On 16
Oct
2019
If you’re considering having cosmetic plastic surgery, there’s a good chance you’re excited about achieving your goals and also wondering how you’ll cover the cost. Contrary to a common misconception, plastic surgery is not just for the rich and famous, but rather something many people can afford. A study by the Aesthetic Surgery Journal found that the mean annual household income per cosmetic patient was $60,976. Plastic surgery is a long-term investment in yourself, and like any good investment, it may take some time to plan for financially. The good news is that many different options are available to help you pay for the cosmetic procedures that interest you.
Let’s discuss the different options available when paying for plastic surgery so you can make the best decision for your lifestyle.
Personal Savings
Many patients prefer to save their money and wait until they have the payment in full to schedule their procedure. If you’re thinking about saving up for plastic surgery, schedule a consultation and request a quote so you know the exact amount you’re saving for, but be sure to ask how long the price quote is valid.
The only true downside here is that it may take a long time to save up enough to pay for your procedure of choice. While saving, keep in mind that there are medspa treatments available to achieve temporary results in your area of concern as you work toward your goal. For example, if you’re saving up for a facelift, you might decide to get Botox and filler injections to minimize fine lines and wrinkles in the interim.
Personal Loans & Credit Cards
Rather than go the cash route, some patients opt to use personal loans or credit cards to pay for their plastic surgery procedure(s) of choice. Most plastic surgeons will accept all major credit cards to cover services. If a personal credit card or loan has a low, fixed interest rate, it might be a wise choice to help finance cosmetic plastic surgery. Some credit cards also offer points back and other perks, which can be a nice way of recouping some of the costs that go into plastic surgery.
On the other hand, unsecured loan interest rates can drive the final cost up way higher than expected. Some personal loans and credit cards have extremely high interest rates that can drive up your debt and hurt your credit utilization ratio. If you choose to go this route, be sure to read the fine print and crunch the numbers so you can move forward with confidence that you’re making the best decision for your lifestyle.
Healthcare Financing
Many plastic surgeons offer healthcare financing options through nationally recognized financial lenders CareCredit, Alphaeon, and other respected medical lenders. A number of patients opt to go this route because healthcare financing options are often instantly available for use, with little to no interest and other attractive promotions. With a variety of flexible, low monthly payment options, or extended payment terms, you can focus on the treatment you want instead of the cost.
Something to keep in mind is that healthcare financing use is limited to covering only medical expenses—which can be a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it. This restriction helps to prevent overspending, but some patients might prefer to use a regular credit card or personal loan instead because these options can be used for other expenses as needed. You want to finance with a reputable company and be sure to understand the terms.
When paying for plastic surgery, it’s critical that you know the different payment options that are available to you so you can make the best decision possible. If you do elect to pay for a procedure with an option other than cash, you should not be penalized and have to pay a processing fee. Still have questions about the cost associated with getting plastic surgery? Download the Definitive Guide to the Cost of Plastic Surgery to learn more about all the factors that go into the total you see on your quote.
