The Connecticut Dermatology Group LLC. was created in 2007 when the practice moved from Westport. It originated in 1964 with Dr. Stuart Bender; he was the local dermatologist in a small office in a small town. He treated everyone's kids as well as some well-known celebrities. When Dr. Kolenik joined the practice in 1994, he brought his young family, ideas, and training from Yale. He offered a specialized skin cancer treatment called Moh's surgery, expanding the small group's footprint. In the larger office, they needed more help, and Dr. Pinto and Yale joined the group as a partner. He is also an experienced Moh's surgeon from Fairfield, who, after serving time in the Navy, worked in rural Georgia before coming back to Connecticut.
A local doctor trained at Yale, allowed people to avoid long drives to New Haven or NYC for treatment. The practice grew to the largest Mohs Micrographic Surgery Center in the region, making us the most extensive practice in the state. Even though we have grown, we work hard at establishing connections with our neighboring businesses and communities in each location. We want to maintain the relationships formed in a small practice, while providing the most sophisticated care that a large office allows. Each office is self -sufficient and part of the surrounding community. They all reflect the culture of the patient population they serve. So, what makes CDG different?
We have brought 100 jobs to our state. Our 14 providers are supported by 85 individuals who all play a role in our full-service practice's success. We hire people we like. Skills can be taught, but warmth and compassion are character traits we insist upon. Our management team is all women who understand the challenges people face around healthcare and work diligently to improve that process. We have over 35 Medical Assistant externs who are college graduates pursuing advanced degrees in the healthcare field. They are all local residents that will someday return to our communities as providers and deliver care to us. Many of our reception and scheduling team members are new graduates who have majored in Healthcare Administration or are neighbors who are looking for a career change, or are our patients who love the practice. We are a very diverse group with one common goal: providing excellent customer service
Our foundation is medicine. We diagnose and treat diseases of the skin, hair, and nails. Your health comes first. Everyone wants beautiful skin, however, that starts with healthy skin. Our goal is to provide the best patient experience and outcome. Our size has enabled us to do many things that give patients outstanding care along with customer service. We start by choosing the best people, stars in their programs at elite universities and colleges, who are like-minded in their approach to patient care. By bringing the latest technology and research findings together, we have created a powerhouse of knowledge and excellence with experts in dermatology. When you are a patient, you will have the collective opinion of multiple providers, assuring you an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Our practice has grown from personal referrals from friends, family, and local practitioners who have trusted us with their care. We work daily to perfect the Patient Experience. We look at the entire interaction that a patient will have throughout their visit, both inside and outside the exam room, and make it easy and timely.
Diseases of the skin, like psoriasis, acne, eczema, warts, can be mild to a severe, limited small area, or covering most of the body. Since the severity of the disease varies, so do the treatments, and we offer them all. This allows the patients to decide what works best for them. Each year there are changes in medications that are available to treat disease. This allows for a better quality of life for the patient physically and often mentally. As we are a referral center, we often diagnose and treat rare skin disorders, often missed elsewhere.
Either during routine skin exams or due to a specific complaint, we may also diagnose systemic disease. This will allow the patient to seek care for that disease and be screened for potentially related internal disease and malignancies; otherwise, that may have gone undetected. This is one of the reasons it is always important to share your medical history with your dermatologist. Having our dermatopathologist looking at the biopsy ensures an expert is reviewing the tissue and retuning the diagnosis as quickly as possible.
Skin Cancer is the most common cancer in the The United States. Approximately one in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Early detection provides the best outcomes. When diagnosed and treated early, melanoma has a 99% cure rate. The AAD, American Academy of
Dermatology recommends that everyone over the age of 30 have a full-body skin exam every year. If you have a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with melanoma, or if you have a history of blistering sunburns and tanning beduse, sooner or more frequently exams may be needed.
We educate our patients to examine their skin, look for changes, and see the dermatologist. Once in the office, your provider will examine you and determine if a biopsy is necessary. A skin biopsy is a diagnostic tool considered to be the gold standard when diagnosing skin cancer. We also have many treatments available for pre-cancerous lesions, which will decrease your chances of developing skin cancer.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery is a surgical technique that is taught in a fellowship, following a dermatology residency. It spares healthy tissue, and ensures all cancer cells have been removed during surgery. The doctor will determine a visual border surrounding your non-melanoma skin cancer and cut a small portion to be prepared on slides for viewing. While viewing the slides, the doctor can determine if all cancer cells have been removed or are still remaining. If some still remains, they know exactly where to go back and take another small section of the skin to again review. This is completed in the office, takes about 90 minutes on average and offers a 98% cure rate. Other benefits are smaller scars and less likelihood of infection.
SRT or Superficial Radiation Therapy is also offered as a treatment for skin cancer. We have the only non-hospital facility that can provide this service. This is a treatment that allows the doctor to deliver a small dose of radiation to the affected area and a small margin over the course of 6-12 sessions. This slow approach allows the patient who may have less than optimal wound healing to be treated without creating an open wound. The chance for reoccurrence is higher and, therefore, not the method of choice for those individuals under 70.
CDG's laboratory is responsible for processing the skin samples for our dermatopathologist to read in as soon as 12 hours. This eliminates needless waiting and worrying about your results. Most laboratories use pathologists who have a broad knowledge of all tissues, but a dermatopathologist has had additional training specific to the structure of the skin at the cellular level. It is extremely important to our providers that the doctor reading your slides is also an expert.
CDG formulated topical RX medications. As our patients began experiencing long waits at the pharmacy, denials from their insurance companies, or drugs needing prior authorizations, as well as exorbitant costs for necessary medications. We wanted to provide a solution that would put the medication in their hand before they left the office, at a reasonable cost, allowing them to begin treatment immediately. Quicker results, at a fraction of the cost and no driving to and waiting at the pharmacy. These RX's are convenient, easy to use, and less expensive than brand-named drugs.
Cosmetic Services are a large part of what we offer. We are one of Allergan's largest clients and, in fact, regional train physicians and other providers on injectables. It is quite an honor to be chosen to be on their faculty. Only a few providers around the country have this distinction. Understanding the skin structure and how it responds to various products, treatments, and procedures allows us to provide an individual approach to treat anyone's unique needs. We work with you to enhance your natural beauty by carefully selecting from the latest devices and products, giving us the best results; Microneedling, lasers for resurfacing, collagen rejuvenation, and skin tightening. Lasers for pigmented lesions and vascular lesions such as port-wine stains, angiomas, scars, and stretch marks. PRP for hair growth, GentleMax for hair removal. Surgical scar revision earlobe repair, keloids, piercing reversals. Injectable neurotoxins including Botox, fillers for antiaging, and Kybella for neck and jawline refinement. We also provide body contouring with dual Cool Sculpting and Warm Sculpting with Sculpsure.
Insurances can cover most of our medical and surgical services. We accept most major carriers and also have a private pay fee schedule for those uninsured or with insurances which we do not participate.
For more information, visit ctdermgroup.com or on Instagram @ctdermgroup
