LendingClub: Best for co-borrowers
Qualifications:
Key Facts:LendingClub personal loans are a solid option for good- and fair-credit borrowers looking to consolidate debt and build their credit.
Qualifications:- Minimum credit score: 600; average borrower score is above 700.
- Minimum income: None; lender requires proof of income. Borrower average is $100,000 per year.
- Maximum DTI: 40%.
- Minimum credit history: 36 months and two accounts.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 6 yearsFees:- Origination fee: 0%-8%
- Late fee: 5% of payment or $15 after 15-day grace period.
- Insufficient funds: $15.
Upstart: Best for thin credit profiles
Qualifications:
Key Facts:Upstart personal loans offer fast funding and may be an option for borrowers with low credit scores or thin credit histories. Upstart is a solid choice for financing large purchases.
Qualifications:- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living in the U.S.
- Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
- Must have a valid email address and Social Security number.
- Must have a full- or part-time job, a full-time job offer starting within six months or another source of regular income.
- Must have a personal bank account at a U.S. financial institution with a routing number.
- No bankruptcies in the last 12 months.
- No current delinquent accounts on your credit reports.
- Fewer than six hard inquiries on your credit report in the last six months, excluding student, auto and mortgage loans.
- Minimum credit score: None.
- Minimum annual income: $12,000.
Available Term Lengths:3 to 5 yearsFees:- Origination: 0% to 12%.
- Late fee: 5% of the unpaid amount or $15, whichever is greater.
- Insufficient funds fee: $15.
LightStream: Best for low rates
Qualifications:
Key Facts:LightStream is a solid option for good-credit borrowers, with no fees and a promise to beat competitors’ rates.
Qualifications:- Minimum credit score: 660, but can vary depending on the loan purpose and amount.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50%.
- Minimum credit history: 3 years.
- Income sources accepted: Employment, retirement, rental income, alimony, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old and has a U.S. bank account.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 7 yearsFees:- Origination fee: None.
- Late fee: None.
Upgrade: Best for bad credit
Qualifications:
Key Facts:Upgrade personal loans come with multiple rate discounts and offer direct payment to creditors. This lender has a low minimum credit score requirement, making the perks stand out even more.
Qualifications:- Minimum credit score: 580.
- Minimum number of accounts on credit history: One account.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 75%, including mortgage payments.
- Minimum length of credit history: Two years.
- Minimum income requirement: None. Lender accepts income from alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security, disability benefits and other sources.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 7 yearsFees:- Origination fee: 1.85% to 9.99%.
- Late Fee: $10.
- Failed payment fee: $10.
SoFi Personal Loan: Best for large loan amounts
Qualifications:
Key Facts:SoFi offers online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.
Qualifications:- Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent or non-permanent resident, including DACA recipients and asylum seekers.
- Must be employed, have sufficient income from another source, or have an offer of employment to start within the next 90 days.
- Acceptable income sources: Employment, spouse’s income, retirement, alimony, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 7 yearsFees:- Origination fee: 0% to 7%.
- Late fee: None.
Prosper: Best for mobile app experience
Qualifications:
Key Facts:Prosper accepts borrowers across the credit spectrum and offers competitive rates and fees, plus instant approval.
Qualifications:- Minimum credit score: 660; borrower average is 709.
- Minimum income: $15,000; borrower average is $137,000.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50% (excluding mortgage); borrower average is 41.05% (including mortgage).
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must provide Social Security number and a U.S. bank account.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 5 yearsFees:- Origination fee: 1% to 9.99%.
- Late fee: The greater of $15 or 5% of the unpaid amount.
- Insufficient funds fee: $15.
- Mailed-in payment fee: $5.
LendingClub: Best for co-borrowers
Qualifications:
Key Facts:LendingClub personal loans are a solid option for good- and fair-credit borrowers looking to consolidate debt and build their credit.
Qualifications:- Minimum credit score: 600; average borrower score is above 700.
- Minimum income: None; lender requires proof of income. Borrower average is $100,000 per year.
- Maximum DTI: 40%.
- Minimum credit history: 36 months and two accounts.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 6 yearsFees:- Origination fee: 0%-8%
- Late fee: 5% of payment or $15 after 15-day grace period.
- Insufficient funds: $15.
Upstart: Best for thin credit profiles
Qualifications:
Key Facts:Upstart personal loans offer fast funding and may be an option for borrowers with low credit scores or thin credit histories. Upstart is a solid choice for financing large purchases.
Qualifications:- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living in the U.S.
- Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
- Must have a valid email address and Social Security number.
- Must have a full- or part-time job, a full-time job offer starting within six months or another source of regular income.
- Must have a personal bank account at a U.S. financial institution with a routing number.
- No bankruptcies in the last 12 months.
- No current delinquent accounts on your credit reports.
- Fewer than six hard inquiries on your credit report in the last six months, excluding student, auto and mortgage loans.
