We introduce a novel functionality for wavelet-based irregular mesh codecs which allows for prioritizing at the encoding side a region-of-interest (ROI) over a background (BG), and for transmitting the encoded data such that the quality in these regions increases first. This is made possible by appropriately scaling wavelet coefficients. To improve the decoded geometry in the BG, we propose an ROI-aware inverse wavelet transform which only upscales the connectivity in the required regions. Results show clear bitrate and vertex savings. For a trivial \emph{front-back} selection of the ROI and BG, rendering from the front saves up to $5$ bits per vertex and up to $50\%$ of the geometry, while appearing visually lossless.