Best Financing Options for Breast Augmentation
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Summary:
Financing a breast augmentation procedure can be done with healthcare credit cards, healthcare loans, personal loans, installment payments, and full out-of-pocket payments. Certain types of breast augmentation and reconstructive surgery may be covered by insurance payments. However, these procedures usually have to be considered medically necessary rather than elective.
The right augmentation can make a world of difference to the right person. It can be a way to regain confidence, claim an identity, or even boost your career. Most people tend to think of breast augmentation surgery as superfluous, but that’s not always the case. And even if it is for vanity, it’s a personal decision and one that can greatly improve someone’s quality of life.
That being said, trying to fund plastic surgery is not easy. Breast implants can be pretty expensive, and so can a breast lift. So, what can you do? Let’s take a look at all of your options for financing a surgery.
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How can you finance breast augmentation surgery?
Whether you have a simple breast lift, breast implants, or even a breast reduction, you will have to consider the cost. Thankfully, there are several different financing options that you can choose from. Here are the most common ones.
Health insurance
Most plastic surgery will not be covered under your insurance plan, but certain procedures might. If patients can prove that a procedure isn’t just cosmetic but also medically important, then they may be able to get their insurance to pay for it.
Cosmetic procedures like breast implants can be considered reconstructive if they are done after a mastectomy, disfiguring car crash, or as a result of serious bodily injury. If you experience backaches, your doctor may be able to provide proof that a breast reduction is a medical need.
Pro Tip
Check with your doctor’s billing department about what can be billed under insurance. You might be surprised at what types of breast surgeries can be covered primarily through insurance.
Out of pocket
The traditional way to pay for breast augmentation surgery is to pay out-of-pocket for the entire procedure. Plastic surgeons prefer this for obvious reasons, which is why many upscale surgery groups will only accept payments upfront.
Pro Tip
If insurance can assist you with covering some of the costs, you might be able to afford the rest of the surgery out-of-pocket.
Healthcare line of credit
Healthcare is expensive, and this is true in all corners of the healthcare industry. Whether you want a tummy tuck or you’re fighting a major infection doesn’t matter. What matters is that most people do not have the savings to cover the cost alone.
As a result, there are companies that offer healthcare lending services. In many cases, this type of financing acts the same as most major credit cards: you apply, get approved, and then get a line of credit that you can use to pay for procedures. Some even give you a credit card to use at the doctor’s office.
This financing option often comes with a high interest rate compared to a credit card. Because these rates can be as high as 26%, this is often not a good choice unless you need to get a procedure immediately.
Pro Tip
If you have credit cards with high maximum limits, you can also use those. However, neither a regular credit card nor a health credit card is recommended due to the high interest rates that can eat into your budget.
Healthcare loan
Healthcare lending can also be done in the form of loans, and there are a couple of benefits to these loans compared to healthcare credit cards. The biggest one is that you can afford your treatments using fixed low monthly payments with lower interest rates.
Most loans under this umbrella will allow you to cover the cost of a larger procedure, even when cards like CareCredit won’t be able to cover you. Read our guide to the Best Personal Loans for Medical Expenses.
Pro Tip
If you’re planning a plastic surgery bundle procedure, such as breast augmentation surgery paired with liposuction, this may be the best way to finance it. However, you will need to plan ahead of time and find an office willing to accept this payment.
Personal loans
Certain types of breast augmentation surgery, such as a reduction that’s mostly covered by insurance, are not going to cost much. This means that you may be able to get the costs of surgery covered with a smaller personal loan.
Personal loans can have similar terms to healthcare lenders’ loans, but they may ask for collateral. If you aren’t sure whether you should opt for a healthcare loan or a traditional loan, you may want to check the rates for both to determine the best choice for your budget.
This is one of the more common options for people who want to finance a small procedure.
Pro Tip
If you want to get plastic surgery abroad, the surgery will be much cheaper, but you’ll have to pay for the travel. A personal loan can help you get the procedures you want and the travel expenses covered.
In-house payment plans
While this is not quite the same as a personal loan or a surgery loan, there are many cosmetic surgeons who have in-house payment plans. This form of financing happens after a consultation.
First, you find out how much the procedure will cost. The doctor will tell you that you can have them create a payment plan with anywhere from four to six payment installations. You pay the doctor’s office directly in monthly installments, often without any interest.
Which plastic surgery financing option is best for me?
This honestly depends on whether your cosmetic goals are affordable and what special financing options your doctor offers. This chart can help you improve your understanding of the different types of financing.
| Type | Pros | Cons |
| Out of pocket | Universally accepted, no debt involved, no third party | Unavailable or extremely expensive for most people, and you have to save up |
| Health insurance coverage | You get most of your surgery covered | Not available for fully cosmetic procedures, most insurance companies will give you a hard time |
| Healthcare credit card | Flexible, a low monthly payment, easy approval, easy access for people with low credit | High interest rates, may not offer a large amount of money to cover costs, may have prepayment fees |
| Healthcare loans | Affordable monthly payments, fast approval, lower interest rate | May require a higher credit score, and you may need to apply early |
| Personal loans | Affordable monthly payments, lower interest rates | May require a higher credit score, difficult to obtain for people in debt |
| In-house installment plans | Affordable monthly installments, paid directly to doctor, no credit check, no interest | Not always available |
Are you looking to get a breast augmentation surgery in the near future? It may be wise to start reading up on financing plastic surgery before you go in for your consultation. SuperMoney can be the ally that you need while you navigate the financial side of cosmetic surgery procedures. Take a look at our guide to cosmetic surgery loans and what you need to know.
FAQs
What credit score do you need to finance a breast augmentation?
This can vary depending on the type of financing you want to get. A traditional loan or line of credit will often require at least a score of 650 to obtain. Some bad credit loans and options also exist, so don’t be afraid to ask for more options if you need them.
How can I get a loan to pay for plastic surgery?
Most of the time, you can apply for a loan or credit line online prior to the consultation. If you are already ready to go forward with the surgery after the consultation, the receptionist can help you apply from your phone.
What does augmentation of the breast mean?
Augmentation of the breast is usually a way of saying that you’ll get breast implants. However, it can also mean implants done alongside a lift. The basic idea is that augmentation will help you reach the cosmetic goals you have.
Does insurance cover cosmetic procedures?
Most health insurance will not cover cosmetic procedures. The only time that you will be able to have your procedure covered is if a doctor can prove that it has a major impact on your health. Reconstructive surgery after cancer, removal of moles for preventative care, and procedures like rhinoplasty to improve breathing could be covered.
Key Takeaways
- Your financing options for breast augmentation surgery will vary based on the location where you’re getting your procedure done.
- Health insurance often doesn’t cover elective procedures, but may cover reconstructive surgery or medically necessary breast reductions.
- The most reliable ways to fund your procedure are through cash (potentially through installment payments), credit cards, and personal loans.
- Be wary of medical credit cards or lines of credit with high interest rates.
- Many healthcare financing companies exist to help you fund cosmetic procedures with affordable monthly payments.
- When choosing your funding, make sure to consider other aspects of your surgery, such as travel to another country.
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