With the breakthroughs cosmetic and dermatologic medical professionals have achieved with various procedures and products, the only roadblock that may stand in the way between you and the look you desire is the price tag. Urban shock-jock Wendy Williams, a proponent and recipient of cosmetic procedures, often tells listeners considering getting work done to start setting aside money well in advance to pay for costly surgeries. While paying cash in one lump sum gets payment over and done with, this may not be possible for everyone, given the often-hefty price tags of various procedures and the fact that 30 percent of Americans do not have any kind of savings account, according to Bankrate.com. Fortunately, most medical professionals offer a variety of payment options that enable you to enhance your look without breaking the bank.

The decision to undergo cosmetic procedures is generally emotionally driven, with people thinking ahead to the end results and how they will feel. But when one researches the costs, the pragmatic side of the personality may kick in. Consider the following costs for common procedures (for one-time treatments based on 2005 national average stats), as reported by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS):

Laser hair removal: $347;
Botox: $382;
Laser treatment of spider veins: $407;
Hyaluronic acid treatments, like Restylane and Hylaform: $527;
Chemical peels: $848;
Dermabrasion: $1,376;
Breast augmentation: $3,583 for saline, $4,005 for silicone;
Nose job: $4,188
Hair transplantation: $5,033;
Tummy tuck: $5,232;
Breast reduction: $5,550;
Facelift: $6,298

Add to this the fact that some procedures, especially those involving the skin and hair require multiple sessions for optimal results (ASAPS reports Botox treatments are commonly repeated every four to six months), and costs can easily add up.

Some people will lower their standards for the professionals administering cosmetic surgeries and treatments to save on costs, but DocShop.com, a referral Web site, warns against doing this. "Making sure you get the results you desire the first time around could mean lower cosmetic surgery costs in the long run," the site notes, not to mention the fact that going to a less-experienced professional could jeopardize your safety and health.

Fortunately, as DocShop explains, most practitioners administering cosmetic procedures accept a wide range of payment options, including cash, check, credit card, and financing plans. The latter option enables patients to pay for procedures in more manageable monthly installments. Some companies extend credit to as much as $25,000 and enable you to extend payments for as long as five years.Here is a list of cosmetic procedure financing companies and a sampling of the procedures they cover:

Capital One Healthcare Finance;

CareCredit: mesotherapy/cellulite treatments, laser hair removal, Botox, facial fillers, laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, sclerotherapy/laser treatment of veins, IPL or photo facial;

Credit Medical: tummy tucks, eye lid surgery, upper arm tucks, breast augmentation, buttocks lifts, chin augmentation, facial implants, forehead lifts, liposuction, male breast reductions, ear surgery, facelifts, nose surgery, thigh lifts, Botox, chemical peels, facial injections, dermabrasion, Endermologie cellulite treatment, laser resurfacing, laser hair removal, cosmetic dentistry;

HealthOne Financial: cosmetic surgery and dentistry and LASIK;

Health Ready: plastic and cosmetic surgery, LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) eye surgery, and dermatologic procedures;

Image Finance: breast augmentation/reduction, nose jobs, hair transplants/replacements, male enhancement surgery, liposuction, LASIK, dental cosmetic surgery, eye lid surgery;

MediCredit: cosmetic surgery; cosmetic dental procedures; skin rejuvenation; laser hair removal and restoration; LASIK, PRK and refractive surgery; and

SurgeryLoans.com: tummy tucks, breast enlargement, reduction and lifts; ear, eyelid and nose surgery; facelifts; facial implants; forehead lifts; laser skin resurfacing; and liposuction.

Many of these sites feature payment calculators that enable you to see what monthly payments and financing terms would best fit your budget.