So, you’ve taken the plunge and decided to get cosmetic surgery.
What’s next?
Financing the procedure.
Whilst paying for a nose job can feel daunting, there are ways that you can get your finances in order and get one step closer to going under the knife and achieving the look you desire.
Wondering how to save up for a nose job? Here are some tips and tricks to help you budget and save for surgery.
How to save up for a nose job
1. Break your goal into manageable steps
The total cost of rhinoplasty can be a shock, but you can make it more manageable by breaking the price down into smaller goals over set timelines.
First, you need to set a savings deadline for reaching your goal. This will ultimately depend on how much you can afford to save each month and the total cost of a nose job. Go through your income and outgoings to work out how much you can afford to add to your cosmetic surgery saving pot each month. This will also tell you how long it will take before you can consider booking your consultation with a surgeon.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of rhinoplasty is $5,483. So, if you can save $500 a month, it will take you 11 months to reach the amount you need to book your procedure. You can even break it down further and set a weekly goal of $125. Be mindful that this price may not include other charges such as anaesthesia or operating facilities, so always check with your surgeon to get a final price.
2. Open a dedicated savings account
Setting up a separate account that’s purely for your nose job is an effective way to save.
Have a look at accounts that offer good interest rates to make saving for cosmetic surgery quicker. Use comparison websites to find the best savings account for you. Fixed term savings accounts will offer a higher interest rate but you won’t be able to access your money for a fixed period.
Calculate your income and expenses to find out exactly how much money you have to save and how long it will take you to achieve your goal.
Once you have done this, set up regular payments from your current account to your savings account based on what you can afford and any disposable income that you have. Now you know how long it will take for you to save for your nose job, mark the date in your calendar to give you something to look forward to and help motivate you to keep saving.
3. Change your sending habits
Consider what’s important to you. Would you rather splurge some cash on a shopping trip or improve your confidence and self-esteem by getting cosmetic surgery? You’ll have a lot of money saved in no time just by making simple lifestyle changes.
When it comes to spending money, stop impulse spending choose less expensive alternatives such as downloading one or two songs rather than a whole album. Avoid making impulse buys while saving as these can damage any efforts that you have made. Take time to research any potential purchases to give yourself time to consider whether you actually need an item or if the money could be used for your surgery fund instead.
Buy used items such as clothes and books instead of new ones where possible. Hold a garage or car boot sale for any unwanted items such as electronics to boost your savings fund pot.
Subscriptions are one of the biggest causes of unnecessary spending. Piles of unread magazines in your living room and beauty boxes are a waste of money. It’s time to cancel the subscription and use the money to save. There are cheaper, and sometimes free, alternatives to your favorite Netflix, Audible or gym memberships that you can take advantage of. Rent seasons of TV shows or movies from your local library or listen to podcasts instead of paying monthly for your audio. Instead of going to the gym, walk, run or take free online classes.
TrueBill is an app that reviews your purchase history and finds forgotten subscriptions to help you cancel them or renegotiate for a cheaper rate.
Maybe subscriptions aren’t your financial weakness, but candy or junk food is? Whether it’s food, alcohol, video games, eating out or shopping, we all have a way to deal with stress. But if you want to save money for a nose job, it’s time to kick your comfort habits and consider new, less expensive habits such as walking or reading.
4. Track your savings progress
Keeping track of your progress is important because it can be motivational and make you want to keep going. Once you reach your goal you may also be more inclined to save for something else. Many people find it fun and addictive to watch their savings grow.
Budgeting apps are a great, fun way to track your savings progress. Here are a few free ones to consider downloading.
Mint links all of your financial accounts, tracks and categorizes your transactions. If you go over your budget for a particular category you will get an alert. You can also be reminded by an alert for upcoming payments.
Zeta is designed for helping couples budget together. You can set personal or combined financial goals and even hide certain financial information from your partner if you prefer.
PocketGuard makes it easy to take control of your money, optimize your spending and grow your savings automatically. The atomisation function cleverly categorizes your expenses so you don’t have to. You can even export transactions into spreadsheets.
If apps aren’t your thing, free printables are another way to capture your saving progress and physically see how close you are to your goal on a piece of paper.
5. Take on a side hustle
In a rush to get your procedure done? The best way to boost your savings efforts is to earn more money. Here are a few options to consider.
Start a blog – if you’ve got a passion or experience that other people would be interested in reading about, writing a blog could be a lucrative way to earn some dollars. An established blog will make money through affiliate marketing.
Participate in online surveys – one of the quickest ways to earn money for a short term goal such as paying for a tattoo is by completing online surveys in exchange for cash. Swagbucks and Branded Surveys are some popular survey sites to try.
Review websites – sites such as UserTesting.com look for people to give feedback about websites and apps. Simply sign up to get started.
Pet sitting and dog walking – if you love animals, you can earn cash from looking after other people’s pets and get one step closer to walking into a tattoo parlour.
Wash cars – advertise a weekend car washing service in your neighbourhood using signs around your neighbourhood and on local Facebook groups. The average cost of a hand car wash service is around $5 to $20 per car, and the more you wash, the more you earn.
