PatientFi vs. CareCredit: Plastic Surgery Financing Compared

Quick Comparison: PatientFi Vs. CareCredit

How PatientFi Works

PatientFi provides installment-based financing designed specifically for higher-cost elective procedures, including plastic surgery.

Patients apply in just a few clicks, and, if approved, receive a set spending amount they can use at your practice. Instead of a revolving credit card, they receive a clear monthly payment plan tied to their procedure.

Key features:

• Approval amounts up to $50,000
• Zero-interest* promotional options available for nearly every approved patient
• Predictable, fixed monthly payment options with APRs as low as 6.99%
• Reusable spending power for future procedures

For plastic surgery practices, this makes it easier to:

• Present full-procedure monthly payments at consultation
• Reduce price-related drop-off
• Support higher-value surgical cases

How CareCredit Works

CareCredit is a revolving credit card. Patients are approved for a credit line that can be used across different services - from vets to salons to other providers. Many promotions advertise “no interest if paid in full” within a set time period, but:

• Interest accrues during the promotional period.
• One missed payment may trigger accrued interest to be added back in full.

• Future interest may then be calculated on the higher total - this is compounding interest.
  
  

For plastic surgery practices, this structure can:

• Make monthly payments less predictable for patients
• Create confusion around promotional deadlines
• Allow approved funds to be used outside the practice

Key Differences for Plastic Surgery

1. Installment Plans vs Credit Cards for Surgical Cases

PatientFi offers monthly installment plans tied directly to a surgical procedure.
CareCredit functions as a revolving credit card with a variable balance.

For plastic surgery practices, installment plans often:

• Feel more approachable to patients
• Make full-case pricing conversations easier
• Support higher-value procedures

2. Approval Amounts for Full Procedures

Plastic surgery procedures commonly range from $8,000 to $25,000 or more.

PatientFi:

• Approvals up to $50,000
• Designed for full surgical financing

CareCredit:

• Approvals up to $25,000
• Patients may receive lower spending amounts than expected

For surgical practices, approval amounts can directly impact whether a patient moves forward.

3. Simple Interest Structure vs Deferred-Interest Credit

PatientFi:

• No compound interest
• Simple interest only if the balance extends past the promo period

CareCredit:

• Deferred-interest promotions
• Retroactive interest if not paid in full on time
• Potential for compound interest on higher balances

For surgical patients financing larger procedures, this difference can significantly impact total repayment costs.

Which Is Better for Plastic Surgery Practices?

Both financing options can help patients afford surgery, but they serve different practice needs.

PatientFi is often a better fit for practices that want:

• Financing for full surgical procedures
• Higher approval amounts
• Clear monthly payment conversations at consult
• Lower merchant fees
• Marketing tools that make it easy to lead with monthly pricing
• 78%¹ booking to conversion rate - the highest in the industry

CareCredit may be a better fit for:

• Practices that prefer a traditional credit-card model
• Offices that already rely on revolving credit across multiple services
  Teams comfortable managing complex promotional credit deadlines with patients