Save or Splurge: Would You Spend Your Tax Refund on Plastic Surgery?

The deadline for filing 2015 tax returns is here, and for some people that means the anticipation of a refund check from Uncle Sam. According to the National Retail Federation, nearly two-thirds of participants in the group’s annual Tax Returns Survey are expecting a refund, with about half of those people planning to stash the cash for a rainy day. But nearly 1 in 10 Americans plans to make a splurge purchase, such as dining out, updating their wardrobe, or paying a visit to a spa or plastic surgery center. According to a recent RealSelf.com survey, 29% of their community plans to spend at least part of their refund on a cosmetic procedure.

Whether you’re among those saving your refund money for later (perhaps to cover a larger cosmetic surgery) or are planning to splurge a little on pampering for yourself, I have a few tips to help ensure you’re getting the most from your hard-earned money.

• Combine procedures. When you have more than 1 cosmetic procedure performed in one operation, you can save on costs related to anesthesia as well as reduce the time you might need to take off work to recover from 2 separate surgeries. For example, many women combine a breast lift with breast augmentation. At my Naples/Fort Myers, FL practice, I often combine breast augmentation with tummy tuck in a Mommy Makeover.

• Find a surgeon you can trust. A truly qualified and trustworthy plastic surgeon will only suggest treatments or surgeries that are necessary to achieve your cosmetic goals. Often, that means a surgeon will recommend a non-surgical treatment over surgery, such as CoolSculpting® over liposuction or a laser treatment instead of a facelift. You should never feel pressured to spend more than you need to.

• Know your payment options. This is one of the most important steps in the plastic surgery process. You should go into your first appointment with some knowledge of your payment or financing options, such as how much the consultation will cost, whether you’ll be expected to make a deposit, and what kind of financing is available to you. This information should be readily available on the surgeon’s website.

Although it may sound frivolous to some, my patients often tell me their decision to have plastic surgery wasn’t a splurge at all, but one of the best investments they’ve ever made. If you’re considering a cosmetic procedure and would like to chat in person, you can get started right now by requesting a consultation online.