- Minimum credit score: None.
- Minimum annual income: $12,000.
Available Term Lengths:3 to 5 yearsFees:- Origination: 0% to 12%.
- Late fee: 5% of the unpaid amount or $15, whichever is greater.
- Insufficient funds fee: $15.
LightStream: Best for low rates
Qualifications:
Key Facts:LightStream is a solid option for good-credit borrowers, with no fees and a promise to beat competitors’ rates.
Qualifications:- Minimum credit score: 660, but can vary depending on the loan purpose and amount.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50%.
- Minimum credit history: 3 years.
- Income sources accepted: Employment, retirement, rental income, alimony, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old and has a U.S. bank account.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 7 yearsFees:- Origination fee: None.
- Late fee: None.
Upgrade: Best for bad credit
Qualifications:
Key Facts:Upgrade personal loans come with multiple rate discounts and offer direct payment to creditors. This lender has a low minimum credit score requirement, making the perks stand out even more.
Qualifications:- Minimum credit score: 580.
- Minimum number of accounts on credit history: One account.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 75%, including mortgage payments.
- Minimum length of credit history: Two years.
- Minimum income requirement: None. Lender accepts income from alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security, disability benefits and other sources.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 7 yearsFees:- Origination fee: 1.85% to 9.99%.
- Late Fee: $10.
- Failed payment fee: $10.
SoFi Personal Loan: Best for large loan amounts
Qualifications:
Key Facts:SoFi offers online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.
Qualifications:- Must be at least 18 years old in most states.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent or non-permanent resident, including DACA recipients and asylum seekers.
- Must be employed, have sufficient income from another source, or have an offer of employment to start within the next 90 days.
- Acceptable income sources: Employment, spouse’s income, retirement, alimony, child support, Social Security payments and disability benefits.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 7 yearsFees:- Origination fee: 0% to 7%.
- Late fee: None.
Prosper: Best for mobile app experience
Qualifications:
Key Facts:Prosper accepts borrowers across the credit spectrum and offers competitive rates and fees, plus instant approval.
Qualifications:- Minimum credit score: 660; borrower average is 709.
- Minimum income: $15,000; borrower average is $137,000.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 50% (excluding mortgage); borrower average is 41.05% (including mortgage).
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must provide Social Security number and a U.S. bank account.
Available Term Lengths:2 to 5 yearsFees:- Origination fee: 1% to 9.99%.
- Late fee: The greater of $15 or 5% of the unpaid amount.
- Insufficient funds fee: $15.
- Mailed-in payment fee: $5.
Best loans for plastic surgery
LightStream: Best for low rates
What to know about LightStream: LightStream’s annual percentage rates tend to be lower than other lenders, especially if you have good to excellent credit (690 credit score or higher). This makes your cosmetic loan more affordable and easier to repay.
- No fees.
- Rate discount for autopay.
- Long repayment terms and large loan amounts.
- Fast funding.
- Rate Beat program and Experience Guarantee.
- No option to pre-qualify.
- No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- High minimum loan amount.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s LightStream review
SoFi: Best for large loan amounts
What to know about SoFi: SoFi loans come in a wide range of amounts – from $5,000 to $100,000 – making them especially flexible for borrowers who may need a larger amount to cover their procedure.
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Fast funding.
- Large loan amounts.
- Joint loan option.
- Mobile app to manage loan.
- High minimum loan amount.
- No secured loan option.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s SoFi review
Upstart: Best for thin credit profiles
What to know about Upstart: If you’re worried about qualifying for a plastic surgery loan, Upstart may be a good place to start. It considers applicants with thin credit histories or no credit score at all and uses alternative data (like education and work experience) to help qualify you.
- Accepts borrowers with bad credit or thin credit histories.
- Has a low income requirement.
- Fast approval and funding.
- Allows secured loans.
- Option to change your payment date.
- Origination fee.
- No rate discounts.
- No joint or co-signed loans.
- No direct payment to creditors on debt-consolidation loans.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s Upstart review
LendingClub: Best for co-borrowers
What to know about LendingClub: LendingClub offers joint cosmetic loans, which means you can add an additional borrower to your application. If this person has a higher credit score or income than you, it can help you get approved for the loan.
- Joint loan option.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Option to change your payment date.
- Origination fee.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s LendingClub review
Upgrade: Best for bad credit
What to know about Upgrade: Upgrade has a minimum credit score requirement of 580, so borrowers with fair to bad credit (669 score or lower) will likely have an easier time qualifying for a cosmetic loan, compared to other lenders.
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Secured and joint loans.
- Mobile app to manage loan payments.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Long repayment terms on home improvement loans.
- Origination fee.
- No option to choose initial payment date.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s Upgrade review
Discover: Best for fast funding
What to know about Discover: If you need quick access to loan funds, Discover can provide same-day decisions on applications, and it can deposit the money in your account as early as the next business day.
- No origination fee.
