Welcome to advanced Cosmetic Surgery & Dermatology. Martin Salm, MD, FAACS and the staff thank you for considering our practice for your dermatological care! We are specialists in cosmetic, surgical and medical dermatology for all ages. We are dedicated to provide the highest quality health care of skin, hair and nails in a caring, compassionate, friendly setting. In addition, we educate you on the latest developments in dermatology so that you may better care for your skin.
If you would like to setup an appointment or have any questions, feel free to call or fill out the form below. You can reach us at (775) 588-5000. View our locations and hours.
Understanding the Importance of Dermatology
The Skin: Our Largest Organ
The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Its size (about 20 square feet in an average-sized adult) and external location make it susceptible to a wide variety of diseases, disorders, discoloration, and growths, as well as to damage from the environment and the aging process.
A Legacy of Expertise in Cosmetic and Medical Dermatology
Martin Salm, MD has been specializing in dermatology and cosmetic surgery for the past 25 years. His skill in this field has been utilized by countless patients who want nothing but the best when finding the right cosmetic surgeon.
Rejuvenation Beyond the Ordinary
Our offices feature an aesthetic medical spa ideal for rejuvenating yourself. Our treatments combat many unwanted signs of aging and will have you looking your best. Not just a normal day spa.
Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery: A National Leader
Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery (ADCS) is a prominent organization in the field of dermatology and cosmetic surgery, emphasizing a patient-centric approach and leveraging leading physicians and technology to deliver premier healthcare.
A Commitment to Patient-Centric Care
A cornerstone of the company’s founding mission, Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery utilizes a relationship-based care model between patient and clinician to deliver premier healthcare. Synthesizing both dermatologic and aesthetic services, the company’s leadership team enlightens us on their philosophy.
The Evolution of Dermatologic Care
Over the last decade, the dermatology industry in North America has significantly grown. This stems from an increasing awareness of the importance of skin health, and as the global population ages, there is a correlative uptake in the need for dermatologic care. In addition, people of all ages are aware of solutions that address skin issues as we get older, with more and more addressing those problems at a younger age. With increasing options, they want to turn to a trusted practice. Looking to the next 10 years, the need for quality dermatologic care and advanced non-invasive aesthetic services continues to grow.
“The way we deliver this continues to evolve. Ongoing research has led to the development of new treatments and therapies to address skin issues more effectively,” opens Dr. Matt Leavitt, Founder and Executive Chairman of Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery (Advanced Dermatology). “Part of the company’s evolution is its focus on value-based care - we prioritize educating our patients to focus on prevention and early detection.”
The Rise of Aesthetic Dermatology
The aesthetics dermatology sector is also increasingly sought after, particularly cosmetic procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, dermal fillers, chemical peels, and laser and energy treatments, which have all seen steady growth in recent years. However, there is a limited availability of practicing providers who can meet the increasing demand, especially in certain geographies. This is compounded by widespread labor shortages in healthcare. Fortunately, Advanced Dermatology has a substantial portfolio, expansive presence, and significant manpower to cater to the increased patient requirements.
Scale and Reach of Advanced Dermatology
As one of North America’s premier dermatology practices, the company operates across more than 150 offices in 14 states, with a comprehensive team of more than 400 clinicians and 2,000 total employees. As such, Advanced Dermatology has a commitment that is instilled in each team member to provide the highest quality care in dermatology and aesthetic services.
Relationship-Based Care: The Foundation of ADCS
Advanced Dermatology was first established in 1989 by Dr. Leavitt, who envisioned becoming a leader in the field. From the company’s inception, he understood that the organization’s success would be built on making patient care and clinician excellence the primary pillars of its success. From this, the practice’s mission was clear - to deliver the highest quality patient care and experience in dermatology and aesthetic services.
As a result, the company has become an industry leader in treating patients for common and complex skin, hair, and nail conditions, providing critical, advanced skin cancer treatments, and using some of the most sought-after therapies available to reduce the impacts of age and the environment.
“We offer a wide array of non-invasive and non-surgical cosmetic and anti-aging treatment options, which are on the cutting edge of clinical research. Meanwhile, our dermatopathology labs provide high-quality, advanced diagnostic services,” Dr. Leavitt details.
The key to Advanced Dermatology’s expertise is its patient-centered healthcare, built upon a state-of-the-art, relationship-based care model. “By building and maintaining positive and collaborative relationships between patients, clinicians, and clinical staff, we improve the overall quality of care by concentrating on the patient’s unique needs and preferences,” he adds.
As part of the model, the practice likewise focuses on the patient experience and closely tracks patient satisfaction via quality metrics to ensure that it provides the best possible care. To further this, Advanced Dermatology fosters and nurtures relationships with primary care physicians (PCPs), who provide education about skin health, chronic conditions, preventative measures, and the early detection of skin cancer.
“By building and maintaining positive and collaborative relationships between patients, clinicians, and clinical staff, we improve the overall quality of care by concentrating on the patient’s unique needs and preferences” - Dr. Matt Leavitt, Founder and Executive Chairman, Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery.
