Why so many women are getting into debt for surgery

With multiple cosmetic surgery firms offering procedures on credit, Closer investigates why more women are prioritising their appearance over money… BEFORE AFTER ❛ ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT CAN BE RISKY, NOTHING WILL PUT ME OFF HAVING WORK DONE ❜

Self- confessed surgery addict Sam Beer, 27, has spent an astonishing £16,000 on procedures, including a boob job, jaw reshaping and a bum lift. But the young mum doesn’t have savings to pay for treatments – instead, she relies on credit cards, which has left her £3,500 in debt.

More women than ever are obsessed with changing their looks. In fact, 52 per cent of UK women aged 18 to 34 admit that they would consider surgery, and 16 per cent say their physical appearance has left them feeling stressed.

OBSESSED

Sam, a trainee beauty therapist who lives in Kent with her partner Darren, 38, and their one-year-old son Albie, says, “I’m obsessed with cosmetic surgery. I now rely on credit cards to help pay for procedures, and although getting into debt worries me, having body confidence is more important to me than lots of money.”

Last year, a number of cosmetic surgery firms came under fire for encouraging people to get into debt. The companies ran adverts during shows such as Love Island and offered loans with a 9.9 per cent interest rate for surgery costing up to £10,000. One clinic even enticed potential clients by stating, “[A bad credit rating] is more common than you think. We might still be able to help you if you have a bad credit rating, so don’t let that discourage you from coming into a clinic.”

Financial expert and founder of Moneymagpie.com, Jasmine Birtles, says more women than ever are prioritising their looks over financial security.

Jasmine explains, “Recently, I spoke to a 22 year-old-girl who was already £2,500 in debt from a boob job. It’s shocking.

“So many young women are influenced by what they see on TV or social media and believe they need to look a certain way to be valued. But unless it is absolutely necessary, there is no need to go under the knife – let alone get into debt for it.”

Former President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Douglas Mcgeorge, agrees. He says, “Too often, the code of practice for cosmetic surgeons is ignored and companies encourage people to have procedures with discounted prices – which is completely irresponsible. These companies capitalise on vulnerable people.”

Sam knows just how easy it is to get surgery on credit. She says, “From the age of 14, I was obsessed with the ‘fake look’ and was desperate to have perfectly round boobs.

“So when I got a £20,000 payout from a car accident I was involved in at 17, I knew exactly what I was going to do with the

money. I booked in for my first boob job, which cost £4,000, going from a 32C to a 32G.”

FINANCIAL CONCERNS

The next year, Sam used her payout to get Botox and lip fillers – costing between £100 and £190. And in 2012, she decided to get another boob job.

She says, “By the time I was 20, my breasts had started to sag, so I went for an uplift and new implants in Turkey. It cost £3,000 and, as I’d spent all of my savings, I got a credit card to pay for it.”

Now, Sam has two credit cards to pay for her surgery.

She says, “I use them to pay for all my cosmetic treatments – including a Brazilian butt lift, which cost £3,000, and my £1,500 jaw reshaping procedure. I also use them for my fillers and Botox, which I get done every three months. I only earn £10 per hour in my job, so there’s no way I’d be able to afford it otherwise. And I don’t want to ask family for money.”

However, Sam admits that she has concerns about her financial situation.

She says, “Sometimes I struggle to get credit. When I was younger, I was reckless and didn’t always pay my credit card on time. People say that I should be saving for my son’s future rather than spending on surgery – but Albie never goes without.

“If it means that I have to cut back on nice food or nights out, then it’s definitely worth it. You can’t put a price on self- confidence.”

EMULATING CELEBS

And Sam says it’s so easy to get surgery on credit that she has no intention of stopping.

She explains, “Next year, I want a tummy tuck, another butt lift, lipo on my chin and fat removed from my cheeks. My mum and Darren say I don’t need any more surgery, but I love it. And although I know it can be risky, nothing will put me off having work done.”

She adds that she isn’t surprised so many young women are doing the same.

“We live in an age where people can get fillers as easily as a haircut,” she says. “All the celebs and Instagram stars do it, and people want to emulate them. As long as it’s easy to get surgery on credit, people will keep doing it. And why shouldn’t we?”