- Fast funding.
- Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
- Wide variety of repayment term options.
- Available nationwide.
- No rate discount.
- Late fee.
- No co-sign or joint loan option.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s Discover review
Prosper: Best for mobile app experience
What to know about Prosper: If you don’t have regular access to a computer or prefer a mobile app experience, Prosper lets you apply for a cosmetic loan, make payments on the loan and even keep tabs on your credit score from the Prosper mobile app.
- Instant approval.
- Joint loan option.
- Hardship program for borrowers in need.
- Mobile app to manage loan.
- No rate discount.
- Charges origination and late fees.
- No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s Prosper review
How to finance plastic surgery
1. Compare cosmetic loan options
Personal loans for cosmetic or plastic surgery are available from online lenders, banks and credit unions, and each type of lender has different approval requirements and loan features. It's best to compare multiple loan offers and consider the following:
Amounts and terms: Like other personal loans, plastic surgery loans are disbursed as a lump sum, typically $1,000 to $50,000. You’ll then repay the loan with interest over a set term, which can be two to seven years. You’ll want to make sure you choose a lender that offers the amount and term you’re looking for.
Borrower requirements: Another way to narrow down potential lenders is to look at their borrower requirements. Many lenders have a minimum credit score requirement, and some list a minimum income requirement. You’ll want to make sure you meet these requirements before applying.
APR: The annual percentage rate is a good way to do an apples-to-apples comparison when deciding between lenders, since it represents the entire cost of a loan, including any fees. APRs may range from 6% to 36%, and the loan with the lowest APR is typically the cheapest.
Monthly payment: A loan's monthly payment – which is based on the loan amount, APR and loan term – typically starts 30 days after receiving the loan funds. Look for a loan with payments that fit comfortably into your monthly budget. A personal loan calculator can help you determine a loan’s monthly payment.
Loan features. Depending on the lender you choose, your loan may include special features like financial planning help, free credit monitoring and hardship protection.
» MORE: Best medical loans
Nerdy Tip
Not sure a personal loan is the best fit for you? Read about other cosmetic financing options — including payments plans, medical credit cards and medical insurance — lower down.
2. Pre-qualify with multiple lenders
Once you have a few lenders in mind, it’s best to pre-qualify before you formally submit your application.
Pre-qualification, which is when you fill out a short online application with the lender and undergo a soft credit check, will give you an idea of what rate and term you can expect on a cosmetic or plastic surgery loan.
Pre-qualifying won’t hurt your credit score, and it can help you further narrow down your options, based on what rate you qualify for with each lender. It’s usually best to choose the lender that quotes the lowest rate.
You can check your rate with multiple lenders on NerdWallet to find the best offer.
3. Apply and get approved
Once you’ve pre-qualified and decided on a lender, it’s time to apply for the loan. Most applications today can be completed online and will typically ask for personal details like your Social Security number, as well as proof of identity and income. Many online lenders can approve you the same- or next-day you apply.
Once approved, the lender will typically deposit the funds in your bank account. Some lenders offer same-day funding. You’re then free to use the money for your cosmetic procedure, but make sure you have a plan to repay the loan. Payments are due monthly, and late payments can trigger fees and hurt your credit score.
Alternative ways to finance cosmetic or plastic surgery
Medical insurance
Some procedures you might think of as cosmetic may be covered, at least in part, by your insurance if they’re medically necessary. For example, your insurer may cover reconstructive surgery after an accident or breast reconstruction after a mastectomy due to cancer. Call your insurance company and confirm coverage before proceeding with any financing options.
Savings
Like most other discretionary expenses, NerdWallet recommends saving up for elective surgery. If you build up enough savings to fund the procedure yourself, you won’t incur any debt or pay interest, making it among your least expensive options.
Payment plans
Your doctor’s office may allow you to set up a scheduled repayment plan that works with your budget and, in some cases, doesn't include interest. It’s best to call the office first and discuss all payment options before proceeding with an elective procedure.
Medical credit card
Medical credit cards offered through some medical providers can be a no-interest option for funding a procedure if you pay it back on time.
CareCredit is a popular financing option that you can use to pay for medical bills. If approved, you can get zero-interest promotional financing terms to pay for procedures that cost $200 or more. However, make sure to pay the full balance by the end of the term or you’ll be charged interest retroactively on the entire amount.
0% credit card
Like a medical credit card, a 0% interest credit card requires that you pay the loan back before the promotional period expires to avoid high interest charges. These cards typically require good to excellent credit (scores above 689) to qualify.
Last updated on April 10, 2025
How we chose the best personal loans
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Overall score
NerdWallet's Best Plastic Surgery Loans in 2025
- LendingClub: Best for co-borrowers
- Upstart: Best for thin credit profiles
- LightStream: Best for low rates
- Upgrade: Best for bad credit
- SoFi Personal Loan: Best for large loan amounts
- Prosper: Best for mobile app experience
