Most people who sit across the desk from me have been thinking about their procedure for a long time. Months, sometimes years. They’ve read about VASER, they’ve saved photos on their phone, and they’ve finally booked the consultation. Then we get to the price. And I can see the sums happening behind their eyes… the car insurance due in March, the holiday, the kids’ school bits.
That’s completely normal. A good cosmetic procedure is a real investment, and not many people have that sort of money sitting ready to go. So for a number of years now we’ve offered Humm finance options for cosmetic procedures here at Castleknock Cosmetic Clinic, and many of our patients have used it to spread the cost.
But the clinic is medical service providers, not a lender. So this page isn’t a sales pitch for credit. It’s the plain explanation we give patients in clinic: what Humm is, how it works with us, what it really costs, and when I’d tell you to think twice.
What is Humm finance?
Humm is a buy now, pay later lender. In Ireland it’s run by Flexifi Europe Limited, which is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. You might have seen it called “Humm by Flexifi” on older pages, including our own old finance page. It’s the same company; the Flexifi name just sits in the background now.
The thing patients most often misunderstand is who they’re actually dealing with. When you use Humm, you sign a credit agreement with Humm, not with us. We don’t lend you money, we don’t run a credit check, and we don’t have a say in whether you’re approved. Humm assesses every application and makes that decision itself.
To be honest, that separation is a good thing. Think about it this way. Our job is to tell you whether a procedure is right for you. Humm’s job is to decide whether the credit is right for you. Keep those two conversations apart and neither one leans on the other.
If you’d like a neutral overview of how this kind of credit works in general, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has a clear guide on how Buy Now Pay Later works. It’s worth five minutes of your time before you apply anywhere.
How Humm finance works for cosmetic procedures at our clinic
Here’s how it actually runs with us. It’s simpler than people expect.
Step 1: consultation and a written plan
Finance always comes after the medical decision, never before. You’ll see the doctor first. He’ll discuss what’s bothering you, examine you, and if he thinks a procedure will genuinely help, you’ll leave with a treatment plan and a price. Sometimes the honest answer is that you don’t need anything, or that a smaller procedure would do. He’d rather tell you that than sell you something.
Step 2: apply with Humm
Once you know the figure, you apply online through our Humm link. Humm will ask for your details, check your credit history and let you know if you’re approved. The decision is theirs alone.
Step 3: see your terms, then confirm
Before you sign, Humm shows you the terms for your plan: the repayment period, the interest rate, any fees and the total you’ll pay back. Read that screen properly. Not a quick scroll on the bus, a proper read. Then you confirm with us when you book.
Step 4: repayments
Humm collects the repayments directly over the finance term you chose. We’re out of the loop at that point, which most people prefer.
A few facts that apply at our clinic specifically. We accept Humm finance for amounts from €500 to €15,000. You can finance the whole cost of your procedure, so there’s no need to find a lump sum first. The interest rate and the length of the plan are set by Humm, not by us.
And the process is the same whatever you’re having done. Cosmetic surgery like VASER or a J-Plasty facelift, or a combined injectable plan, all go through the same four steps.
Who is eligible for Humm finance?
Humm sets its own criteria, and they can change, so always check Humm’s eligibility page before you apply. At the time of writing, you need to be at least 18, be an Irish citizen or permanent resident, and provide proof of your PPS number and address. You also need a current debit or credit card, photo ID, a good credit history and a minimum taxable income of €1,500 a month. Humm doesn’t count a spouse’s or partner’s income towards that figure.
If you’re declined, please don’t take it personally. Yes it can sting. But it isn’t a judgement on you or on your decision to have treatment. A lender saying no because the repayments look like a stretch is responsible lending doing its job. And honestly, if the repayments would be a stretch, that’s useful information for you too.
A practical tip from watching patients go through this. Have your documents ready before you sit down to apply: your PPS number, a recent bill or bank statement for proof of address, your photo ID and your card. Applications delay most often because someone is hunting for a utility bill halfway through.
The real cost of Humm finance: interest, fees and APR
This is the section we wish more clinics would write properly. A monthly figure on its own tells you very little. What matters is the total amount payable at the end.
What you pay on top of the treatment price
Humm publishes its range of charges. The interest rate is variable and runs from 0% to 14.99% a year, depending on the plan. Some plans carry an application fee of €10 to €50, paid on the day. Some also carry a monthly account keeping fee of €1 to €20, added to each repayment. If a repayment is more than 24 hours late, Humm charges a €9 dishonour fee, and unpaid fees then attract interest too.
