Bloody computer just ate the reply I had typed in!

OK back to the beginning.
I've had 3 replacements - 2 on my right knee and one on my left knee! They were all single ops.
The first 2 were artificial fibre grafts and both failed within a year each of being put in (thank God really considering what has happened with some of them since!) I was eventually given a patella tendon (BTB) graft in 1992 and that has been rock solid (if a little stretched) ever since.
In 2006 I blew out my left knee slipping on some black ice. I was operated on by a Head of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery, but he was not a knee specialist and he messed up big time. Two and a half years later I had revision surgery. I was expecting a 2 stager, but when my current surgeon actually got in he found that the placement was so far out he could do it all in one go. So first graft removed tunnels cleaned out and filled with bone and new tunnels drilled and a double bundle hamstring graft inserted. He was able to harvest from the same site that my previous surgeon had already harvested from and discarded in favour of a patella tendon. My current surgeon was/is far from complimentary about the skills of my first surgeon and is still trying to get me to make a claim against him. I don't see the point to be honest. The guy is an excellent hand, arm and shoulder specialist but he should not work on knees if I'm anything to go by!
So it can be done in one go, however they often like to give themselves the option of doing a 2-stager if they feel it is the better move with regard to your knee. They really cannot be absolutely certain until they see what the damage really is.
The rehab after my last op was intensive but it worked like a dream and I was back skiing with 5.5 months in Feb 2009. This season I've managed over 30 days skiing so far and have just got back from a week skiing in heavy spring snow with no problems whatsoever. Skied everything going including very steep blacks and bumps runs. Had to pass on the racing and jumps though just to be on the safe side as I have little or no meniscus left in places.
Good luck it will be a breeze

You're an old timer at this game now Gav!
Sue
