I have been a patient of Dr. Zanelli's for the past couple of years, and he has been marvelous. At first I came in for IPL to get a few "wisdom spots" zapped and hadn't returned in a while since the results were long-lasting. However, I suddenly had a severe bout of dermatitis, which stumped my GP as well as my insurance-covered medical dermatologist. Given the dermatitis was not responding to the recommended treatment, and I had been suffering for *months*, I came to Dr. Zanelli for a second opinion, willing to pay out of pocket for his expertise. Dr. Zanelli treated my dermatitis promptly and effectively, and I can't say how much better my quality of life is thanks to his intervention and treatment. The treatment program was simple, but Dr. Zanelli's experience meant that he knew exactly what to recommend and how to help fix my issue, immediately. I think I would have been red, itchy, and angry forever if I hadn't seen Dr. Zanelli! Case in point, he is a wonderful cosmetic AND medical dermatologist who genuinely wants to help his patients feel happy and healthy. Last month, I had a vascular laser treatment done on those unsightly little spider veins on my ankles with excellent results. They bothered me for years, but I was fearful of getting laser done. I trust Dr. Zanelli, so I went for it. I will have to return to take care of the remainder, and I have the utmost confidence that Dr. Zanelli will be able to finish 'em off! Last but not least, he is priced reasonably, does all the procedures himself (not an assistant), is incredibly honest, and is a bit of a Renaissance man--we've had fun conversations about music, art, etc. He feels like a friend, except he's a doctor. :) You won't regret it. I have referred two other friends to Dr. Zanelli, and they have in turn, thanked ME for referring them to him. He's a blessing, and I hope he continues seeing patients for years to come! Thank you, Dr. Zanelli! read more

There is no one else I would ever see for Botox. I learned my lesson from a prior bad experience with a doctor who didn't place the shots right. Honestly, I thought I'd never try it again, but then decided to visit Dr. Zanelli for a very small tumor just under the skin in my arm that he expertly removed. When I learned he also did Botox, I asked to try a treatment. Dr. Zanelli is not just a lovely person to chat with, he is an expert who leaves you looking perfect. read more

I'm so thankful Dr. Zanelli is still taking care of his patients during this crazy time. I've seen Dr. Z four times since the onset of the pandemic, and I have always felt safe and well-cared for. He moved to a different office space on the same floor of the same building. The front office is much larger, making social distancing easy. The office also staggers patients, so it's rare to find yourself waiting with another patient. All Covid protocols are followed: temp check, masking, etc... I also love the new online booking process. My hair salon uses the same software - oh how I miss my hair salon during the pandemic! Roots are in, right?? Yesterday (01/12/2021), I saw Dr. Z for a new seborrheic keratosis on my face. So annoying and unsightly, but thankfully benign. I had one on my nose (Ack!) back in 2016, and Dr. Z got in there with liquid nitrogen and froze that sucker right off! I was thrilled he left no scar behind, which is why I went back to him yesterday so he could work his magic. Relatively painless during and completely painless after, and I again expect no scar. Dr. Z no longer takes insurance, but the out of pocket cost for the nitrogen zap was far less than I thought it would be, which is much appreciated on an educator's salary. The office also gave me a document to submit to my insurance, which I can do online for partial reimbursement - easy peasy and so worth it for peace of mind and no scarring. I returned today (01/13/2021) for some aesthetic procedures - one that I've done once before with Dr. Z, and another I had not. I was expecting at least a few days of downtime and some bruising based on my online research. I figured I'd cover the bruising with my face mask (that's one indirect convenience of masking up, yah?), but I'm thrilled to look in the mirror and see no bruising at all! What I do see is a thoughtfully and artfully younger looking me, which according to Dr. Z will look even better over the next two weeks. Bring it on! Also cool - I needed a quick prescription yesterday, which he immediately sent to my local Walgreens. He used to give paper prescriptions, but he's made the process much easier by sending it electronically, which I greatly appreciated. As always, Dr. Z is so pleasant and calming and helpful and knowledgeable, and his proverbial bedside manner is impeccable. I also find him wonderfully conservative in his aesthetic approach - or maybe he's just doing a great job reading the room. Less is more, more or less. :) Obviously I'm a fan. I think the saying asserts the trifecta of needs is a good lawyer, a good accountant, and a good mechanic. I'm adding a fourth: if you need a great dermatologist with a kind heart, a brilliant brain, pinpoint precision, ethical standards, and an artistic eye, Dr. Zanelli is your guy. read more

