Cosmetic Surgery 'Concierge' Connects Patients, Doctors

Nov. 14, 2005 — -- Rather than try to select a plastic surgeon on her own, New York City resident Barbara Zacco sought out "cosmetic surgery concierge" Wendy Lewis before having a facelift.

"She's my guidance through this process, she's the one I bond with," Zacco said.

As the demand for cosmetic surgery increases, people like Lewis are helping potential patients connect with doctors -- for a fee, of course.

Lewis not only serves as a referral service, she also does all the tedious pre-op research and helps with follow-up appointments. She says her international database of doctors numbers more than 22,000, and includes plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists.

"If they wanted to have something done in L.A., but live in London, I know how to find a doctor, how to make arrangements," Lewis said.

For example, Zacco lives in New York but wants to have the surgery performed in Florida where she can recover at a friend's house. But she doesn't know any physicians in West Palm Beach.

"It's nice to be able to have someone to bounce ideas off that is confidential -- not necessarily your best girlfriend and not someone who wants to know every detail of the whole cosmetic surgery history and experiences with it," Lewis said.

Lewis is not a physician, but has worked for plastic surgeons and regularly attends international medical conferences. She doesn't receive fees from doctors; instead she charges clients $350 for an hour's consultation, or a $1,000 for the full package.

Patients should use caution when hiring a cosmetic surgery consultant, said Dr. Bruce Cunningham, director of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Minnesota. He also is president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

"Just like everything else, you have to be concerned about conflict of interest and multiple agendas going on at the same time," said Cunningham, responding to reports that some consultants may really just be working for a handful of doctors. "There are no regulations that guide them. They really can do whatever they want."

And just like a patient needs to check the credentials of his or her surgeon, the patient also needs to check the credentials of the consultant, Cunningham recommended.

Zacco, meanwhile, says she feels that the money is well spent.

"Rather than go to an unknown doctor who may not be good for me, I insured myself by going to someone well qualified," she says.

WABC-TV in New York City contributed to this report.