Q: What is aesthetic patient financing?

How aesthetic patient financing works

A:Aesthetic patient financing is a monthly payment plan for elective cosmetic care, with CareCredit offering terms of 6 to 60 months in 2026.¹ In CareCredit's description, an in-house plan has the practice run terms and collections, while third-party financing has the patient apply for a dedicated credit line.² Many aesthetic services are elective and paid out of pocket, so patients often look for easy ways to manage costs, according to CareCredit.¹

Third-party terms vary by lender. CareCredit said in 2026 that approved cardholders can get special financing over 6, 12, 18, or 24 months on qualifying purchases of $200 or more. It also offers reduced-APR terms up to 60 months on purchases of $2,500 or more. CareCredit says these options help patients fit payments into their budget.¹ PatientFi, a lender to aesthetic practices, advertised approvals up to $60,000 in 2026, usable only at the approving practice.³

With third-party financing, the practice receives consistent payment and the collection risk moves to an outside finance company or bank, according to CareCredit.⁴ CareCredit says practices accepting its card are paid within two business days and pay no annual or monthly fees.¹ On our reading, a practice weighing an in-house plan should count the collections work it would keep. For more about what is known on this topic, see our patient financing evidence.