McLaren Health Care Bariatric Services Bariatric Center

Top of his field! I travel just short of 100 miles to have him as my doctor. I had a Lap-Band done ib 2011 and lost 53 pounds. Surgery went smooth and recovery was great. Stopped losing in early 2014 and developed severe stomach pain. Ulcers were the cause and I started having stomach spasms shortly afterwards. The gastric sleeve was suggested and was just wondering if there are others out there that have had this conversion done. I usually heal up pretty quick and have no problem following directions. Please send feed back. I can deal better with things that I know are coming so any tips that you have would be great. I am scheduled for my conversion 08/20/14.

I had sleeve surgery with Dr pesta 5 weeks ago. I have never met a more caring doctor, ever! While in the hospital I had the dry heaves and this Dr stood there with me rubbing my back. 1 week after surgery I had a tearing pain in one of the incisions and he met me in the bariatric center on a busy surgery day to check me out and even gave me his cell number in case I needed to contact him. He cares about each and everyone of his patients, sincerely. He shares your weight loss victories as well as any concerns. His entire staff is amazng from the day you decide to go through the process. And are there to help with anything you need. If you want an amazing surgeon and an amazing experience; call Dr pesta.

Im currently halfway through my 6 month medically supervised weight loss program. Workong with staff at Mclaren has great I look forward to the hour drive every month just laugh with the staff. The dietian is a real joy and really knows her stuff. Only meet with Dr. Dabideen for the consult bit he was very frienfly and explained everything and gave me slot of timr. The waot was only aboit 25 mins.. Its going yp be bitter sweet when i dont get to make trip anymore. I highly recommened them..

I have always been very back in forth with getting bariatrics I have a few friends that have had it and the results are incredible, but none of them follow up with their doctor and their doctors don't check up on them and they just gave me weird vibes. I was refereed to Dr. Pesta through my wonderful PCP who personally knows Dr. Pesta and he told me to go talk to him and that he isn't like a lot of doctors because Dr. Pesta like myself actually care and want to help you. So I meet with Dr. Pesta first let me just say the man dresses like a young Frank Sinatra very clean cut and handsome, but I didn't get that bad vibe I got from a few other surgeons I met with, he came in introduced himself "a lot of doc sadly don't do this anymore" shook my hand made me feel very comfortable and at ease. He answered all my questions without making me feel dumb for not knowing them and he didnt give me that rushed feeling a lot of doctors do, he actually took the time to talk to me and actually cared. Was very detailed and kind and just a very wonderful caring doctor. I highly recommend him if you are looking to get any bariatric surgery. Also his staff is probably the friendliest nicest professional caring staff I have ever seen in my 27 years and I am very picky when it comes to what doctor I see. It has been 4 months since my surgery and I am down 85lbs and I am beyond excited to go to the doctors and actually get on the scale now lol... I enjoy going to the gym and eating healthy because I'm actually seeing the results and I feel wonderful and I cannot thank Dr. Pesta and his amazing staff enough. I love my doctor family lol. He gave me my life back and a new outlook on everything. I cannot thank him enough!!! Thank you Dr. Pesta!!! Please note and I cannot stress enough and neither can Dr. Pesta and his staff if you do decide to get bariatric surgery PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be sure to follow up with your surgeon when they tell you to it is very important to keep you on the right track and to correct any problems you are having!!! Happy New Year!!

This was one of the best experiences of my life. Everyone at the McLaren Bariatric Center was WONDERFUL to me, from beginning to end. Just amazing.

My first impression of Dr. Kia was that he was very positive, personable, and sensitive to my feelings about myself. My impression didn't change over time, as I only saw him again at my endoscopy and then surgery (this was by choice, as McLaren asked me if I would be okay seeing the PA instead of him at subsequent visits, and she was very nice as well, so I said whatever is easiest for the doctor). He was very sweet to me before surgery, as well. I have zero complaints about Dr. Kia or any of the staff at McLaren Bariatric. Aftercare was emphasized strongly, there were tons of resources available to me, risks of surgery were discussed, but as I was/am very healthy, there was little risk involved.

The only complaint I have about the entire experience was that my pain was not managed well by the hospital during the first night after surgery. I was on a morphine drip, and I've always been able to sleep through pain very well, so when I woke up in the early morning after a night of not clicking the button every fifteen minutes, I was in excruciating pain, and I had to get up and do a barium swallow, which made it worse because I had to sit in a wheelchair for a half hour waiting, and I just felt like no one really cared about how much pain I was in. I felt quite pitiful trying not to sob, to prevent any more pain, while people walked past me in my wheelchair. It was kind of traumatic, and the pain was very difficult to get back under control. Once I was on Lortab, it was fine. I think it would have been better if I had switched to Lortab BEFORE going to sleep on day 1, or if I had had a family member there to push my button for me, as the hospital is not legally allowed to do so.

