If you look at the price for common facial plastic surgeries, the costs can be a factor in whether you undergo the procedure. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in 2012 the average cost of a facelift was $6,607, rhinoplasty was $4,436, and a forehead lift was $3,358. This expense can seem daunting, especially when health insurance rarely covers cosmetic procedures.
Don’t give up your dreams of restoring self-confidence or reducing the signs of aging through common cosmetic surgeries. Instead, embrace the options that are available to help you pay for your cosmetic surgery.
Trim Expenses and Use the Savings
If you look at your monthly expenses, there are likely things you can do without. If you go out to dinner every week and spend $20 on your meal and tip, after just one year, you’ve saved up $1,040. Do you pay for cable television and only watch a few channels? Per FCC data, the average price for cable in 2012 was $61.63 per month. Dropping cable and watching shows online or through a cheaper service like HuluPlus saves a lot of money. By eliminating a monthly cable bill, you can save more than $700 in one year. Put the savings into a high-yield account, such as a six-month CD, until you have enough set aside.
Use Your Credit Card
Most plastic surgeons accept major credit cards. If you want to use American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa, verify with your surgeon that that is okay. You do have to make the monthly payments to the credit card company, so make sure you can afford at least the minimum payment. Missing just one payment can lead to high interest rates and huge late fees.
It’s best if you set a clear goal on how many months you want to take to pay the amount back. Most credit card websites have financial calculators you can use to figure out how long it will take to pay back the amount you plan to charge. Paying extra will help you avoid excessive interest charges.
Crowdfunding
You’ve probably heard all about Kickstarter, a site where people can donate to a cause they feel is worthy. It’s commonly used to help new artists fund their projects. There’s a newer site called Peel that helps people pay for plastic surgeries. It’s gaining steam with patients looking to fund cosmetic surgeries.
Whether you’ll actually raise enough to pay for a cosmetic surgery remains to be seen. A quick glance at Peel’s website shows that donations do not tend to come pouring in. Plus, there are other things to consider. Peel keeps 10 percent of all donations. The remainder is sent directly to your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon must be willing to arrange the funds transfer with Peel. Some doctors may not be willing to give their banking information to a crowdfunding site.
Apply for CareCredit
CareCredit is a credit card used only for medical procedures. They do have a plan available for cosmetic surgery. You choose a payment plan that works for you and pay the cost off over a number of months. CareCredit also has promotional interest rates that can make a plastic surgery extremely affordable, even if you have a tight budget.
There are things you need to pay attention to with CareCredit. The money you borrow does show up on your credit report. Make sure you make the payments on time. If you can afford to pay extra, that’s always a good idea, as there are no penalties for paying the loan off early. Missing a payment leads to higher interest charges and late fees, so it is essential to make the payments on time.
Make sure your plastic surgeon accepts CareCredit. Not every surgeon does, so you don’t want to sign up and then discover you need to find a new doctor. Always check first.
Dr. Sheldon Kabaker, an Oakland facial plastic surgeon, does accept CareCredit. Visit Kabaker.com and use the CareCredit Payment Calculator to research monthly payments for your cosmetic surgery. When you’re ready for a consultation, contact Dr. Kabaker’s California hair restoration and facial plastic surgery practice and at (415) 379-9015 or complete the online form.