I went to Dr. Zanelli to get an annual skin exam. I have had many such exams in the past with different dermatologists. It usually involves removing all your clothing, putting on a robe, and the doctor exams each mole individually for irregularities. My past dermatologists have used a light/magnifying thing to go over moles. When I visited Dr. Zanelli I was taken to a small room and asked to undress and lay a paper gown on top of myself. When Dr. Zanelli entered the room, he had a female nurse with him, but due to the position of the door and the hallway, anyone in the hallway could have seen me with barely anything covering me. It was unnerving and made me feel uncomfortable. I shared with Dr. Zanelli that I have a past history of irregular moles that have been removed; including two that came back concerning and were removed through minor surgeries. He didn't seem concerned at all. He spent MAYBE 5 minutes with me total; barely glanced at any of my moles and told me they all looked "just fine". He did not use a light or magnifying glass. It was the least thorough skin exam I have had in over 10 years. I will not be returning to this office, and recommend that if your primary concern is a skin exam, you look elsewhere. read more

Update: Like Gary C., I've also been threatened with a lawsuit from Dr. Zanelli for posting a negative review. Nice attitude doc! For those that know me, you know that I never slam a business without due cause. I believe my history as a Yelper speaks for itself. On May 7th, I visited Dr. Zanelli to get a skin check up. He said I looked fine, although there was one bump on my head which could be removed. He then told me, without checking or asking about what my policy covered, that my health insurance wouldn't cover it so I would have to pay the total amount of $350. I value my health, and so I went along with his professional opinion. So, the surgery takes about 10-15min, and presto we're done. As he's cleaning up he takes a look at my face and sees one pimple which he asks if he can pop. I say sure, whatever makes you happy doc! He pulls out a little metal prod and pops the sucker. Fast forward, I get a bill in the mail with the following charges, New Patient E&M 200.00, Acne Surgery (yeah SURGERY!) 210.00, Pathology Level 125.00. This does not include the 350.00 I forked over on the day of the visit. The total charges for a 20min visit were $885.00. Pathology Level is standard, New Patient E&M, standard, however Acne Surgery is excessive, and it turns out my insurance would have partially covered the bump on my head. Regardless of who you end up seeing, I highly recommend asking before your visit what will be billed and how much it will cost. This will save you lot's of trouble. read more

I had been suffering from plantar warts for quite a few years and had been to a couple of podiatrists who each tried a different experimental treatment that didn't work. I got a referral from my primary care physician to Dr Zanelli and his office got me in quickly. Dr Zanelli took his time to explain his technique which was a bit painful but it worked and cured the warts finally. I was very happy with the care I received as well as the great office staff. read more

I found Dr. Zanelli to be a complete jerk, entirely uninterested in the problems I asked him to address, and focused on creating problems that he could hand out samples, scrips, and charges for. Yes, he has a nice office. But I have more than a strong suspicion that he's a frustrated artist who turned to dermatology to pay the bills. (Look at the degrees on his walls; obviously music didn't work out for him, so he had to get a "real" job.) My suspicions were confirmed when, a few months after visiting him, his office denied refills on some of the (common) medicines he'd prescribed. They said I needed to come see him again. Come on. I had mild acne, possibly rosacea. Like I need to see him again for that? He'd done nothing invasive or exploratory on me; he basically spent five minutes looking at my dry legs and reddish face. Not to mention, he was a condescending bitch throughout the visit. read more

I went to the office for a simple wart removal. First year med school stuff and I let myself get talked into a new injectable treatment that he touted as being less painful. Who wants to be in pain? Three treatments later and its worse. Mysteriously my office visit charge shot up as well even though I have a great PPO plan. I'm in the office for less than 5 minutes for an injection and my bill goes from $45 dollars a visit to $195. He's a nice guy but I'd say get your bill straight and your expectations clear before you start any treatment. I am down over $300 for a wart and am worse off than when I went in. I'm going to follow the post recommendation to see Kurtis Opp. read more

I wish that I still lived in San Francisco so that I could see Dr. Zanelli again. When I went to see him for my acne, I was really shocked by how sympathetic and personable he was. My problem was minimal, yet he took the maximum amount of time to talk to me. He's so sweet! He even gave me a discount for my consultation fee since I didn't have insurance. If you check his website, you'll see that he's a very talented artist and pianist too! Also, I read that he goes out of his way to help AIDS patients deal with their skin problems with some innovative techniques that he invented! His staff is amazing too! Anytime I called for refills or appointments, they were extremely helpful and nice. read more

Pretty unpleasant experience. Won't send my prescriptions so I have to take a physical piece of paper and get it to my pharmacy. Also the doctor was not warm or friendly. I did get a prescription so I guess I'll see how it works on my acne but no patience for my questions or visible desire to actually help me out. read more

