NorCal Dermatology Group

NorCal Dermatology Group Feedback Analysis 1. Excellent help and education as you determine what is best for your skin 2. Consistently top notch customer service and world class care! Very comfortable relaxing office and great staff! 3. They provide adequate medical services, but they are really cash grabby. They do balance billing (charging you twice) which is scummy and technically fraud. Also for treatment they repeatedly suggested me more expensive and more invasive treatment options and omitted cheaper options (I know this because I went to them for a second opinion). Their website and phone numbers also barely work. I would choose this place as last option. 4. Wonderful office, with kind and thorough providers! 5. Nothing else just "Professional service" Thank you! 6. Kylie is the best! 7. Kylie is exceptional. I would give her infinite stars if I could. She is incredibly well-versed and knowledgeable, and knows the most appropriate methods to resolve your issues. I also appreciate her warm bedside manner, which is a rare quality in any clinician. In addition, messaging with Kylie is very efficient and timely. Every time I reached out to her she replied promptly, and with effective solutions. I am so lucky to have found her! 8. Everyone there is sweet and kind and they have really helped me with my skin! 9. Sharing this so other prospective patients have full context before booking at Norcal Dermatology / Berman Skin Institute (Berkeley). Across my visits with Kylie Kofler, PA, in March and May 2026, I encountered several issues worth knowing about. March 2026: Initial consult. PA Kofler prescribed adapalene 0.1% + azelaic acid. The protocol caused irritation during the standard ramp. Pre-Botox visit, May 2026: When I asked about a rosacea diagnosis, PA Kofler offered a 20-minute visual assessment for $120 out-of-pocket. This is medspa-tier pricing for what should be an insurance-billable medical-dermatology visit. I declined and pursued a second opinion through UCSF Mt. Zion General Dermatology. Botox, May 19, 2026: 32 units billed at $600 total ($18.75/unit). Standard Bay Area PA-injected Botox at comparable clinics is $12-15/unit. This clinic is 25-40% above market for the same service. Post-Botox: PA Kofler recommended Halo (Sciton fractional laser) for skin texture after I disclosed a provisional rosacea diagnosis from a separate clinic. Halo's 2940nm ablative wavelength is generally avoided on rosacea-prone skin per rosacea management guidelines, given the risk of triggering inflammatory flares. Why these patterns are predictable: Berman Skin Institute is owned by DermCare Management, a dermatology consolidator backed by Hildred Capital Management (private equity). PE-owned dermatology practices have documented incentive structures favoring revenue extraction: above-market pricing, upselling to high-margin procedures, and recommendations that prioritiz... If you're considering this practice, two recommendations: (1) get a second opinion before any procedure, especially anything in the $500+ range or involving lasers/devices, and (2) compare pricing against independent, non-PE-owned medical-dermatology clinics. For rosacea specifically, an academic medical-dermatology center like UCSF Mt. Zion or an insurance-billed medical-only practice is a much better fit than a cosmetic-focused practice. 10. I give this office five stars for the following reasons. My experience was positive from the moment I opened the door was greeted by the very pleasant Receptionist as well as my consultation. This is my third consultation for a condition called CCCA. Which is a form of alopecia and permanent hair loss. I came in hopes of having PRP treatments. My consultation with nurse practitioner Kylie was Informative and thorough. She showed compassion knowing hair loss can be traumatic. She explained why PRP would not be the best option for my condition. Instead she agreed with my current regimen from my primary derm. She could’ve easily sold me a package of PRP treatments. I left feeling seen, respected and more optimistic that I will combat this hair loss madness. 11. I saw Kylie for a full-body scan. She found a couple of potentially precancerous spots and froze them. She's warm and friendly and she quickly put me at ease in her examination. She explained everything before proceeding. I have no doubts about her competence and feel I am in good hands with her. The office staff was welcoming and efficient. I'm a new patient but I was able to get an appointment quickly (my previous dermatologist couldn't see me for 5 months). I'm very happy with this new dermatoloogy practice. 12. Kylie is the best. Warm, funny, informative and intelligent. 13. So far.. very good 14. Parking is a nightmare. But they were great. I had a mole removed. I saw Kylie Kofler. She was thorough and explained everything carefully. I will get the results of the biopsy in 3 weeks. 15. Great office staff and helpers