Individuals who have placed such plastic surgery procedures as a face lift, tummy tuck, smart lipsuction or rhinoplasty on their wish list, only to delay making an appointment for a consultation because they tell themselves they can’t afford it, should investigate the options available for financing plastic surgery.
Most plastic surgery procedures are considered elective surgery by healthcare insurance providers and are not covered by standard insurance policies unless there is some medical reason that might threaten the life or well-being of the patient if the surgery is not performed. Check with your healthcare insurance provider anyway to see if the procedure you are considering might be covered. In most cases, the costs for plastic surgery, which can add up to the thousands of dollars, come right out the patient’s pocket.
Do Your Homework
It’s important to place the skill and credentials of the plastic surgeon above the fee you will pay for the plastic surgery procedure, because unlike buying a car or a house, you won’t be able to walk away from or trade in a less than satisfactory surgical experience. Selecting the most qualified surgeon for the procedure you are seeking is the best investment of your money because you reduce the risk of having to undergo additional expensive procedures in order to correct a botched job. It’s also a good idea to get consultations from two or three different surgeons so you can compare not only prices but also your comfort level with the surgeon.
How to Afford Plastic Surgery
Payment Options
When you have a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon, don’t be shy about asking what type of payment options his practice will accept. Some surgeons accept credit cards rather than cash or check payments and may even be willing to spread out the payments over a set period of time, much as you would experience when making a bank loan. If you are considering having more than one procedure done, ask the surgeon if there is a package rate for doing several procedures at once while you are under anesthesia, which can prove cheaper than having a series of operations strung out over several months time.
Ask Your Bank
A loan from a bank to obtain plastic surgery comes under the category of unsecured personal loan, because you don’t put up any collateral as you might when getting a loan to buy a new car or complete some home improvement project. Interest rates for such a loan are much higher than traditional loans. Decide what you can afford to budget every month in order to get the desired plastic surgery procedure, and go ahead and apply for a personal loan in order to pay for it. You can also consider getting a home equity loan to cover plastic surgery costs.
Tips on Financing Plastic Surgery
(1) Decide on the procedures most important to you, get estimates from qualified surgeons and ask if the medical practice offers in-house financing.
(2) Apply for an unsecured personal loan from your local bank or obtain a home equity loan.
(3) Have several procedures done at the same time to reduce overall costs.
(4) Remember that whether you pay by credit card, by cash in a lump sum, or acquire loan financing to afford plastic surgery, it is a worthwhile investment in your health and self-esteem.