Medical, Surgical, and Cosmetic Dermatology care in New Braunfels and Schertz

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Medical, Surgical, and Cosmetic Dermatology care in New Braunfels and Schertz -

Frequently Asked Questions:

What’s a skin check?

A skin check (sometimes referred to as a Mole Check, Full Body Check, etc) is a head-to-toe exam by a Dermatologist to spot early skin cancer, monitor moles, and check for other abnormalities. Check out this short video, demonstrating what a skin check looks like.

Full Body Skin Check: For your comfort and privacy, you will be provided with a gown to change into before your exam. During a full-body skin check, your provider will perform a thorough head-to-toe evaluation of your skin, including areas that are often overlooked, such as the scalp, between the toes, and the soles of the feet. If you would like your face examined, please arrive without makeup or be prepared to remove any foundation, concealer, tinted moisturizer, or other complexion products prior to the exam. This allows your provider to accurately assess your skin.

Spot Checks: If any moles or spots need closer evaluation, your provider may use a special skin microscope. No discomfort - just a closer look to evaluate pigment patterns & other clues to help make a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy may be necessary, but your care team will walk you through that process.

Q&A and Treatment Plan
After your skin check, you’ll have time to ask questions, and your provider will explain any follow up, next steps, and anything else needed for your personalized care.

What should I expect at my skin check visit?

  • Yes. We do our best to accommodate urgent dermatological concerns, which can include:

    • Signs of skin infection (redness, warmth, pus, fever, red streaks)

    • Medication reactions

    • Suspected shingles

    • Post-operative wound concerns (for procedures performed by our office only)

    • Painful or infected cysts or abscesses

    • Painful, rapidly spreading, or blistering rash

    • Burns, chemical exposures, or severe sunburn

    Give us a call and our team will try to get you in as soon as possible, or same-day when deemed appropriate.

  • For a list of accepted insurance plans, click here. If you still have a question about whether your specific plan is accepted, give us a call at 830-626-5551.

  • Unfortunately this is not a straightforward “yes” or “no” question as it depends on your insurance plan. Some plans require a referral from your primary care provider before they allow you to see a specialist. Some insurance plans allow you to schedule right away. We recommend checking with your insurance directly to see what their specific requirements are.

  • If you are experiencing trouble breathing, chest pain, severe facial or throat swelling, or other life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

  • Please bring the following to your first visit:

    • A form of photo ID (driver’s license, passport, military ID)

    • Insurance card(s) (this can include both medical and prescription cards)

    • An up-to-date list of medications & drug allergies

    • Completed Patient Forms or Portal entry (otherwise you will be asked to fill them out in the waiting room)

    • Any relevant medical records or previous treatments.

  • Yes! We treat patients of all ages, from newborns to teens to elderly patients. Pediatric dermatology is one of our specialties.

  • This depends. If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, your dermatologist might need to see you more frequently. Patients with certain medical history (such as organ transplants) or who take certain prescription medications might require more frequent exams. Generally, a healthy individual without a skin cancer history is okay to be seen annually.

  • Please call or text our office at least 24 hours in advance so we can offer the time to another patient.

    Same-day cancellations and no-show’s are subject to a $50 fee.

  • Yes. New patients and patients who have not been seen in over three years must complete our patient forms. You may download them from our website or arrive 15 minutes early to complete them in the office. You can also complete the forms via the Patient Portal.

Your Questions, Answered.