You’ve been wanting to change your looks with a cosmetic procedure forever — say, a nose job or a tummy tuck — but you can’t afford to pay for it in full. That makes you wonder: Would it really be so bad to put it on a credit card and pay it off over time?
While the financial costs of such a decision often outweigh the benefits, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Assuming the procedure is medically advisable, start by evaluating your financial situation and options. And if you’re sure you want to borrow on plastic, do all you can to avoid the negative side effects of high interest rates and out-of-control balances.
Size up costs
Before deciding to take on debt, estimate how much your cosmetic procedure might cost.
“Cosmetic surgery is not covered by insurance,” says Dr. Alan Matarasso, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons who works as a plastic surgeon in New York City. “It’s what we call self-pay.
