How facilitators actually get paid
Most facilitators operate on a commission model, where the clinic pays them a percentage of the procedure cost for the referral. This isn't inherently a problem — it's how the industry mostly works — but it does mean a facilitator's recommendation isn't fully independent, since they're often incentivized toward clinics that pay the highest commission, not necessarily the best fit for you.
What good facilitators genuinely add
- Logistics coordination — transfers, scheduling, translation support
- Familiarity with multiple clinics, useful for comparison
- A single point of contact throughout the process
What they can't replace
- Independent verification of a surgeon's credentials — do this yourself regardless
- Objective advice on which clinic is genuinely best for your specific case
- A guarantee of outcome or a substitute for reading the actual quote yourself
Questions to ask before hiring one
Are you paid by the clinic, by me, or both?
Commission transparency is a reasonable thing to ask for directly.
How many clinics do you work with, and why these specifically?
A facilitator who only offers one option isn't really offering a comparison.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Understand what support, if any, continues past the day of the procedure.
A specific red flag
Be cautious of facilitation that's entirely free with no visible business model explained — it usually means the commission is built into a higher clinic price than you'd get booking directly.
You can also skip the facilitator commission entirely for well-documented procedures by researching directly through spoke sites like colombiabbl.co or colombialasik.com.
The Takeaway
A facilitator can be a genuine convenience. Just don't mistake their recommendation for independent research — verify credentials and compare quotes yourself regardless.