I remember the good ol' Vecna Days, becoming a pale master was definitely a group effort. In most cases however (Aside from group weapon masters and similar efforts) most requested classes often have personal trials and tribulations they must endure alone. The pale master on a much darker path may have to endure the changes to themselves in secret, without anyone's aid for the often dangerous procedures. I remember Ashin's first procedure was to mummify his skin through use of salt and another preservative, but only with the aid of a blue haired tiefling could he cut open and modify his being when the pain became unbearable (following the subsequent blackout and hours of unconsciousness in a tub of the mixture of salt, preserving powder and rose scented oil to preserve that pale barovian supple skin. "Da domn, I nu go out much. Witches everywhere"
That being stated, with things from sources shown before, perhaps what could be added to the player tools of a pale master at first level a sort of 'Summon Familiar' type deal that would summon a level 5 zombie at first level of pale master to act as 'assistant' to the pale master without aid of outside helpers, or a level 5 skeleton to those with outside aid. (Often it's stated within the PM app if aid will be sought and DMs would toggle one or the other). The reason behind the difference of helpers is simple, one requires more intelligent work and flesh articulation for precision instruments, and the other is for both equality and to purposes. Both would run the familiar's corpse dropping script, but would require the spell (or spell like ability) of animate dead to resurrect, ensuring that the pale master seeks to learn the spell as all would, or continue far enough to learn the ability.