Alopecia (Hair Loss)
There are few things as concerning as the sudden loss of hair. Not only is there societal pressure to have hair, but there is also the concern that something internal is causing the hair loss. When you come for your appointment, we ask that you consent to a full skin exam, which can help us identify other clues to your hair loss (for example, certain skin lesions are associated with thyroid disease and point to hair loss due to the thyroid).
There are several causes of hair loss. Your provider will evaluate whether or not the process is scarring or nonscarring, infectious or noninfectious, acute or chronic, and diffuse or focal. These factors will determine if a scalp biopsy is necessary and how aggressively you will be treated.
Common diagnoses are: telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, psoriasis, tinea capitus, and central centrifugal scarring alopecia. Each of these may require specific bloodwork or testing for confirmation. Treatment is very variable—some treatments are as simple as vitamins, some treatments involve injection or topical application of steroids, and other treatments may involve low doses of chemotherapy-type drugs.
Before Your Visit
Please be sure to bring a list of all medications and allergies. If you are covered by an insurance plan that requires prior authorization, the authorization or referral form must be presented to our office before or at the time of your appointment. It is your responsibility to obtain necessary referrals. If you don’t have one, we will ask you to sign a waiver stating you are responsible for the bill. Payment will then be expected at the time of service. Please bring your insurance cards to each visit so the information can be checked and a copy placed in your chart.
Financial Information
Your insurance coverage is an agreement between you and your insurance company. Financial responsibility rests with the patient for deductibles, co-insurances, and non-covered services. Insurance coverage is a variable, and we cannot guarantee what services will be covered by your particular plan. We request that you sign an authorization form, which will enable us to receive insurance payments directly when applicable. Co-payments are due at the time of service. For your convenience, we accept personal checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and cash.
A no-show fee of $50.00 will be charged to patients who fail to appear for their appointment and provide less than 24 hours' notice of cancellation.
Pathology, Labs, and X-rays
Surgical specimens are sent to a laboratory for analysis. The fee for this is a separate charge from the office visit and may be billed directly by the processing lab. Results are usually available 7-10 days after the test has been performed. Questions regarding payments for laboratory services should be directed to the laboratory.
Prescription Refills
Prescription refill requests will be taken only during regular office hours.