By Clarke Stackhouse | Shelby County Reporter

A new dermatology practice serving Clanton and Alabaster will soon be opening for patients.

True Dermatology started by Dr. Raj Patel will have a home office in Alabaster across from the Shelby Baptist Medical Center. Patel said he will split his time between his home office and his father’s, Dr. Ajay Patel, practice at Clanton Internal Medicine.

“I know both communities closely,” Raj Patel said. “I’m excited to come back and be able to serve them.”

Raj Patel grew up in Shelby County and graduated from Kingwood Christian School in Alabaster. He received his undergraduate degree from Birmingham-Southern College and went to medical school at University of Alabama at Birmingham.

He said he completed his fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery at UAB. Micrographic surgery is an intricate technique that uses a microscope to locate and operate on cancer cells. Patel said the treatment is 99 percent effective on new cases of skin cancer and 95 percent effective on recurrent cancers.

“It does a really good job removing the diseases,” Patel said. “It takes the smallest amount of tissue needed, so it’s a minimally invasive procedure.”

Raj Patel plans to focus on treating all types of skin cancer, raising awareness and removing it in the safest way possible. Patel said the micrographic treatment is 99 percent effective on new cases of skin cancer and 95 percent effective on recurrent cancers.

He said the office will be able to do everything in house from surgeries to simple skin screenings. The office will have six operating rooms to schedule surgeries efficiently.

Raj Patel said the office will do general dermatological procedures as well, such as acne treatments, rashes and abrasions. He said they will offer provide some basic cosmetic procedures.

“We want to be able to offer patients everything in one place,” Raj Patel said. “I’m happy to be back where my home roots are.”

The office will open on Aug. 1 and is accepting patients now by calling the office at (205) 624-2100.