In the UK, interest in cosmetic surgery is on the rise. This is a trend driven by a range of factors, most notably: body insecurity driven by social media, the influence of celebrities, and a growing sense that going under the knife is a normal, everyday thing to do.
Of course, Hollywood celebrities (for the most part) have the financial resources to invest in beautifying themselves. If you have a few hundred thousand gathering dust in the bank, then it’s easy to decide on a whim that you need to have a tummy tuck or a rhinoplasty. For the rest of us, a little more planning and saving is required.
So what’s the best way to budget for a procedure of this sort?
Save Some Money
While it might seem obvious, many of the budgeting strategies you might use to fund any other major purchase can also be applied to plastic surgery. Put as much money as you can afford to one side every month. Don’t order take-away when you can cook your own meal.
Get everything planned out in writing, so you understand exactly how much you need to save to reach the target in a given amount of time. This might be a year or more. This method has the advantage of giving you time to consider whether you really need or want surgery.
Borrow some Money
If you absolutely must go under the knife immediately, then you might look into a credit card to finance it. That way, you’ll get the benefits of the surgery while you’re saving for it. Of course, this is something that can easily backfire. You might even find specialised medical credit cards which are made specifically for procedures of this sort.
Whenever you’re spending money that isn’t yet yours, you’ll need to be responsible. Have a plan for paying the loan back, and leave a generous margin for error.
The NHS
If you’re getting the surgery for reasons related to a medical problem, rather than pure aesthetics, then you may be able to get it through the NHS. This might mean reconstructive procedures. For example, a woman’s breasts may be rebuilt following a mastectomy, or a cleft lip and palate may be addressed via surgery. The test for the NHS is whether your existing body is causing you psychological trauma, or otherwise degrading your quality of life. If it isn’t, then they aren’t going to pay for your procedure.