I was referred to Zanelli many years ago by my primary care doctor in the same building. It was not a good experience. The receptionist was aloof about my older/tattered but still very much valid insurance card and curtly suggested I get a new one. I felt like they would much rather be seeing folks to do fancy plastic surgery than baseline medical skin care, and that I was a nuisance to them. I went elsewhere and have had much better experiences. read more

In this day of rushed doctors, who make snap assements of medical issues and are more focused on taking 6 patients an hour than being thorough advocates for each patient, it was refreshing to have found Dr. Zanelli. If you want the whole package; knowledge, compassion, skill, experience...this IS your guy. I would also like to add that I'm loving his new office and location at CPMC, proud of him for his recent article in 7X7 as the go to Dermatologist in SF + always happy to see Daniella who keeps everything flowing smoothly in his office:) read more

I have looked through all the reviews and put them in order by date. It appears that most of the 1-2 ratings are in 2008. Also, what I found was that the type of behavior that everyone states that they experienced from him had the same pattern in 2008. SO, I can only deduce that something really bad either in his personal life or in his business dealing. But, again I am guessing. NO matter what was going on in his person/business, this does not excuse the "alleged" behavior that the reviewers are comment on and does not excuse the "alleged" verbal abuse/ not offering ("alleged) full payment disclosure in any situation. I have been a patient on and off for 6 years. I have a skin type that requires a doctor who has a certain expertise in this area. I have not had a problem so far and my adult acne has gone away after I started using the Retinal drops, Glycolic Gel, Salicylic Face wash that he sells. It worked for me within two week; I have tried a lot of other brands that just burned my face, dried it out and really did not do the trick so, it was great that his stuff worked so fast. After going to another doctor, lets call him Dr. A, who did not spend any type examining my scalp problem nor did the Dr. A physically examine my ongoing scalp problem, nor did the Dr. A do a complete skin examination as I requested: , I went back to Dr. Zanelli and he was able to diagnose my scalp properly (it was a problem for over 2 years) and give me the meds to clear it up plus suggested over the counter products that were very effective. Also, Dr. Zanelli gave me free mini-samples to take care of a lot of my issues. Also, they have free mini-soap and other cleaners sample in the large bowl located on the coffee table in their lobby. I have never seen that in any doctor's office. That was new to me. I love the classical music, the Italian paintings etc. It feels very relaxing to wait in the lobby. Most doctors don't take the time to decorate their waiting lobby in a manner than reflects their personal taste and passions outside their profession. I like that. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is the prices are a bit steep, but I am willing to pay because I am getting the results I want and it is on the Bus line that stops right in front of the clinic. read more

Gaetano Zanelli, MD - Z Skin Center's Logo - Dermatologists Near Me - San Francisco, California

Disappointed with my experience for two reasons: 1) Dr. Zanelli would only do one procedure per visit, even if the procedures are easy/minor. Not convenient to return to the office multiple times. Also was not told about this policy in advance. 2) The office will not call in prescriptions to a pharmacy. Again, requires extra hassle which I haven't seen at other doctors. Otherwise he was friendly and seemed knowledgeable. But the lack of convenience was a deal breaker for me. read more

I ignored other yelpers' negative reviews of Dr. Zanelli. I urge you to not make the same mistake. First, I was billed twice. Then, I was denied a prescription that was earlier promised to me. Apparently, I needed to visit the doctor again after being offered the prescription a few weeks prior. In short, it will save you time, money and frustration if you avoid this doctor. My experience with Dr. Zanelli inspired me to write my first yelp review (too bad it has to be so negative). read more

I wanted to update my review for Dr. Z. The more you get to know him the more you see that he is caring, attentive, generous, and-above all-professional. He tries to create a relaxing and calming atmosphere, which starts you first enter his lobby. His receptionist is kind and lovely and bubbly. The other thing that was reassuring is that Dr. Z is well aware of current literature and new developments in dermatology and he uses it in practice. Also, he's quite knowledgeable about treatments and their history. he also has a great ability to offer context and explanation which does put this particular patient at ease. Trustworthy and attentive. I would recommend him very highly. read more

My family has been using Dr. Zanelli for the last two years and have nothing but wonderful experiences to report. He's great at explaining himself and any issue that we have (including our two sons acne issues), he has great bedside manner, and seems to be an overall excellent and caring physician. His practice is located very close to public transit, his waitingroom is *very* warm and well maintained, great staff too! All in all I feel very comfortable and confident putting my dermatological needs into his caring and capable hands. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Zanelli for about 20 years. He is a "go to" expert resource for any dermatological issue. I recently saw him for a routine skin check which led to several sequential procedures. He explained everything in detail, offered options and recommended the ideal course of therapy. I feel fortunate to have such a compassionate and knowledgeable specialist caring for me. read more

