Vanguard Skin Specialists

What Vanguard Skin Specialists does

Vanguard Skin Specialists is a physician-owned dermatology practice founded in 2009 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, by Dr. Vinh Chung and Leisle Chung. It operates 10 clinic locations across Southern Colorado, including four sites in Colorado Springs (Briargate, Northgate, Central, and Broadmoor), and additional offices in Pueblo, Castle Rock, Cañon City, and Woodland Park, plus monthly satellite clinics inside Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo and Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta. The company delivers medical dermatology for conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and skin cancer; Mohs micrographic surgery with same-day plastic surgery reconstruction at select sites; a dedicated high-risk skin cancer clinic and dermatopathology; and a full aesthetic line spanning neurotoxins, dermal fillers, Sculptra, Kybella, laser and IPL devices, chemical peels, microneedling, PRP, and digital skin analysis via VISIA. The practice is led by 10 named physicians plus PAs and NPs, with fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons, dermatopathologists, and facial plastic surgeons recruited from programs at Harvard, Emory, Tulane, Boston University, and the Mayo Clinic.

The business model is direct-to-consumer healthcare. Patient acquisition occurs through the vanguardskin.com website, online appointment booking via Luma Health, the NextGen patient portal, newsletter marketing, earned regional media coverage, and community outreach. Revenue is generated from three streams: medical and surgical dermatology services billed through insurance and patient responsibility (per a Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act); cash-pay aesthetic services; and retail sales of the proprietary Clara medical-grade skincare line through shopclara.com. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; insurance coverage drives medical revenue while aesthetics contribute higher-margin cash revenue. Service delivery is physician-led with a partnership track; the practice is HIPAA-compliant, physician-owned, and operates without disclosed venture capital or private equity backing, with reinvestment funding ongoing facility expansion including a new Pueblo surgery center under construction as of February 2026.

Name

Vanguard Skin Specialists

Legal name

Vanguard Medical Specialists, LLC

Website

https://vanguardskin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vanguard Skin Specialists is a physician-owned dermatology practice operating 10 clinics across Southern Colorado, providing medical and surgical dermatology, Mohs surgery, plastic surgery, aesthetic services, and a proprietary medical-grade skincare line (Clara) to individual patients across urban and rural communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dermatology Services

NAICS

Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners (621399)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

General & Medical Dermatology (HLAKACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Procedural Dermatology (Office-Based Surgery) (HLAKACAG), Dermatopathology (HLAKACAC), Medical-Grade / Clinical Facials (Dermatology & Med Spa) (HSALADAN)

Keywords

• Dermatology services
• Mohs surgery
• Plastic surgery
• Cosmetic treatments
• Medical-grade skincare

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Medical and Surgical Dermatology Services: Revenue generated from comprehensive dermatology services including general dermatology consultations, skin cancer detection and treatment, Mohs micrographic surgery, plastic surgery reconstruction, pediatric dermatology, women's dermatology, and management of chronic skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and acne.
2. Aesthetic and Cosmetic Services: Revenue from aesthetic treatments including neurotoxins (BOTOX), dermal fillers, Sculptra, Kybella, laser and device treatments (Laser Genesis, LimeLight IPL, laser hair reduction), skin treatments (chemical peels, dermaplaning, DiamondGlow, SkinPen microneedling, Plasma IQ, PRP for hair loss), and digital skin analysis.
3. Retail Skincare Products: Sale of Clara branded medical-grade skincare products including hydroxy acids, retinoids, and gentle exfoliation products through shopclara.com.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vanguard Skin Specialists is a physician-owned dermatology practice providing comprehensive medical, surgical, and cosmetic skin care. Core services include general and medical dermatology, Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer with same-day plastic surgery reconstruction, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and aesthetic treatments such as injectables, laser and device therapies, and skin treatments. The practice also sells Clara, a proprietary medical-grade skincare product line through shopclara.com.

Product overview

Vanguard Skin Specialists is a dermatology practice offering a comprehensive portfolio of medical and aesthetic services organized across three main categories: Dermatology (medical skin care including skin cancer detection and treatment, acne, eczema, psoriasis, and general dermatology conditions), Surgery (Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer and plastic/reconstructive surgery), and Aesthetics (cosmetic treatments including injectables like BOTOX and dermal fillers, laser and device treatments such as Laser Genesis and LimeLight IPL, and skin treatments including chemical peels, microneedling, and DiamondGlow). They also sell Clara, a proprietary medical-grade skincare product line. The practice operates multiple locations throughout Colorado with in-house specialists for complete skin cancer care from detection through surgical treatment and reconstruction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clara: Medical-grade skincare product line sold through shopclara.com

