Dr. Maria Santos
Plastic Surgeon, MD, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Most patients use a combination of savings and financing. Here are the common approaches: 1) Medical financing—CareCredit and Prosper Healthcare Lending offer plans with 0% APR for 12-24 months if paid in full. Alphaeon Credit is another option. These are the most popular choice. 2) Dedicated savings—many patients save specifically for their procedure over 6-12 months. 3) HSA/FSA funds—certain procedures with medical necessity (septoplasty, breast reduction for back pain, eyelid surgery for vision) may qualify. 4) Payment plans—some practices offer in-house financing. 5) Personal loans—credit unions often have favorable rates for personal loans. Things to avoid: putting it on high-interest credit cards, borrowing more than you can comfortably repay, or choosing a cheaper surgeon to save money (this can cost more in the long run if revisions are needed). Many practices also offer seasonal promotions or package pricing when combining procedures.