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Plastic Surgery Loans: How to Finance Cosmetic Procedures in 2026

Jackie Veling
Kim Lowe
Jackie Veling
+1
Written by 
Jackie Veling
Edited by 
Kim Lowe
Written by 
Jackie Veling
 and 
Last updated 02/13/2026

Loans are one way — but not the only way — to finance plastic surgery. Compare unsecured loans for cosmetic work or plastic surgery, as well as other options for financing your procedure.

 

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What is a plastic surgery loan?

A plastic surgery loan is a personal loan you use to pay for cosmetic procedures, including surgery. If approved, you'll receive a lump sum of money from a bank or online lender and repay the loan plus interest in fixed monthly installments, typically over two to seven years.

Most plastic surgery loans are unsecured loans, meaning you don’t need to put down collateral. Approval is usually based on your credit score, income and debts.

You can use plastic surgery loans for many types of procedures, including liposuction, breast augmentation or reduction, rhinoplasty or facelifts.

Best for overall plastic surgery loan

2026 NerdWallet award winner

Est. APR

6.49 - 24.89%

Loan amount

$5K - $100K

Min. credit score

660

Loan term

2 to 7 years

Get My Rate✅ No impact to your credit score

Best for co-borrowers

2026 NerdWallet award winner

Est. APR

6.53 - 35.99%

Loan amount

$1K - $60K

Min. credit score

600

Loan term

2 to 7 years

Get My Rate✅ No impact to your credit score

Best for large loan amounts

2026 NerdWallet award winner

Est. APR

8.74 - 35.49%

Loan amount

$5K - $100K

Min. credit score

None

Loan term

2 to 7 years

Get My Rate✅ No impact to your credit score

Best for fair to good credit

2026 NerdWallet award winner

Est. APR

6.70 - 35.99%

Loan amount

$1K - $75K

Min. credit score

None

Loan term

3 to 5 years

Get My Rate✅ No impact to your credit score

Best for fast funding

Est. APR

7.99 - 24.99%

Loan amount

$2.5K - $40K

Min. credit score

660

Loan term

3 to 7 years

How we chose the best personal loans

Our team of consumer lending experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate lenders and pick the best.

30+

Lenders reviewed

We review over 35 lenders, including major banks, top credit unions, leading digital platforms, and high interest installment lenders operating across multiple states.

25+

Categories assessed

Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories and 27 subcategories, covering affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.

60+

Data points analyzed

Our team tracks and reassesses hundreds of data points annually, including APR ranges, fees, credit requirements, and borrower tools, ensuring up to date, accurate comparisons.

Star rating categories

We evaluate more categories than competitors and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.

NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 30 financial technology companies and financial institutions. We collect over 60 data points and cross-check company websites, earnings reports and other public documents to confirm product details. We may also go through a lender’s pre-qualification flow and follow up with company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.

Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. Our ratings award fewer points to lenders with practices that may make a loan difficult to repay on time, such as charging high annual percentage rates (above 36%), underwriting that does not adequately assess consumers’ ability to repay and lack of credit-building help. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.

NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for personal loans and our editorial guidelines.

NerdWallet's picks for the best loans for plastic surgery

We considered multiple factors when choosing the best plastic surgery loans, including lender requirements, loan amounts and funding time. Our list features lenders that accept different credit bands, offer loan amounts that cover common procedures and fund loans quickly.

LightStream: Overall best plastic surgery loan

What to know about LightStream: LightStream’s starting annual percentage rates are lower than other lenders, but it requires a 660 credit score for personal loans. If you qualify, the low APR makes your cosmetic loan more affordable and easier to repay.

LightStream's smallest loan is $5,000, so if your procedure costs less and you need a smaller loan, keep reading.

LendingClub: Best for co-borrowers

What to know about LendingClub: LendingClub's loans start at $1,000, and it offers joint cosmetic loans that let you add a 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.

One drawback to LendingClub is it may charge an origination fee that adds to the cost of your loan.

🤓 Nerdy Tip

You’ll see that many lenders charge origination fees, which can be up to 10% of the loan amount and are typically taken from the loan proceeds. Say you get a $20,000 loan with a 5% origination fee. That 5% — or $1,000 — would be deducted from your loan and leave you with $19,000. And while you receive the lesser amount, you must still repay the higher amount.

SoFi: Best for large loan amounts

What to know about SoFi: SoFi also offers a wide range of amounts — from $5,000 to $100,000 — making it especially flexible for borrowers who may need a larger amount to cover their procedure. SoFi also offers joint loans.

SoFi says its origination fee is optional, but could be up to 7% of the loan amount.

Upstart: Best for borrowers with fair to good credit

What to know about Upstart: If you’re worried about qualifying for a loan, Upstart may be a good place to start. It considers applicants with thin credit histories or no credit score and uses alternative data (like education and work experience) to help you qualify.

Note that Upstart doesn't offer features other lenders have, like rate discounts or joint loan options. And its origination fee may be up to 12% — the highest among lenders we 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.

Discover's starting rate runs slightly higher than other lenders, plus there's no way to get a discounted rate.

How to compare cosmetic surgery loans

Personal loans for cosmetic or plastic surgery are available from online lenders, banks and credit unions. Each lender has different approval requirements and loan features. It's best to compare multiple loan offers and consider the following:

  • 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. 
  • 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. A longer repayment term gives you lower monthly payments, but you’ll pay more in interest overall.
  • Monthly payment: A loan's monthly payment – which is based on the APR, amount and 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.
  • 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. 
  • Loan features. Depending on the lender you choose, your loan may include special features like financial planning help, free credit monitoring and hardship programs.

» MORE: Best medical loans

Estimate your monthly payments

Use our calculator to see what your monthly payment might be based on the loan amount, APR and term. You can plug in different amounts to see how the monthly payment and total cost change.

Estimated monthly payment

$309.92

Total interest over 3 years

$1,156.95


Total loan payment

$11,156.95

Loan amount

$10,000

Interest rate

7.25%

Loan term (years)

3

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT — $10,000TOTAL INTEREST PAID — $1,156.95
90%
10%

How to get a plastic surgery loan

  1. Check your credit report. You can get a free credit report from NerdWallet or by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. Review your credit reports to verify that all information is accurate. Dispute any errors before you apply for a plastic surgery loan.
  2. Pre-qualify with multiple lenders. Pre-qualification will give you an idea of what rate and term you can expect on a cosmetic or plastic surgery loan without affecting your credit score. It’s usually best to choose the lender that quotes the lowest annual percentage 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 can be completed online. Once approved, the lender will typically deposit the funds in your bank account within a few days, though some lenders offer same-day funding. 

» MORE: How to get a personal loan in 7 steps

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

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. NerdWallet recommends saving up for most discretionary expenses, including non-essential cosmetic surgery.

Provider financing

Some providers offer in-house financing, while others partner with a third-party company. Many third-party companies offer temporary 0% interest, but read the agreement carefully. You could be charged retroactive interest if you don’t repay the full balance before the promo period ends.

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.

» MORE: What to know about the CareCredit card

0% credit card

Like a medical credit card, a 0% interest credit card requires that you repay the money you borrow before the promotional period expires to avoid high interest charges. However, unlike with CareCredit and some other medical credit cards, you’ll only be charged interest on the remaining amount if you don’t pay the full balance before the interest-free window ends. These cards typically require good to excellent credit (credit score in the mid-600s or higher) to qualify.

» MORE: Best options for paying off your medical debt

Frequently asked questions

Learn more about personal loans