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.
Checking rates is free and won't impact your credit score.
Best for overall plastic surgery loan
2025 NerdWallet award winner
6.49 - 24.89%
$5K - $100K
660
2 to 7 years
LightStream is a solid option for good- and excellent-credit borrowers, with no fees and a promise to beat competitors’ rates.
Read our review of LightStreamLightStream is a solid option for good- and excellent-credit borrowers, with no fees and a promise to beat competitors’ rates.
Read our review of LightStreamBest for large loan amounts
2025 NerdWallet award winner
8.74 - 35.49%
$5K - $100K
None
2 to 7 years
SoFi offers large online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.
Read our review of SoFi Personal LoanSoFi offers large online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.
Read our review of SoFi Personal LoanBest for fair to good credit
6.70 - 35.99%
$1K - $75K
None
3 to 5 years
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 financing choice for large purchases.
Read our review of UpstartUpstart personal loans offer fast funding and may be an option for borrowers with low credit scores or thin credit histories. Upstart is a solid financing choice for large purchases.
Read our review of UpstartBest for co-borrowers
2025 NerdWallet award winner
7.90 - 35.99%
$1K - $60K
600
2 to 7 years
A LendingClub personal loan is a standout option for qualified borrowers who want to pay off debt with flexible terms.
Read our review of LendingClubA LendingClub personal loan is a standout option for qualified borrowers who want to pay off debt with flexible terms.
Read our review of LendingClubBest for fast funding
2025 NerdWallet award winner
7.99 - 24.99%
$2.5K - $40K
660
3 to 7 years
With competitive rates and no origination fees, Discover personal loans are good options for borrowers with good and excellent credit.
Read our review of Discover® Personal LoansWith competitive rates and no origination fees, Discover personal loans are good options for borrowers with good and excellent credit.
Read our review of Discover® Personal LoansOur 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.
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.
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.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s LightStream review
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.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s SoFi review
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 and uses alternative data (like education and work experience) to help qualify you.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s Upstart review
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.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s LendingClub review
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.
» MORE: NerdWallet’s Discover review
A plastic surgery loan is a personal loan that you use to pay for cosmetic procedures, including surgery. You repay the loan 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:
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:
» MORE: Best medical loans
» MORE: How to get a personal loan in 7 steps
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.
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.
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 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
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.
Most lenders consider your credit score, income and debts in determining whether to approve you for a plastic surgery loan. It can be hard to qualify for the best rates if you don’t have good or excellent credit, though you may qualify for a loan through a lender that has flexible credit requirements.
Yes, you can pay for plastic surgery in installments with a personal loan or medical payment plan. Personal loan terms are typically monthly payments for two to seven years.
Some lenders require good or excellent credit (a credit score in the mid-600s or higher), while others accept applicants with fair or bad credit (credit score in the low-600s or lower) or a thin credit file. Research lenders’ requirements before you apply.
