NorCal Dermatology Group

Andrew Deal a month ago

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 prioritize practice revenue over patient need. The four items above fit that pattern across the board. 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. I'm no longer a patient. My future procedures will go to practices where the incentive structure is aligned with patient outcomes rather than revenue extraction.

Kay B. 4 months ago

After being repeatedly dismissed for a dermatology referral by my PCP at Kaiser for a routine skin check, my friend recommended I visit Kylie for some peace of mind– I was not disappointed! The office is very clean & everyone I encountered was so welcoming! Dr. Kofler was absolutely wonderful, very thorough, and patiently answered all my questions while also talking me through every part of the procedure. They were also very conscious & transparent about pricing, as I was paying out of pocket, which I appreciated tremendously. The cherry on top was that I was sent home with a goodie bag chock-full of sunscreen/moisturizer samples! Highly recommend and will be returning!

burrbaby burr a month ago

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.

Jesus Mena 3 months ago

Actually half a star. Terrible service. I went in with serious eczema. The doctor said I needed special ongoing treatment and prescribed a med that would cost $1,800 for a one month supply and Norcal sent the WRONG med request to the pharmacy! Norcal had to resubmit request. I got no meds of any kind for a month! Seems like Norcal is tied to Big Pharma since I got calls from three separate specialized pharmacies competing with each other, one offering the expensive medication for $1,200, another for $1,000 for one month supply. I went for a second opinion to a Stanford University dermatologist who said I did not need such an expensive treatment. My co-pay for med she prescribed is $4 a month. Norcal gave me terrible service!!

Loran Mebine 4 months ago

The experience was excellent. Staff were very friendly and helpful! PA Kylie was very professional and to the point. She assured me that the spot on my forehead was not malignant and did not need to be treated. My wife and I will be going to her for our future dermatological care.