Ten Financing Options for Cosmetic Surgery

Most of life's costlier occasions have prescribed financing options: buy a home, get a mortgage; send a kid to college, save in a 529 plan or get student loans; need a new car, sign a lease or take out a car loan.

But what do you do if you want cosmetic surgery? In 2010, 13.1 million people underwent a cosmetic procedure in the U.S. -- a figure that is up 5% over 2009, and which cost patients a whopping $10.7 billion, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Break it down, and the figures are steep. ASPS reports that breast augmentation costs almost $4,000, nose jobs $4,300 and facelifts $6,231 (not including surgical facilities, anesthesia and other fees, which can add thousands more to the final bill).

And insurance doesn't typically pitch in to help. "Consumers should be aware that cosmetic surgery is not covered under insurance, so all of the expenses must be paid out of pocket," says Kevin Kautzmann, a New York City certified financial planner. Only in rare instances, such as reconstructive surgery after an illness or accident, will insurance cover the costs.

So what are your payment options?

Consider Kathy Riffey, an analyst at Baltimore medical insurance who recently lost 40 pounds. The resulting loose skin caused to seek a breast lift and implants, and had not saved $ 8,000 to pay for plastic surgery.

With the help of the finance office of his plastic surgeon, she chose a medical credit cards on the market. With an interest rate of 0% introductory for six months, followed by a moderate rise in interest rates, Riffey opted for a 24-month plan, for which the bill is just $ 167 per month. "He had a lower interest rate credit card with better terms of payment options," she said. "And, as I pay it off, I can use the remaining credit for braces, which I plan to get."

If you are considering plastic surgery, here are some payment methods to explore:

  1. Health care or medical credit cards Medical credit cards are the latest wrinkle in borrowing for beauty, according to a July 16, 2011, article in the Wall Street Journal . Business is booming for the cards, which only cover medical expenses and are often offered as a financing option to cosmetic surgery patients.

Pros: Health care credit cards often come with attractive 0% promotions, and some can have reasonable interest rates and payment plans. Since they are limited to medical expenses, they can lend "a sense of control if you tend to overspend" on regular credit cards, says Billy DeFrance, an El Paso , Texas, certified financial planner.

Recovery Hernia Surgery and Pain After Exercising – What to Do ...

What is inguinal hernia ?

An inguinal hernia is a condition in which intra-abdominal fat or part of the small intestine, also called the small bowel, bulges through a weak area in the lower abdominal muscles. An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin-the area between the abdomen and thigh. This type of hernia is called inguinal because fat or part of the intestine slides through a weak area at the inguinal ring, the opening to the inguinal canal. An inguinal hernia appears as a bulge on one or both sides of the groin. An inguinal hernia can occur any time from infancy to adulthood and is much more common in males than females. Inguinal hernias tend to become larger with time.

What are the types and causes of inguinal hernia ?

The two types of inguinal hernia have different causes.

* Indirect inguinal hernia : – Indirect inguinal hernias are congenital hernias and are much more common in males than females because of the way males develop in the womb. In a male fetus, the spermatic cord and both testicles-starting from an intra-abdominal location-normally descend through the inguinal canal into the scrotum, the sac that holds the testicles. Sometimes the entrance of the inguinal canal at the inguinal ring does not close as it should just after birth, leaving a weakness in the abdominal wall. Fat or part of the small intestine slides through the weakness into the inguinal canal, causing a hernia. In females, an indirect inguinal hernia is caused by the female organs or the small intestine sliding into the groin through a weakness in the abdominal wall.

Indirect hernias are the most common type of inguinal hernia. Premature infants are especially at risk for indirect inguinal hernias because there is less time for the inguinal canal to close.

* Direct Inguinal Hernia : – Direct inguinal hernias are caused by connective tissue degeneration of the abdominal muscles, which causes weakening of the muscles during the adult years. Direct inguinal hernias occur only in males. The hernia involves fat or the small intestine sliding through the weak muscles into the groin. A direct hernia develops gradually because of continuous stress on the muscles. One or more of the following factors can cause pressure on the abdominal muscles and may worsen the hernia:

o sudden twists, pulls, or muscle strains o chronic coughing

Indirect and direct inguinal hernias usually slide back and forth spontaneously through the inguinal canal and can often be moved back into the abdomen with gentle massage.

Clinical Anesthesia

The American journal of surgery

Case-Based Anesthesia, Clinical Learning Guides

Anesthesia for Cardiac Surgery

Principles and Practice of Anesthesia for Thoracic Surgery