Comprehensive Dermatology

Brought my mom to see Dr Bruckstein and I saw PA Cassandra and both were very nice. Great team over there!

Got tired of my 20 year old basal cell carcinoma, with its tendency to bleed if it's looked at the wrong way. Dr. Bruckstein sees Medicaid patients. The first time I saw him, he biopsied a little mole that had just popped up on my arm, followed immediately by another biopsy of the big annoying blood clot on my temple. I assume he injected me with anesthetic around the temple, but if he did, it was painless. I remember he took a big chunk out of my blood clot, but that was painless, too, so I think he must have done a local anesthesia first. I'm sure I didn't get a shot in the arm, but removal of that biopsy was painless, anyway. In summary, painless.

And the results took about 2 weeks to come back during the holiday season, which I think was a little slow: Basal cell carcinoma was still a basal skin carcinoma, and the mole on my arm was nothing. Just from the biopsy, the carcinoma almost stopped bleeding, down about 95%.

A few weeks later, my mother coincidentally popped up with a tiny, itchy blood spot on her face. I called the office, and they made an appointment for her only five days from when I called! That's flexible service. She got Dr. Abittan for Medicare/Emblem. Just back from that appointment. Maybe I didn't notice when needles were being poked into my temple, but I saw the tiny little needle for my mom's general anesthetic. Really, a needle right in the cheek has got to be a pretty sensitive spot, but it appeared more uncomfortable than painful, from where I was standing. I held her hand and she didn't squeeze too hard. And then, the biopsy for her tiny spot was painless, finished before ya' know it.

The office staff is very nice. One tiny bathroom might occasionally be insufficient. Ample parking lot is just a few steps from the office entrance, and only one shallow step at the entrance to the building which needs to be painted yellow. 5 out of 5 stars. I hope your mileage doesn't vary.

I'm going back in a few days to get the rest of the carcinoma removed. "Mohs"-removal specialists come to the office once a month. The Mohs guys will be a team of 3(!) -- surgeon, microscope guy, and a plastic surgeon, even though real men don't need plastic surgeons. The biopsies were so painless, I'm not concerned. I hope I can get away without needing a graft, but I'll agree to go with whatever finishes healing the fastest. I'm taking volunteers to provide skin grafts; thanks ahead.

You'll need a tube or two of over-the-counter "antibiotic" skin-cream before it's all over.
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Interesting; Googlemaps says I wrote this 10 months ago. Update: It wasn't easy keeping a bandage where my hair is; there were so many choices where I don't have hair which would have been more convenient. The carcinoma was still "basal." The surgery team was composed of two very young adults, who did their jobs with great aplomb. They are not empaths; during the procedure, if you need something for your comfort that a more mature person might have provided without you having to ask, then just ask. Don't be shy, they're good people. The cutting was as painless as the biopsy. They cut out some protoplasm, took it back to their microscope for 20 minutes (if I recall correctly) while I stared at the ceiling, came back to cut out some more and back to their microscope. It was a big carcinoma, they had to cut 3 times, and the third time at the microscope determined no more cutting. I think I was on the examination chair for 2 1/2 hours. May your carcinoma be much smaller, and maybe you'll be off the chair in less than an hour. The chair was more uncomfortable than the cutting.

There was no graft, they just pulled in skin from around the site.

The site was left with a 1" x 2" area of skin between my sideburn and head-hair that has no feeling. I'm getting used to it feeling funny. It's a small price to pay for a sore that was starting to bleed way too often for convenience. The hair grows there normally.

May the medical team live long and prosper.

The first lady I met that did a consultation i didn't like but then I met Cassandra on my second visit and she's amazing .. Haven't been in over 2 years but I'm making an appointment to go as soon as I can ... place is nice, clean and no problems..I just hope Cassandra is still there

There is no one like Dr Abittan and his staff! They are extremely professional, great conversationalists, and always looking out for their patients. Whenever I go in for an appointment I’m treated with the upmost respect and care. I have never gone in there and my problem not be solved! All the doctors are incredibly experienced and get the job done fast. 10/10 isn’t even enough!