Leveraging Leading Physicians and Continuous Education
In concordance with its relationship-based model, the company also has a physician-led focus, stemming from its founding mission in which it was built from the ground up with patients at the center. So much so, that today, Dr. Leavitt still serves as the Executive Chairman. Consequently, Advanced Dermatology prides itself on being physician-led, as its Medical Executive Committee leaders play a critical role in the company, advocating for state-of-the-art patient care and clinician engagement. The committee is led by Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Kaufmann, and comprises both region-specific and service-specific leaders, including representatives for aesthetics services, pathology, and Mohs surgery, bringing to the table an abundance of knowledge and understanding.
“As a physician-led organization, our staff provide direction, oversight, focus, and leadership regarding all aspects of clinical services and make recommendations for initiatives to continuously improve quality,” Dr. Kaufmann highlights.
Furthermore, Advanced Dermatology’s management teams and regional operators are focused on providing administrative support for clinicians, which allows team members to dedicate their time and energy to delivering premier care.
Commitment to Clinician Development
To further its clinician expertise, the company is committed to providing continuous education opportunities for both clinicians and residents. Both Dr. Leavitt and Dr. Kaufmann, as part of Advanced Dermatology, have partnered with Derm Squared, an industry-leading education platform. Together, the two companies host quarterly advanced therapeutics update events exclusive to Advanced Dermatology’s clinicians, where they can receive the most up-to-date clinical care education with world-class leaders and earn continuing medical education credits.
Residency and Training Programs
Additionally, Advanced Dermatology offers an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited dermatology residency program designed to provide the clinical experience, educational resources, and mentorship support that produces exceptional dermatologists who engage in the ethical and compassionate practice of medicine. The company also offers a comprehensive Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Training Program, which provides didactic, clinical, and procedural training. This includes direct patient care led by board-certified dermatologists in a supervised, structured environment, as well as sub-specialty training areas, such as Mohs surgery.
“We standardize baseline clinical competencies to help ensure the best possible patient care and experience. We have successfully graduated over 70 advanced practitioners who have gone on to work in our clinics across the organization,” Dr. Kaufmann tells us.
Best-in-Field Technology and Innovation
More recently, Advanced Dermatology has focused on identifying and implementing technology solutions and automation to drive better patient care, lower costs, and a high return on investment. The solutions include patient reminder automation, online booking, and web chat, which have improved patient communication and the overall experience. One example is the implementation of check-in kiosks within our clinics for a more efficient check-in process.
“Our operations dashboard has transformed our ability to manage day-to-day operations, while our clinics hold high-level and detailed information that is consumable by all field-level teams,” CEO, Brian Griffin outlines.
Centralized Operations and Telehealth Capabilities
Given the size of the practice, Advanced Dermatology has also centralized administrative tasks for back office and surgery scheduling. The company’s technological expertise proved vital in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming agile in providing telehealth across its practices, which allowed patients to consult with dermatologists remotely. On top of this, Advanced Dermatology has recently pursued licensure to deliver virtual care in additional states, to meet and stay up to date with the needs of innovative, national care provider groups and accountable care organizations.
“With this ability to deliver care virtually across most of the country, we continue to pursue partnerships with retail health providers, accountable care organizations, payers, and risk-bearing providers to operate as the preferred dermatology network,” comments James Philbin, Chief Development Officer.
“Our operations dashboard has transformed our ability to manage day-to-day operations, while our clinics hold high-level and detailed information that is consumable by all field-level teams” - Brian Griffin, CEO, Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery.
Supporting Staff and Community Engagement
The company prides itself on caring deeply for both its team base and local communities. Regarding the former, it is laser-focused on employee engagement and retention. “Employee satisfaction matters from day one, and we provide our teams with onboarding resources and comprehensive training to set them up for success,” Griffin affirms.
The Hardship to Hope Foundation
In support of its team, the company established the Advanced Dermatology Hardship to Hope Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, to provide short-term financial assistance to employees and eligible dependents who encounter financial hardship due to an unanticipated crisis or catastrophic circumstances. The foundation has already had a positive impact on hundreds of Advanced Dermatology employees, most recently assisting team members affected by Hurricane Ian, in which the charity paid $92,000 to grant recipients.
Community Outreach and Education
Regarding the company’s corporate citizenry, Advanced Dermatology also provides free skin cancer screenings in the local community and leads in-person and virtual events to educate people on the importance of skin cancer prevention and early detection.
Evolving Aesthetic Treatments and Product Lines
Meanwhile, the practice is consistently identifying how cosmetic dermatology is evolving to ensure that it has the best approach to treat its patients. This is evidenced by its investment in the latest devices, including CoolPeel, Venus Versa, and Hydrafacial, while expanding into new injectables. The practice offers a wide range of treatments and skincare products, including its proprietary Proscriptix FX skin care and hair care line.
“We will continue to adapt as new treatments emerge and patient needs evolve. Our aesthetics clinical leadership team reviews our services portfolio, clinical standards, and practices, and identifies pre- and post-care regimens to improve outcomes,” Griffin says.
