Plastic surgery is a fast growing industry and many more people today are opting for surgery to enhance the body and turn back the signs of aging. Television shows and advertising, easier accessibility to surgery and increased social acceptance are just a few of the many reasons why the industry continues to grow so rapidly. Another reason for an increase in plastic surgery is the many financial options now available to potential patients, which includes plastic surgery loans. This makes surgery a possibility for many who previously could not have afforded such a luxury.
As medical insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery, those desiring these types of procedures must find ways to pay for the high costs involved in medically unnecessary surgery. Plastic surgery, such as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty or abdominoplasty, can cost upwards of $7,000 to $10,000 to cover surgeon fees, hospital or facility fees and anesthesia, if not more. Many financial companies now cater to the industry by offering specialty loans, often directly through plastic surgery offices and clinics, which are designed specifically with potential cosmetic patients in mind.
Plastic surgery loans do make it possible for many people to have cosmetic surgery that may otherwise be unaffordable to them. However, cosmetic loan companies will often offer a high line of credit to those who would not otherwise quality for a financial loan, which encourages debt that cannot truly be afforded for unneeded services. They also tend to have extremely high interest rates that typically range from 14% to 20% with some loans with rates as high as 30%. The patient will also be responsible for loan processing fees in addition to the original loan amount that generally range from 5% to 10% of the borrowed amount. Your surgeon’s fee may also be higher than it otherwise would have been to make up for his or her costs incurred to the loan company for their services.
There are other downsides to the ease of plastic surgery loans as well. Often plastic surgery offices will work directly with lenders offering cosmetic surgery loans and encourage their patients to apply and use their services. Many times patients are approved for these credit lines in the office before even leaving from their initial consultation visit. This may cause some to choose to go ahead with surgery right away that may not have otherwise before taking the time to think over the seriousness of major surgery. This is especially true in the plastic surgery industry as many seeking cosmetic surgery consultations are already highly self-conscious about their appearance, which makes them more vulnerable to the option of a quick and easy loan.
If you are considering plastic surgery, be sure you choose a surgeon with at least five years of additional surgical training as well as several years of certified experience. You’ll also want to make sure your surgeon is a member of the ASPS. You need to be well informed about the procedure you are considering and the surgeon you are choosing as well as informed about the financing options that will most likely be presented to you.
Be sure you are aware of all conditions and terms of any plastic surgery loan you are considering before agreeing. You’ll need to be sure ahead of time that you can afford these types of high cost loans and must be prepared for the additional financial burden it may bring.