A worked example
Here’s Humm’s own representative example, so you can see how those pieces add up. Borrowing €800 over 12 months at a variable interest rate of 4.99%, with a €15 application fee and a €2 monthly account fee, gives an APR of 14.90%. The total cost of credit is €60.77, so the total amount payable is €860.77.
The figures for your own plan will depend on the amount and the term, so check them on Humm’s rates, fees and representative example page or on your quote screen before you sign.
Warning: If you do not meet the repayments on your BNPL agreement your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit report, which may limit your ability to access credit, a hire-purchase agreement, a consumer-hire agreement or a BNPL agreement in the future.
Flexifi Europe Limited, trading as Humm, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Which treatments can you spread the cost of?
Most of the financing we see is for high-end surgical procedures, because that’s where the bigger numbers are.
VASER liposuction and body contouring
This is the one people finance most. VASER liposuction for the abdomen, the hourglass waist, flanks or thighs often sits in that middle range where saving up would mean waiting another year or two. Another summer in the same loose tops. Spreading it out means you can plan the procedure around your life instead of your bank balance. The same goes for touch-up work after surgery elsewhere, like mons pubis liposuction after a tummy tuck, or Renuvion skin tightening alongside VASER where the skin needs help.
Facial procedures
The J-Plasty facelift and the scarless mini facelift are the other two we see financed most often. They’re the kind of decision people take carefully, and being able to spread the cost lets them choose the right procedure rather than the cheapest one.
Cosmetic injections
Some people do finance injectable treatments, usually when they’re combining a few areas or doing a course. Because our minimum is €500, a single anti-wrinkle visit usually won’t qualify on its own. You can see typical figures on our cosmetic injection price list.
Is financing a cosmetic procedure right for you? A doctor’s view
We’re happy that we offer Humm. It’s helped a lot of people. But we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t share how we think about it.
Choose your doctor first and your payment method second. The most expensive cosmetic procedure is the one you have to get fixed. A good share of the people we treat come to us after surgery elsewhere, here in Ireland or abroad, and very often price was what decided it the first time. The revision ends up costing more than doing it properly would have.
Look at the total, not the monthly figure. You know that feeling when a monthly amount looks like nothing, about the price of a few takeaway coffees? Thirty-six of those still add up. Add them up, include the fees, and ask yourself whether you’d still choose this procedure at that total price. If the answer is yes, grand. If you hesitate, listen to that.
Budget for the full cost, because cosmetic treatment isn’t tax deductible. Revenue specifically lists cosmetic procedures, like rhinoplasty, breast augmentation and Botox, as excluded from health expenses relief, so don’t count on a MED1 claim. You can read Revenue’s list of qualifying health expenses yourself. Relief can apply where surgery treats a genuine medical problem, but that’s a conversation for your Revenue office, not an assumption to build a budget on.
And don’t let the availability of credit rush you. If you need a few weeks to think after your consultation, take them. The plan will still be there.
One more thing we say in clinic. Finance makes cosmetic surgery more affordable, but it doesn’t make it smaller. The recovery, the time off work and the aftercare are all still part of the deal, so plan for those too before you commit.
Frequently asked questions about Humm finance
Can I finance the full cost of my procedure with Humm?
Yes. At our clinic you can finance the whole cost of a procedure, for amounts from €500 to €15,000, subject to Humm approving your application.
Who approves my application, the clinic or Humm?
Humm. It assesses every application and makes the decision. We have no part in it and can’t influence the outcome.
Does applying for Humm affect my credit record?
Humm checks your credit history when you apply, and your agreement is a credit agreement like any other. Missed repayments can go on your credit record and make borrowing harder later.
Is Humm finance interest-free?
Some Humm plans are, but many aren’t. The rate depends on the plan Humm offers you, so check the APR and the total amount payable on your quote before you sign.
Can I use Humm for Botox or fillers?
Yes, as long as your treatment total is €500 or more. A single small treatment usually falls below that.
Can I pay my Humm plan off early?
Yes. Humm doesn’t charge a fee for repaying early, and you can also make one-off extra payments along the way. You’ll find the details in your Humm account.
Can I claim tax relief on a cosmetic procedure?
Usually not. Revenue excludes cosmetic procedures from health expenses relief, unless the procedure treats a medical condition.
Ready to talk it through?
Humm finance options for cosmetic procedures make treatment possible for a lot of people who’d otherwise wait years. Used well, with your eyes open on the total cost, it’s a sensible tool. Nothing more, nothing less.
The first step is the same either way: a proper consultation, so we both know what you need and what it costs. You can book with Dr Hazem Kahlout by calling (01) 827 8766 or email us requesting a call back. When you’re ready, you can apply with Humm using the button below.