Advanced Dermatology also works with a multitude of healthcare and cosmetic companies to stay on top of the latest advances in both medical and cosmetic dermatology to ensure it is leveraging the latest research and clinical studies to identify advanced treatments and ensure the best patient outcomes. Advanced Dermatology provides a holistic approach to skin health, addressing both medical and aesthetic concerns.
Effectiveness of cosmetic dermatology procedures - Dr. Amanda Lloyd
California Center for Dermatologic Surgery: Expertise in the Bay Area
The California Center for Dermatologic Surgery is a leading dermatology and Mohs Surgery practice, serving the San Francisco, California and surrounding bay area. Founded and led by Dr. Ekama Carlson, MD, our office delivers the highest quality of exceptional medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatologic care. We are located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. We are accepting new patient appointments, and would love to see you!
Comprehensive Skin Cancer Care
The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and dermatologists play a vital role in your overall health. At the California Center for Dermatologic Surgery, Dr. Carlson provides comprehensive skin cancer care: from evaluating your skin for lesions suspicious for skin cancer, to educating you on best practices for skin cancer prevention, and providing the latest, proven, standard of care treatment options for your skin cancer diagnosis. Dr. Carlson has experience and expertise in the treatment of all types of skin cancers, from the most common to the most rare and life-threatening, in all skin types, all body locations, and across all patient demographics.
Mohs Surgery: The Gold Standard for Skin Cancer Treatment
Mohs surgery, also called Mohs micrographic surgery, was first developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs in the 1930s as a specialized surgery technique for treating skin cancer. This technique involves surgery to remove skin cancer, followed by the immediate examination of the removed cancer and surrounding skin under a microscope by the surgeon to ensure that the margins are clear of residual cancer cells. If any cancer is seen under the microscope, more skin is removed layer by layer, but only in the area that contains additional cancer. This allows for removal of the entire cancer without taking any more normal skin than is absolutely necessary. This technique offers the highest cure rate of any other cancer treatment, a rate of up to 99% cure for most skin cancers, and is the gold standard for skin cancer treatment. When all the cancer is removed, the wound is repaired using a number of reconstructive surgery techniques, ranging from the straightforward to the advanced or complex.
Dr. Carlson is an exceptionally experienced double board-certified and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, with extensive expertise in Mohs surgery, advanced facial reconstructive surgery, and dermatologic oncology.
Individualized Cosmetic Dermatology Solutions
At the California Center for Dermatologic Surgery, our approach to aesthetic dermatology is to offer individualized, science-backed solutions to reverse photoaging (sun and life-related changes) of the skin, helping to restore the natural health and appearance of your skin. With the careful eye of an artist, and the skill and expertise of a well-trained dermatologic surgeon, Dr. Carlson will help define your best features, accentuate your natural beauty, and in turn, help you restore your confidence in your physical appearance.
A Dermatologic Surgery Center Focused on Outstanding Patient Care
At CCDS, our mission is to provide clinical excellence in Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, which translates to an exceptional care experience for all our patients. Our board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Ekama Carlson, with extensive experience in all aspects of dermatology, along with an experienced team of caring, professional medical ancillary staff, are uniquely equipped to address a wide range of medical, surgical, and aesthetic skin concerns, including skin cancer, Mohs Surgery, rosacea, acne, acne scarring, sun damage, wrinkles, and many more, with an approach that is thorough, effective, safe, and customized to the individual patient.
Meet Our Board-Certified Dermatology Specialist
Dr. Ekama Carlson, MD, FAAD, FACMS is a leading dermatologist and University of California, San Francisco fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic and reconstructive surgeon. She has earned double board certifications in Dermatology and Mohs Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery by the American Board of Dermatology. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and a member of the American College of Mohs Surgeons (ACMS). Dr. Carlson has extensive expertise in Mohs surgery, advanced reconstructive dermatologic surgery, dermatologic oncology (which is the treatment of skin cancer), and procedural cosmetic dermatology. This combination of double board-certification, fellowship training, and practice expertise and experience make her a highly sought-after specialist and leader in the field of Mohs surgery and cosmetic dermatology.
Patient Testimonials
- “Dr. Carlson did MOHS surgery on my nose. She and her assistants were gentle, kind, and the Dr. explained everything thoroughly even though I had a million questions. I returned today to get my stitches out and wow! I am very happy with my results. You can barely see the mark where she stitched me up. So thankful.”
- “Dr. Carlson is wonderful. I felt very comfortable with her advice & care. She’s a delight to be with and will be my dermatologist in SF. Her office is beautiful and her staff amazingly kind & thoughtful. The perfect place for all of my skincare concerns.”
- “Dr. Carlson is kind, skilled and prompt. She clearly discussed my procedure and expertly removed my cancerous mole with great precision. Dr. Carlson & her staff were personable, knowledgeable and had a wonderful sense of humor. I would highly recommend.”
Serving the Entire Bay Area
With a central location in beautiful and quiet Pacific Heights, our San Francisco dermatology center offers safe, convenient, in-building garage parking, easy access to public transportation, and garage parking for bikes. Our Office Serves the Entire Bay Area, Including Oakland, Berkeley, Marin County, the Peninsula and Beyond.
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