I am always pleased with Dr Zanelli's service, staff and skin care products. I have had a number of procedures done over the past 12 years with him and can think of no other dermatologist who I'd trust more. read more

Gaetano Zanelli, MD - Getting stitches removed today. Looking forward to a new arm! - Dermatologists Near Me - San Francisco, California

Time and time again I have fantastic experiences with Dr.Z and his staff. I will repeat my previous review (and FYI Buzz B, I'm not getting paid in fillers by anyone to write a good review and it is insulting that you would imply that I was lying) Like I was saying..... Dr. Z is professional, kind, patient and thorough, and I have had nothing but the most pleasurable of experiences. I don't know about you but I want my physician to give me the facts clearly (with a tiny bit of sugar) not pet my hair and feed into my hysteria (I have plenty on my own). Honest opinions, clear explanations, great service. read more

This was my first experience ever with any kind of surgery. Dr.Zanelli made sure that I was comfortable all the way through, he was courteous and very receptive to my concerns. Everything went without a a glitch, and completely painless! He then told me how to handle the area so it would heal fast and avoid infection. I really can't say a bad thing about my experience. I am very glad I picked him for this, and I will definitely be coming back with future concerns. Thanks Dr.Zanelli! read more

Nutshell: Positive experience--staff and doctor sensitive to my budget (paying out of pocket). Felt like Dr. Z weighed pros and cons with me regarding certain cosmetic procedures, and waited patiently while I sorted it all out (went with the Botox). Office assistant was also very patient and helpful with all my queries. I also felt like the prices were reasonable...and Dr. Z treats you himself instead of relying on an assistant to give an injectible as other offices sometimes do. Tip--if you have time, look for parking elsewhere than the parking structure. $8. for and hour an a half. read more

Still being a patient of Dr. Zanelli's as well as several friends, I still feel the need the sing his praises after another recent visit. Truly the top of the pack! I couldn't help but notice a recent post concerning a "payment" issue from a patient of Dr. Zanelli's. I had to laugh that this patient who has "regular" visits feels it's Danielle's responsibility to monitor who has what insurance, etc. and call each one and inform them of such. My primary care doctor is with a major hospital here in San Francisco. It's my responsibility to make sure the insurance is current, not assume all is well and UCSF would never call me with that information. The patient is ultimately responsible! And Danielle's soft spoken disposition makes it difficult to believe she scolds anyone. I felt I had to defend this office as this Yelp Review seems out of character. read more

[+] Fast and observant. He diagnosed my rosacea within minutes of looking at my skin, something another dermatologist did not catch or care to divulge [-] Impersonable, quick to hand over pamphlets rather than review details or alternate options to expensive treatments read more

Dr. Zanelli is amazing. Top notch skin care in an office that doesn't feel rushed. Hard to find a doctor these days that treats patients rather than diseases. read more

Terrible experience. While I do not question his skill, his business practice is deplorable. After being told by the receptionist that they would take my insurance, I received a bill for the entire cost. Even though I understand it is my responsibility to check my own coverage, I would like to think I can rely on them to be thorough and honest. Also, compared to other dermatologist I have visited, his prices seemed extremely inflated. Judging from the other posts, I can't wait for him to let out the hounds, aka lawyers, on me. Maybe he should spend more time improving his customer service than reading yelp reviews. read more

My first appointment with Dr. Z will certainly be my last. He essentially didn't want to help me (even though I had enough time blocked off for an in-office procedure) and told me to go see a plastic surgeon because the area of concern was a dermatological issue on my breast. I think he's just not a fan of breasts, to be honest, which is fine, but if you're a doctor you're going to have to get past it. Told me to go see an acquaintance plastic surgeon (who obviously will not fall under my health insurance) that "loves breasts." I have never been so offended and mortified in a doctor's office in all my life. I of course was charged for that ~60 second appointment, a total wasn't of my time and money. read more

