Hello all. First post. I'm a grad student who was given a quote by Dr. Konior in Chicago of $10,000. All of the financing options I've tried have not panned out (capital one, care credit) due to my average credit rating and the current state of the market. I could definitely do a monthly payment plan around $200. Do you guys have any suggestions? I'd really like to get the procedure done this summer. Thanks in advance.

Just to clarify. It was $10,000 for 2,000 grafts. Also, the meeting I had with Dr. Konior was highly informative and he was very helpful.

aaron1234, other than trying another financing company such as Chase, your only alternative is to put it on a credit card if you don't have the cash.

I have been in contact with Dr. Alexander for my second procedure. He charges $4.00/graft and he uses Chase Health Advance which is interest free loan for 2 years.

I think the dr. in Vegas offers interest free financing as well (along with five green chips)....

J/k about the poker chips.

Pardon my ignorance on the matter. I would like to find a way to finance the procedure, and in the meantime help my credit standing. Wouldn't putting $10,000 on a credit card hurt my credit report even more? Also, the one credit card I have now only has a $500 credit limit. Wouldn't this limit prevent me from even making a $10K purchase? Sorry, I know this is more of a financial discussion rather than about hair transplantation. But all of your help is appreciated.

Putting $10k on your credit card wont hurt your credit, but not paying your monthly payment will. Besides putting 10k on a credit card w/ say 14% interest will end up costing you about $35k in 10 years when you are done paying it. Here's what to do! While 10k for 2k grafts isnt terrible it also isnt the cheapest you can get it. Like condoguy said Alexander is $4 a graft and IMO is top5 in the world. So thats 8k instead, Now if you wait say a year and are able to save $200 a month you are now looking at $5600. Financing that much at 24 months will only cost you about $250 a month assuming your credit is half way decent. So instead of paying $35k over 10yrs you wait a year save some money and pay about $8k instead.

aaron, if your credit limit is $500.00 than I don't see how you can finance your HT right now, unless you have 10k saved up.

Yeah, condoguy.. you are probably right. Thanks for the advice dakota. I probably need to get a co-signer if I want to get the transplant done this summer. And it would probably have to be my parents. And I don't want to tell them about this! I did get a $3,500 credit limit with carecredit.com, but I would need about a $7,000 limit to afford this procedure right now. Being a balding grad student ain't cool.

How old are you? If under 25 i would consider waiting. Dont rush into this. You'll have to live w/ this the rest of your life.

I'm 28.

carry on then! LOL.

Sweet! Now I just need some money. Male prostitution perhaps?!?

Aaron,

Welcome to our discussion forum.

I feel that it is highly important to plan for the long term both in terms of donor hair and finances which includes having a plan for both.

Financing (credit card, personal loan, or other) is certainly an option and will actually help build your credit as long as you pay your bills on time.

Be sure however, that you are planning for the possible need for subsequent procedures. A former baldy like me ended up going under surgery 3 times and I spent almost $30,000.

You may also want to work out a monthly saving plan, a special one, just for this/these procedure(s).

Best wishes,

Falc

Why dont you get a student loan from someone like Fannie Mae?

Most of those loans are an interest only monthly payment until you graduate college.

"Why dont you get a student loan from someone like Fannie Mae?"

Could I really do that? Even if I use the funds for something else other than tuition? I suppose if the money is simply deposited into my account I could spend it anyway I liked.

That's a great idea. My wife worked on her masters degree and got a federal stafford loan. You could use the money your spending on tuition to pay for the transplant.

She didn't have to start paying the loan back for 6 months after she finished her classes. That's a low interest, good deal. Go to the FAFSA website, or contact you school to get the proceducre.

quote:

Originally posted by aaron1234:
Yeah, condoguy.. you are probably right. Thanks for the advice dakota. I probably need to get a co-signer if I want to get the transplant done this summer. And it would probably have to be my parents. And I don't want to tell them about this! I did get a $3,500 credit limit with carecredit.com, but I would need about a $7,000 limit to afford this procedure right now. Being a balding grad student ain't cool.

If your dad is bald, I assure you he's feeling your pain and might offer you a "scholarship" to help with a transplant.

Both my wife's and my dad have mpb on our side so I'd be glad to help my sons avoid going through this in their 20's.

i can relate to you aaron. I'm 25 and using the last thats left of my educational fund to have my HT. I'm going to have to take out a student loan to finish my degree. I didn't want to have to use my educational fund for this, but there was no alternative. I tried all the healthcare financing with no luck. Like you, my credit limit is only 500. I had to explain to my parents what i was going to use the money for, they were very understanding and didn't object. My dad still has a pretty good head of hair, but both my moms brother and father is/was completely bald. She knew it was a very hard thing to deal with. I would say talk to your parents about it, I think they will understand.

Here's the deal. I'm a getting a full-ride to my school and if they discovered I'm taking out a student loan, they'd be suspecting something. Can I take out a student loan without contacting my school?

Also, my dad has a full head of hair so he wouldn't understand. And he is not fond of the whole vanity thing to begin with.

Thanks again everyone for the help. Needless to say I am not going to grad school for accounting and finances.

you can get a better deal, with good docs. Shop at $4 per graph, negotiate because 2k is alot. I paid less than $4 per graft and I got a very nice ht.