Secrets of a Cosmetic Surgery Consultant

For months now I've been going to Wendy Lewis for the bottom line on all things cosmetic-surgery related. She knows the doctors, the treatments, what works, and what's baloney. I finally decided to explore the source and find out why she knows what she knows so well!

Lewis has been a highly successful aesthetics consultant since 1997. She was working for a Park Avenue plastic surgeon for 12 years when a client called needing help — big problem with a bad procedure. "This was a very high-profile West Coast woman with no time for down time." Lewis helped her solve the problem and the client suggested she parlay her expertise into a business.

What do you actually do? I help people solve the decision of what to have done and who to have it done with.

How did you start? I began doing panels with doctors from different disciplines. An ENT for a complicated nose job, plastic surgeon for breast implants, dermatologist for lasers and fillers. Because I could see where this was going — a multi-specialty world [kind of like cross-training]. Prior to this, these doctors didn't talk to each other.

How did you go international? The panels were very popular with the public; a journalist came to cover one for the London Evening Standard [newspaper]. It kind of exploded from there, the BBC called… because no one in the UK talked about this stuff before. It was the 'wicked lady' — cosmetic surgery just wasn't discussed.

How has that changed? Well, in 1997 it was all about surgical solutions, but around 2000 there was an explosion of new fillers and lasers, injectibles — all the noninvasive stuff. So it used to be 'I know what I want, I just want to know who to go to.' Now it's 'I'm so confused, I don't know what to do or where to start.'

What's the main age group that comes to you? In the beginning it was pretty much all women, 40 and up. Now it's roughly 20-25% men, 50% is 40 to 45 and older, and the rest younger women.

Most frequent request? 'I want the best person [for this], I don't care how much it costs or where he/she is.' They don't mean it, they just say it. And there's no such thing as one best person. It's a faulty way to go about the process. You want the best quality surgeon you can afford. And there is a convenience factor. Going to Timbuktu for a procedure isn't really practical, even if you do have pots of money.

So once they know the procedure and the doctor, they're on their own? It's more about building it into their life. A busy executive woman needs help figuring out how to get something done without having people know. That can also mean finding private nurses or the right hotel for recovery time. A lot of the men could do this on their own, they just don't have the time or the desire to deal with it.

What's the worst question? 'How old do you think I look?' Impossible to answer. [Sounds akin to the dreaded 'do you think I look fat?'!]

Most common request? Often women come in who have waited a while to do something — they want multiple things addressed and noninvasive solutions. But it would take so much filler and repeated injections, and still they'd see minimal improvement after a lot of money spent. Sometimes, with a lot of sagging, a facelift is the best solution.

Do they believe you? My job is to be straight with you — to tell you the truth. Friends will say, 'Oh, you don't need that.' But they might be competitive and not want you to look better. My clients appreciate my honesty.

What do men ask? They come in about one thing and then ask 'What else do I need done?' It's also impossible to answer. Because it's so subjective! [An example is Cindy Crawford's mole] Better to come with what your all concerns are and we can address what can be done about them.

What the best part about it? Well, the saddest part is when someone has had a procedure that's gone badly or that they've regretted. Which happens more and more. But the most rewarding thing is finding a way to correct it.

What's the hardest part? Trying to talk people out of something that's not right for them. Having them push you to recommend someone for something you know in your heart they should not do. The worst time was when all those makeover reality shows were big. People with body dysmorphia would come in. And now, with the economy, some doctors are turning patients down less than they used to. 

How do you keep up with all the changes in the field? I travel a lot. Go to conferences and seminars, read journals. The harder part is keeping up with all the doctors coming into the field. And I learn a lot from my clients about what's going on and what doctors are doing — not always good.

Where's the fun? Discovery! I like finding a new doctor who's doing something new and helping to put him/her on the map.

How do you do it? Mostly by phone and Skype now ($300/hour). But I see people in person too ($400), mainly New York and London, but other places are possible too.

What should someone do to prepare for a consultation? You don't have to come without makeup — unless we're just talking about skin. A list of all your questions helps you get the most out of the time. A picture of you when you were younger can be helpful. Other pictures aren't really helpful unless… sometimes it will tell me if you have a realistic idea of what's possible.

Any no-nos? People who say, 'I just want to ask one question.' No. It's never just one anyway.

Do you get paid from the doctors too? Absolutely not. Although a lot of consultants do.

Are you 'following your bliss'? I love doing it. I like the people, especially the diversity of clients, listening to their stories. People tell me things they would never tell their family. And complete confidentiality is a religion to me.