Dr. Z. ROCKS!!! He has been my dermatologist for close to 10 years. What makes him superior to other physicians? Here's my list: (1) Technical skill - Dr. Zanelli is meticulous about everything he does--exams, diagnosis, treatment--and I completely trust his level of knowledge, competence, and expertise; (2) Individualized service - Dr. Z knows who I am, asks about my partner and my life, and makes me feel comfortable being examined and treated. He always treats me himself, and really knows my history; (3) Caring - Dr. Z. follows up with me and is always on top of my health. Unlike most doctors who offer cosmetic services in addition to medical treatment, he NEVER pushes any of them on me nor even asks me if I'm interested. This helps me to really trust that he has my best interests at heart; (4) Artistry - Dr. Z is the consummate artist. While his ultimate concern is clearly the patient's health, he is incredibly careful in procedures to prevent scarring, and his aesthetic sensibility in cosmetic work is incredible. I highty recommend Dr. Zanelli and can see why he was recently ranked among the top 100 dermatologists in the country. read more

I'm not one for writing reviews, but I feel compelled. Dr. Zanelli was one of the nicest, most informative doctors I've been to. He bent over backwards to help me with my lack of insurance issues - and really went out of his way. I think he's wonderful! read more

I have been a patient of Dr Zanelli for many years; due to skin cancer, which requires regular visits. I trust him implicitly. Out of the blue I get a bill for nearly $275. Danielle the receptionist actually scolded me, a retired man. I am well insured, and never have co-payments. Dr Zanelli no longer does business with my secondary insurance carrier, but never told me. Maybe it's Danielle's responsibility. I asked to speak to Guy Zanelli and Danelle told me he doesn't take calls.Not informing me he no longer accepts my secondary insurance is unprofessional at best. Not taking my call, or calling me back is ABSOLUTELY NOT "Best Practice" as an MD is ethnically bound to do. What does it say about an MD who thinks he's too good to call a patient? read more

Great service as always. I have been to see Dr. Zanelli a couple times now for various treatments, and he is always prompt, professional, and reasonably priced. He fully explains the procedures he recommends and what I should I expect after I leave the office. He simply does a great job and I would highly recommend him to anyone. read more

Nice enough, but would echo the shady billing other people have stated - changing dermatologists today after I have now recieved the 2nd questionable bill read more

I've been a patient of Dr. Z' now for about 5 years. He and his office staff are totally awesome. First, his rates for Botox, etc hasn't increased in years! You can't say that about hardly anything these days! Second, when ever I need to see Dr Z, he always can schedule me in within a day or two. Third, he is incredibly professional and knows his stuff! Go see Dr Z!! read more

I've been a patient of Dr. Zanelli for a number of years for a number of different procedures. I've found him to be very top notch and competent. They don't take my insurance (I have to bill them directly) but that's how medical care used to work - what that means is lower prices due to lower overhead. Fine by me...45 cents for a stamp to save on overhead staff to do billing...no biggie. read more

A VERY long time to sit in his waiting room, along with others who were also delayed. Though the appt was made 4 weeks in advance and confirmed the day before, it appears that Gaetano Zanelli overbooks his schedule to maximize his revenues. At the expense of his patients' time. His lack of an apology didn't help; instead I received a "We do the best we can." The same can be said of many incompetent organizations. There can be great distance between a provider's "best" and the customer's "adequate." Not only won't I return, but two friends who've asked about a dermatologist for semi-annual check-ups won't hear about him either. Time to find a new physician in this specialty. read more

I would not recommend Dr. Zanelli, at all. The tipping point for me was when I overheard him yelling at his staff from the reception area. This made me feel VERY uncomfortable, not to mention how the staff person must have felt being yelled at in front of a reception area full of clients. I felt like this was completely unprofessional and unacceptable behavior from a "doctor". On one of my last visits, he asked me "does your face hurt?" Evidentially, I have some tiny spider veins on my nose that I had never noticed before, and they certainly didn't hurt. It felt like he was fishing for some business. It's been over three years since I last saw him and I still don't notice any spider veins on my nose. Just my two cents... read more

Dr. Zanelli and Daniela are genuinely caring professionals. Dr. Zanelli is also one of the few dermatologists that is very hands on. I trust Dr. Zanelli with my full range of skin concerns ranging from cosmetic to medical. I couldn't be more happy with my care at Z Skin Center. read more

Solved my problem. Great bedside manner! Highly recommend him. Also, very close to the 24 bus route. Easy to get to!

Has to be one of the worst doctor's visits I've had. He rattled off my treatment options, and then when I asked for them in writing he literally looked me in the eye and said "I don't have time for that." There were no other patients in the waiting room when I left, and my appointment went by quickly. Would love to know what he considered a more valuable use of this time. read more

I've seen Dr. Zanelli several times for cosmetic procedures. He takes the time to really listen to me and to understand what I want, and to explain the procedures ahead of time. He has always done a great job, and had a great bedside manner. read more