Products and services

• General and Medical Dermatology Services Comprehensive medical dermatology care for diagnosis and treatment of acne, skin allergies, concerning spots/lesions/moles, cysts, eczema, dermatitis, skin infections, pediatric skin conditions, psoriasis, rosacea, warts, and women's dermatology concerns. For patients across Southern Colorado.
• Skin Cancer Treatment Complete skin cancer care including detection, basal and squamous cell carcinoma treatment, melanoma care, High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic, Total Body Skin Exams, and dermatopathology services for patients with or at risk of skin cancer.
• Mohs Micrographic Surgery Tissue-sparing micrographic surgery for skin cancer removal with same-day plastic surgery reconstruction available at select locations. Provided by fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons for patients with basal cell, squamous cell carcinoma, and other skin cancers.
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery services, including reconstruction following skin cancer surgery or trauma, performed by board-certified plastic surgeons and facial plastic surgeons for patients requiring repair or aesthetic enhancement.
• BOTOX Cosmetic and Neurotoxin Injectables Cosmetic neurotoxin injectables such as BOTOX for wrinkle reduction and facial rejuvenation. For adult patients seeking non-surgical anti-aging treatments.
• Dermal Fillers, Kybella, and Sculptra Injectables Injectable fillers including dermal fillers for facial volume restoration and contouring, Kybella for reduction of submental fat (double chin), and Sculptra for collagen-stimulating facial volume restoration. For adult patients seeking non-surgical facial rejuvenation.
• Laser Genesis Skin Rejuvenation Laser device treatment for skin rejuvenation, reducing redness, and improving skin texture. For adult patients seeking non-surgical skin improvement.
• LimeLight IPL Therapy Intense Pulsed Light therapy for treating sun damage, redness, and pigmentation irregularities. For adult patients seeking skin tone correction.
• Laser Hair Reduction Laser-based hair removal treatment for long-term reduction of unwanted hair. For adult patients seeking hair removal services.
• Chemical Peels

Quantifiable outcome

• Net Promoter Score of 94
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• World VisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership with World Vision, the largest Christian humanitarian organization in the world. Vanguard has supported child protection projects in Cambodia (2010-2020) and Rwanda (2012-2023) through this partnership. Dr. Vinh Chung serves on the Board of Directors for World Vision.
• Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center (AVRMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVanguard operates a satellite dermatology clinic in the Specialty Suite at Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta, Colorado, open the first Monday of each month, providing local access to dermatology services.
• Lincoln Community HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVanguard operates a satellite dermatology clinic inside Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo, Colorado, open the second Tuesday of each month, providing local access to dermatology services in this rural community.
• Luma HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationLuma Health provides the online patient scheduling platform used by Vanguard Skin Specialists for appointment booking, enabling patients to self-schedule dermatology appointments online.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery: Large multi-location dermatology group offering medical dermatology, Mohs surgery, and aesthetic services across multiple U.S. states. Closely comparable to Vanguard in integrated service mix and physician-led model.
• Anne Arundel Dermatology: Multi-site dermatology practice providing medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. Comparable to Vanguard in offering full-continuum skin care including Mohs and aesthetics across a regional footprint.
• Forefront Dermatology: Regional dermatology group operating numerous clinics across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic with medical, Mohs, and aesthetic services. Comparable multi-site integrated model to Vanguard.
• Schweiger Dermatology Group: Northeast-based multi-location dermatology platform offering medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. Direct competitor in the multi-site, full-service dermatology practice model.
• US Dermatology Partners: PE-backed national dermatology platform with extensive Colorado presence offering medical, Mohs, and aesthetic services. Key competitive comparable given Colorado footprint overlap.
• Qualderm Partners: PE-backed dermatology practice network across the Southeast and Midwest providing medical and cosmetic dermatology. Comparable as a scaled multi-site dermatology group.
• Dermatology Associates (various regional groups): Multi-location physician-owned dermatology groups offering comprehensive medical and surgical dermatology. Comparable in integrated specialty care and physician partnership model.
• Apex Dermatology: Multi-site Ohio-based dermatology practice offering medical, surgical, and aesthetic services. Comparable in scale, service mix, and regional concentration.
• Riverchase Dermatology: Florida-based multi-location dermatology group offering medical, Mohs, cosmetic, and plastic surgery services. Comparable in full-service offering and integrated surgical capability.

Regional players

• California Dermatology Specialists: West Coast multi-location dermatology practice comparable in medical and cosmetic service breadth, but operating in a different geography from Vanguard's Colorado base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vanguard Skin Specialists