There may come a time when you want plastic surgery, whether out of medical necessity or purely personal reasons. Whatever the case may be, it may not be an option if you have a poor credit history. However, this is not to say that it is not still possible. I was curious to see how to pay for plastic surgery with bad credit, so I did some research for today’s article. Keep reading to learn more.
The Rise in Plastic Surgery
Reconstructive surgery existed long before the first procedure was performed in the United States during the 19th century, but it was the emergence of motion pictures and television that boosted the modern movement of plastic surgery. And this phenomenon shows no sign of stopping any time soon.
According to their press release, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) released data recently showing there were “15.9 million surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2015, a two percent increase over 2014.” In fact, the company also claims in the release that overall procedures have risen 115 percent since 2000.
With the evolving types of procedures patients can choose from, options are increasing and so are providers, ASPS President David H. Song, MD, MBA, FACS, said in the release. Unfortunately, despite the increase of providers, cosmetic surgery remains costly, especially if you want more than one procedure at once.
So, if you are looking for plastic surgery but have poor credit, what are your options?
How to Pay for Plastic Surgery with Bad Credit
If plastic surgery is on your radar, there are a few different routes to consider taking. These suggestions from Creditcards.com may be worth looking into:
- Credit Cards: To pay for the expense of the operation(s), credit cards are an option. A standard card with an interest rate less than 10 percent used specifically for this could pay for the costs while also building your credit. You could also apply for a medical credit card like CareCredit to cover te surgery. These often have zero interest rate promotions for a certain amount of time following your approval. Creditcards.com recommends reading the fine print, though, as those rates can skyrocket if you miss a payment or do not repay the amount quickly.
- Regular Loans: Obtaining a loan from your bank or a credit union could be a good fit for you. The problem is these unsecured loans will likely tack on to the overall amount you owe due to interest. The good news is that banks often offer loans with a fixed interest rate, preventing the interest the fluctuate throughout the course of repayment. The alternative would be to look into a secured loan where you promise an asset as collateral should you miss a payment. Secured loans offer lower interest rates for that reason.
- Unsecured Medical Loans: Similar to a personal loan or credit card, unsecured medical loans are typically provided by a third party such as a doctor, Creditcard.com explains. This would be a potential option if you are having a hard time borrowing money from other sources, especially if you have a lower credit score. Watch out, though; these loans are known for having higher interest rates.
- Payment Plans: You can always speak with your doctor to see if they offer their own payment plans. Some practices in a variety of medical fields will work out monthly payments with you based on your income or budget, but most do not do the procedure until the expense is paid for in full. It’s worth attempting to have that conversation with a plastic surgeon to evaluate your choices. Even though this type of plan would not include interest, you could still be sent to collections for missing a payment.
- Savings: You could pull money from your own savings account to cover the costs of cosmetic surgery. Although you’d be reducing your account, you would at least not have to worry about monthly payments or interest rates.
If you’ve been wondering how to pay for plastic surgery with bad credit, the above alternatives hopefully present some realistic ways to receive your desired operations. Whatever route you choose, remember to make payments in a timely manner to prevent your credit score from getting worse. Also, make sure to outweigh the costs, evaluate your finances, and do your research prior to moving forward with your decision.
Have you ever had plastic surgery? What suggestions would you include in the list?
Photo credit: Brian J. Parker
Jenn Clark is a writer, PR specialist, entrepreneur, blogger and coffee enthusiast. A lover of laughter, traveling and cheese, she’s written about her life experiences here at suburbanfinance while at the same time growing other young professionals. You can find more of her work at Jennblogs.co.
I’ve never had plastic surgery, but interesting post.
Though I would never want to have a plastic surgery, the sources of funds for it are dependable particularly savings and credit cards.
Vast majority of plastic surgery procedures are only for enhancement purposes. It is unlikely that you will be able to have yours covered by health insurance. The process of finding financing can be a slightly daunting task indeed, but don’t lose hope just yet. You can get your ideal look by discussing the cost of total expenses with surgeon. And ask him for concession.