

What kind of exercises should I be doing to help the outcome/recovery?
What kind of tax preparation should I be doing now if I'd want to try for a deduction?
I decided to keep a blog of my experience and want it be helpful to others.  What sort of information should I write about?

And, of course, any other advice is welcome!

If you're interested the blog is unzip-my-skin.blogspot.com.

thanx
Mark

On the tax thing - Dont have or pay for your surgery until after the first of the year!  Put it off - as hard as it might be, until after the first of the year. Save every receipt from gas to and from the doctor's office for the consult, lodging (if it's more than 50 miles I believe), bandaids, alcohol swabs, gauze dressings, antibiotic ointment, medicine - EVERYTHING.

I had my phase 1 surgery in early April with consults starting the end of January. Phase 2 was Oct 8th. I've so far racked up nearly $30,000 in medical expenses this year alone. I've done all my surgery in one year so that I have one really big deduction year then I can go back to standard deductions on my income taxes.

Cass

I'll be having all three procedures done in one surgery.  I'd actually like to get the cost in for this year and add them to some extensive dental bills I had mid year for my 2009 taxes.

Since everything is being done in one phase, do you still recommend putting it off?


thanx
Mark

you guys are lucky.  I don't think we can use plastics with our taxes in Canada.

From the IRS Website:

You may not deduct funeral or burial expenses, health club dues, over–the–counter medicines, toothpaste, toiletries, cosmetics, a trip or program for the general improvement of your health, or most cosmetic surgery.

From Publication 502:

Cosmetic Surgery

 

Generally, you cannot include in medical expenses the amount you pay for unnecessary cosmetic surgery. This includes any procedure that is directed at improving the patient's appearance and does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. You generally cannot include in medical expenses the amount you pay for procedures such as face lifts, hair transplants, hair removal (electrolysis), and liposuction.

You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay for cosmetic surgery if it is necessary to improve a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease.

Example.

An individual undergoes surgery that removes a breast as part of treatment for cancer. She pays a surgeon to reconstruct the breast. The surgery to reconstruct the breast corrects a deformity directly related to the disease. The cost of the surgery is includible in her medical expenses.

Alice,

As absurd as it sounds, publications from the IRS website are not a primary tax authority and should not be relied on as law. You might want to check out this post from earlier this week...

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/4050527/Letters-for-Taxes/

From what I've been reading, the IRS considers obesity a disease and morbid obesity certainly is disfiguring.  I'll be consulting an accountant on current and past cases where the deduction for PS after massive weight loss has went thru.

I've also read the other thread about the letter and my surgeon said he would be happy to work with an accountant in case of audit.  Seems like an audit is almost automatic.

thanx
Mark