That explanation of my pain management sounds very negative, and while it was really hard on me, I do not "hate" the hospital for it, nor do I hold it against anyone or the hospital. I understand that they have laws and regulations to follow, but I do feel like it could have been prevented. Other than this issue, I feel like everything went perfectly, my needs were promptly attended to at all times, my nurses were AMAZING, and I would highly recommend McLaren to anyone. I would just definitely address the pain management issue before going to bed on night 1.

Dr. Pesta is such a great doctor! He listens to you, doesn't make you feel stupid with any questions, and most rare in a doctor, doesn't talk over your head. His treatment of his patients is awesome. Had my appendix out 8/13 and said I could have ice chips, he went and got me some. Never seen a doctor do that. He is one of the first doctors I have seen that really cares about his patients. I would recommend him to anyone.

I had Rue N Y surgery in 4-09, downtown Henry Ford. I moved to Warren, and decided I wanted to find a doc closer to home. I then found out I had a hernia, so I called the Henry Ford Hosp South Macomb and asked them to recommend a doc that has experience with Weight loss surgery. They gave me Doc Pesta. I went to see him about what I thought was a hernia fix. and he was very polite and understanding, to let me know that the hernia wasn't from the WLS. it was on my back. So I went home.. Laughing honestly.. the in Dec 2011, I went to the hosp. for gut pain. and found out that my gall bladder was the size of a baked potato. At first, due to my own stupidity, but I thought I had a valid reason. I refused surgery from Doc Pesta. He tried everything to explain to me that I needed this removed ASAP. with the size, and if anything broke off it, and got into the intestine with the WLS, how it would kill me and there was nothing he could do to fix it. I still refused. And you could see how upset he was, but he also understood. Well, long story short, hubby walked in, and I had surgery that day.! I was so SCARED!! I have never been afraid of surgery, but he honestly held my hand. and he never left my side until they had me out. And when I woke up, he was there.. He is the first doctor in a LONG time that truly cares!. I now have to have a revision done to the WLS, and he will be the only one to do it.!!!! I have found a doc that cares, and gave me his direct cell number, just incase I need him... He is truly Amazing.!!!

Dr Carl Pesta stands for (Dr) D= dearest R=Remarkable (Carl) C= caring A=astonishing R= respected L= loyal (Pesta) P= positive E=excellent S=suburb & sympathetic T=trendy A= amazing. Dr Pesta is AN AMAZING MAN, SURGEON; I selected him personally because I know firsthand what kind of Doctor he is. I work at Henry Ford Warren I see him day in and day out and I saw how compassionate, sincere, and skilled he is. I also heard his patients say how wonderful he is and how they would never change their decision to have surgery by Dr. Pesta. I had Gastric Bypass surgery November 16, 2011 and today is January 24, 2012 it's been 9 weeks and I have lost 46lbs. I truly would recommend Dr Pesta to EVERYONE. He is the Best and he is so charming. He really loves what he does and has such a compassion for people. Dr Pesta is very comforting and his bedside manner is remarkable. I can go on and on, all I can say is he is the best and I not only have the best surgeon but a life long friend.

Dr. Kia and his staff are absolutely AMAZING. I can't sit here and write enough good things about them to do their program justice. The office staff treat you like you are their only patient, the most important patient they've ever had. Dr. Kia came in and sat down on a couch and just 'chilled out' in the room with me, it didn't feel like a Dr's appt. It felt like I was very important to him, and he had all the time in the world to talk to me.

The office staff is very organized and completely on top of everything. It's amazing how quickly they get things moving and how great at communication they are with the other doctors you need to work with. I've read nightmares from other bariatric institutes over and over again about awful office staff, losing paper work, not submitting insurance information or scheduling appointments with the surgeon isn't in the office. But with Mclaren Bariatric you will never have to worry about anything like that!

Again, I really can't say enough good things. This program, the staff and especially Dr. Kia are all amazing. IF you're a nervous patient, they'd be amazing to go through!

From the first minute I walked into the Lap Band Center at Port Huron Hospital, I knew I had made the right choice. Dr. Bhesania and the entire staff were so caring and knowledgeable. Words cannot express the love, respect and admiration I have for each and every one of them. It was a very long and difficult journey that I never could have done on my own. Lord knows I tried. They were there for me every inch (and pound) of the way. I started my journey in May of 2008 at a whopping 324 pounds and size 30. Now, three years later, I am 179 pounds, a size 12 and still losing. I'm healthy, happy in my own skin and have more energy than I have had in 30 years. Dr. Bhesania, Dr. Boutt, Tammy, Donna, Debbie, Maggie and everyone else...You mean more to me than you will ever know!