Most of life’s costlier occasions have prescribed financing options: buy a home, get a mortgage; send a kid to college, save in a 529 plan or get student loans; need a new car, sign a lease or take out a car loan.

But what do you do if you want cosmetic surgery? In 2010, 13.1 million people underwent a cosmetic procedure in the U.S. — a figure that is up 5% over 2009, and which cost patients a whopping $10.7 billion, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Break it down, and the figures are steep. ASPS reports that breast augmentation costs almost $4,000, nose jobs $4,300 and facelifts $6,231 (not including surgical facilities, anesthesia and other fees, which can add thousands more to the final bill).

And insurance doesn’t typically pitch in to help. “Consumers should be aware that cosmetic surgery is not covered under insurance, so all of the expenses must be paid out of pocket,” says Kevin Kautzmann, a New York City certified financial planner. Only in rare instances, such as reconstructive surgery after an illness or accident, will insurance cover the costs.

So what are your payment options?

Consider Kathy Riffey, a Baltimore medical insurance analyst who recently lost 40 pounds. The resulting saggy skin caused her to seek a breast lift and implants, and she did not have $8,000 saved to pay for the plastic surgery procedures.

With the aid of her plastic surgeon’s finance office, she chose one of the medical credit cards on the market. With an introductory 0% interest rate for six months, followed by a moderate rate hike, Riffey opted for a 24-month plan, for which the bill is just $167 per month. “It was a lower interest rate than a credit card with better payment plan options,” she says. “And, as I pay it off, I can use the remaining credit for braces, which I plan to get.”

If you are considering plastic surgery, here are some payment methods to explore

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