When Bay Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery opened its Shoppes of Wesley Chapel office (on Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd. across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel) last year, it brought local residents the resources of a medical practice that has been taking care of skin, hair and nail maladies throughout the Tampa Bay area for almost three decades.
Bay Dermatology marketing manager Tom Agriesti says the health practice’s mission has been clear since it was established in 1988. It has grown to eight offices, including Homosassa, Spring Hill, Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Largo, St. Pete Beach, Wesley Chapel and N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz.
“From day one, Bay Dermatology has provided the highest quality care for (our) patients and we’re glad to be able to do that for people living in the Wesley Chapel area,” Agriesti says.
Services and treatments available at Bay Dermatology range from health-preserving therapies and surgeries to appearance-enhancing cosmetic surgery, as well as procedures that are non-invasive.
Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office treats skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis (a condition in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches) and vitiligo, a long-term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing pigment.
The office also offers treatments for eczema and rashes, the removal of moles and warts, as well as skin cancer screening and treatment.
Clinical dermatology treatments for conditions like psoriasis, eczema and rashes such lichen planus, an inflammatory skin condition, characterized by an itchy, non-infectious rash of small, pink or purple lesions, include topical and oral medications. Bay Dermatology also uses XTRAC laser therapy for psoriasis, which uses targeted UVB light to treat the condition without damaging surrounding healthy tissue.
An extensive menu of aesthetic services, such as fillers, facials, Botox, peels and laser hair removal, also are available for consideration. Agriesti suggests having a customized, personal skin care consultation as a good starting point in providing patients with recommendations for treatments and products.
Therapeutic facials offer a way to freshen your appearance and the Bay Skin Care Signature facial treatment brings together the cosmetic benefits of antioxidants, serums, light chemical peel, extraction and facial massage topped off with a mask-treatment application. There’s also a facial geared toward the specific needs of teen complexions, as well as a “Just for Men” routine that aims to ease irritations like razor burn and promote a well-groomed appearance.
Chemical peels include glycolic, vitamin C and therapeutic combinations of salicylic and lactic acids as well as retinol and resorcinol. Generally, peels are intended to minimize the signs of aging, such as wrinkles, but Bay Dermatology’s VI Peel is a deep peel that aims to reduce if not eliminate blemishes such as age spots, freckles and acne scars as well. Many patients use the clinic’s aesthetician services as part of their post-operative care for cosmetic, laser and other surgical procedures.
Dr. Adam E. Bennett, MD, PhD, joined Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office last year.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville and continued his education in dermatology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, completing his dermatology residency at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, and Florida Hospital Tampa.
Dr. Bennett is Board-certified in dermatology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. His Ph.D. was earned at Cambridge University in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
According to Dr. Bennett, even though Bay Dermatology treats patients throughout the Tampa Bay area, it comes down to the one-on-one relationship between the patient and his or her dermatologist, which he frames thusly:
“What would you do if it was your own family member or yourself?”
“Every single person who comes through the door is treated that way, with the best principles of excellence in medicine applied to their situation,” says Dr. Bennett, who adds that while he isn’t fluent in Spanish, he is competent in “medical Spanish,” meaning he can communicate on medical issues with patients who prefer to speak Spanish.
“We try to give optimal time to our patients when they’re in the room with the doctor and treat all of our patients like they’re members of our own family,” office manager Vanessa Kirschner says.
Kirschner says that Bay Dermatology accepts a large number of insurance plans and will try to schedule same-day appointments if requested.
Kirschner’s patient-reception colleague, Anntoinette Sheppard, offers advice that will make your introduction to Bay Dermatology more efficient and easier overall.
“If you print out the paperwork (from our website), and have it filled out when you come in, it speeds up the process and I can get you in the back,” Sheppard says.
Dr. Bennett says sometimes a patient’s first visit is a quest for an answer to an internal query, such as wondering if you have skin cancer. “If you have something you’re worried about,” he says, “that’s a great reason to come in.”
Concern over a mole during a skin cancer screening prompted New Tampa resident Katie Floyd to visit Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office.
“You have to be aware of what’s going on with your body and if you see something that’s grown or changed color it’s a good idea to have it checked out,” says Floyd.
Floyd added that her experience at Bay Dermatology has been a good one, and conveniently located near her New Tampa residence.
The consensus among Google Reviewers about Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office is positive, with a score of 4.9 out of five possible stars from 11 reviews, among them, Vicki Barnitt’s five-star rating.
“Dr. Bennett was very thorough, friendly, and explained all procedures,’’ she wrote. “Staff are courteous and everything ran smoothly and on time during both of my appointments. Highly recommend Bay Dermatology!”
On The Cutting Edge
In addition to being a resource for personal skin health and cosmetic care, Bay Dermatology is undertaking initiatives that could bring cutting-edge, state-of-the art dermatological and cosmetic treatments and procedures to Wesley Chapel and New Tampa residents.
Dr. Bennett, who says he has a professional interest in research, says that Bay Dermatology is making big investments in research on behalf of its patients in the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area.
“(Bay Dermatology) just opened our new clinical research center (in Pinellas County) and my goal is to expand it to all offices, including Wesley Chapel,” he says.
By adding research capability, Bennett says Bay Dermatology will be able to ensure the efficacy and safety of the medical grade cosmetics it offers, and also work with national researchers who are developing experimental treatments for skin diseases such as psoriasis.
Bay Dermatology’s Wesley Chapel office is located at 2653 BBD, Suite 120A. For more information or to make an appointment, visit BayDermatology.com or call (813) 514-0823.
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