Plastic Surgery Finance: Is It A Beneficial?

By Author: Anna Bet Bester
Total Articles: 3764
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Would you take out a cosmetic surgery loan to finance liposuction or a breast augmentation procedure? Most people will procure a loan to finance a vehicle or a house without batting an eyelid, but when it comes to elective enhancement surgery many still balk at the idea of medical loans

One would think that with procedures like Botox injections and chemical peels becoming more and more commonplace, cosmetic surgery finance would be the subsequent logical step. It seems though, that the stigma of indulgence inherent to this branch of surgery is still very much alive and kicking. A favourite argument against the idea of plastic surgery finance is that cosmetic surgery is a financial commitment that should be saved up ahead of time - something akin to a vacation or expensive footwear.

This argument loses it validity, however, when one considers reconstructive procedures such as cleft lip and palate repair. Otoplasty (ear pinning) and the correction of related physical defects in young children and teenagers provide further validation in the argument for plastic surgery finance. These procedures are considered purely ...
... cosmetic by most medical aid schemes and not covered at all - leaving many parents with the choice between a sizeable financial burden and option of ridding their child of a physical characteristic that may adversely affect the development of his or her self-esteem.

Reconstructive breast surgery is another ‘elective' surgery type that regularly causes concern. This procedure, performed in order to ease the trauma associated with a mastectomy, is generally only covered in part by most medical aid organisations. Surgeon's fees, hospital costs and post-surgery medication all come into play and patients without support are faced with very large expense on top of already costly cancer treatments. For most, breast augmentation financing would offer momentary relief from the financial aspects of illness, giving them a space in which to regroup and heal.

There is of course, the flipside. Not everyone is an appropriate candidate for plastic surgery, despite physical indications which are ideal for any given procedure. A person in crisis, such as one overcoming a divorce or the loss of a loved one, may associate a change in appearance with a solution to their situation. More often than not, this is not the case. Candidates with mental disorders such as BDD and those who harbor unrealistic expectations are also not suitable. As a group, these are people who might take advantage of plastic surgery finance to their own detriment.

Fortunately, many plastic surgeons now work in conjunction with mental health professionals to determine which patients are eligible for procedures and this drastically decreases the chance of an unsuitable candidate making it through the initial screening process without being referred to a psychologist for counselling.

There is also the issue of post-operative depression. Usually the result of an unsatisfactory ‘interval image', this emotional let-down may also be caused by stress, exhaustion and metabolic changes. Add to this the pressure of having to repay the debt of plastic surgery finance and it is evident how this might be a recipe for disaster.

It would seem that plastic surgery finance is something to be considered very carefully. Like any other tool, if used correctly it has a myriad of benefits, but employed carelessly it could bring about a whole heap of troubles. Those interested in having plastic surgery in South Africa have various options available to them and would do well to explore them with care.