The amount of Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery procedures performed a year has been increasing steadily over the years. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were more than 18 million cosmetic procedures performed in 2019.
If you have been considering plastic surgery, then you know the cost can be steep. The cost of your surgery is the cost of the surgery itself, plus operation room/facilities, anesthesia, and other fees.
18 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2019
While insurance can cover the cost of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, it will not cover Cosmetic Surgery since it is considered elective surgery. So what are your financing options?
Here are five ways you can finance your cosmetic surgery procedure:
1. Savings
Savings is the easiest and more budget-friendly way to finance your cosmetic surgery. When you pay for your surgery from your savings, you are not adding debt to your finances, and you are not incurring any interest. So you can enjoy the results of your surgery without worrying about making payments.
However, not everyone has enough savings to cover the cost of cosmetic surgery. Or not everyone wants to use their savings to pay for plastic surgery.
you are not adding debt to your finances and no added interest
2. Personal Loan
Personal loans are another option. You can take out a personal loan with a bank, credit union, or online lenders for your cosmetic surgery. However, interest rates and terms of the loan can vary greatly, so you have to take your time to do your research on each loan. You want to make sure you are comfortable with the monthly payments, interest rate, and length of the term.
Additionally, the terms and rates of the loan will be more favorable if you have good credit. If you don't, then you will have a high-interest rate, making personal loans the least ideal scenario for financing your cosmetic surgery.
terms and rates of a loan are more favorable if you have good credit
3. Medical Cards
Medical cards, such as CareCredit, help you cover medical expenses that are not covered by insurance. These cards have different financing options. The length of the terms can have an impact on the Annual Percentage Rate. In some cases, 0% APR is offered through their shorter terms as long as you pay the full amount by the end of the term. Longer terms are available, but APR percentages vary depending on the cosmetic surgery cost and the length of the term you choose.
Three medical cards options are:
Ask your surgeon what medical cards his or her practice accepts, as not every provider will accept every medical card.
0% APR through shorter terms
4. Credit Cards
Credit cards might be a convenient way to pay for your cosmetic surgery as they are widely accepted as a method of payment. However, the interest rate might make your procedure a lot more expensive. If you use your credit card, you might want to treat it the same way as you would a medical card and pay off your balance before the end of your grace period, or in a short term to avoid accumulating interest. Otherwise, you might be better off with a medical card or loan.
5. Provider Payment Plans
Some doctors offer in house financing through payment plans, most of which are interest-free. However, many doctors will require payment in full before the surgery.
Speak to your surgeon about the different options available to you. Once you have all the information, consider which option is most beneficial to you and will help you avoid getting into unmanageable debt.
Speak to your surgeon about options
Bonus: Make Your Cosmetic Surgery affordable with a Grant
You can save up to 20% of your surgery cost, to a maximum of $2000 with a Cosmetic Surgery Grant. Grants are available to applicants that receive treatment or book their cosmetic surgery with a participating surgeon.