Become an Uber driver – if you’ve got a decent car, a clean driving record and a smartphone you can earn cash by driving. You also need to be over 21 years old and have at least three years of driving experience before you will get accepted. You can work as much or as little as you want to, making it the perfect side hustle for short term goals such as getting new ink.
Transcription: if you have good typing skills, are a good listener, have a strong grasp of language and excellent vocabulary skills, transcription is probably the most suitable online typing job for you. Transcribers listen to audio files and convert them into written documents. Many people like the variety that transcription jobs provide. One day you could be transcribing business meetings and the next you could be listening to a podcast or court hearing. It’s worth noting that transcription jobs typically pay per hour of audio that is completed rather than the number of hours that you’ve worked.
6. Try a spending ban
Take a break from shopping and save stacks of money to put towards your procedure by introducing a spending ban. The main rule of a successful shopping ban is not to spend any money on a list of items for a set amount of time such as a month or a year.
Start by deciding which items to add to your banned list. Items such as clothes, dining out and entertainment are good places to start. Don’t forget to unsubscribe to store emails to get rid of temptation.
7. Consider plastic surgery financing
Whilst the best way to pay for cosmetic procedures such as rhinoplasty is to save for it, this may not be an option for some people. The good news is that there are finance schemes available to help fund private cosmetic surgery. Here are a few options to consider.
Private hospital groups – some large private hospitals can provide patients with loans to cover the cost of a procedure. The repayments are spread over several years with monthly payments. These types of loans usually require a deposit and interest free period, but always check the terms and conditions before signing up for a loan.
Finance companies – there are companies that specialize in offering loans to people who want cosmetic surgery. These are usually short term loans that are paid back over one to three years. Check the reputation of the company that you’re considering borrowing money from before going ahead with the loan.
Personal loans – you can borrow money from banks or other lenders for cosmetic procedures such as a nose job or tummy tuck, but check the APR and terms and conditions before signing up for a loan.
Private cosmetic surgeons – surgeons that own large private practices will sometimes form partnerships with finance companies to offer their patients finance options. The benefit of this approach is that the surgeon has already done the research to find a trustworthy company that lends money to patients.
Use a medical credit card – it may be possible to pay for your surgery with a medical credit card, which usually offer promotional finance options. For example, smaller monthly payments at 0% APR or a reduced APR. Be mindful that some medical credit cards come with high APRs, so you may find yourself stuck paying deferred interest if you don’t stick to the original payment plan.
Regardless of the way you choose to finance your cosmetic surgery, always ask your surgeon for a fixed price quote so there are no nasty surprises when you get the final bill.
How to find the right cosmetic surgeon for you
Use the handy checklist below to help you find a safe cosmetic practitioner.
Be clear about what you want and why – what prompted your interest in cosmetic surgery? A cosmetic procedure is a huge decision, both mentally and financially so it’s important to consider other options that could address low self-esteem issues.
Get recommendations – one of the best ways to find a reputable surgeon is by recommendations from friends and family. You can also speak to your GP or find information from other medical bodies.
Check qualifications – always ask to see professional qualifications to make sure a qualified cosmetic surgeon operates in accredited surgical facilities and has had the required training to carry out the procedure.
Book a consultation – once you’re happy that your list of surgeons meet the criteria above, now is a good time to book a face-to-face appointment with them. Ask lots of questions during your appointment, including the ones below as a minimum.
• What happens before, during and after the procedure?
• Will the results of the procedure match your expectations?
• How many times has your surgeon performed this kind of operation in total? How many took place in the last 12 months?
• What are the possible risks, side effects and problems with nose surgery?
• What is the aftercare and recovery time for rhinoplasty?
• What happens if something goes wrong or if you’re not satisfied with the end result?
• How much will the surgery cost, including aftercare or any follow-up treatments?
• Is your rhinoplasty specialist insured to perform cosmetic surgery?
• Is your surgeon aware of any medical conditions you have or medications you’re taking?
A good surgeon will take the time to answer your questions without making you feel rushed. They also won’t try and sell you any additional procedures or skim over what the procedure involves. If you walk away from your consultation unsure or with further questions, it’s a good idea to look for another surgeon and start the process again.
Cosmetic surgery mistakes to avoid
Don’t fall for bargain deals – if you come across a plastic surgeon that is offering a procedure at a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Discounted prices could suggest that training has been cut or the technology they use is out of date, both of which will dramatically impact the end result of your surgery. The cost of your procedure should never be your primary decision factor.
Say no to cosmetic conveyor belts – it’s extremely important that you get to know your surgeon before the procedure, and that the surgeon takes the time to get to know you. You should never sign up for a procedure that will be performed by whichever surgeon is working that day. Cosmetic surgery is a huge commitment that should be planned carefully.
Don’t have unrealistic expectations – it may be your dream to have Kim Kardashian’s nose, but the reality is you won’t end up looking like your favourite celebrity. A good plastic surgeon may be able to achieve similar characteristics of a face that you desire, but ultimately the goal is to achieve natural-looking results that enhance your own face.
Funding your cosmetic procedure
Because a nose job is an elective procedure, it’s best to pay for it from savings rather than borrowing from a lender or credit card where you will end up paying more in interest.
For more ways to save money, visit our personal finance blog.
