Mark Pleatman Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

I had sleeve surgery in May of 2018. Dr. Pleatman was my first choice for the surgeon to do it based on my research and his reviews. I was on a never-ending diet cycle and tried every possible thing to lose weight before consulting with him. I have PCOS and struggled to lose weight for over 15 years. I tried conventional diets and exercise, medical weight loss methods (diet pills and expensive shake meal replacement methods, etc.). I would often lose 10-20 pounds only to regain them, and then some. I was miserable. My office calls prior to meeting with the doctor made me even more positive that this was something I wanted to do. They answered my calls and emails in a timely fashion and were knowledgeable about the procedure as they themselves had it done. Scheduling an appointment was super easy and they were able to work around my busy schedule with no problem.

When I finally met with Dr. Pleatman, he was polite and honest. He indicated that he thought I would be a good candidate for the surgery based on my medical history. He was pretty quiet and straight forward which I had read in my reviews. That is perfect for me. I wanted a Dr. who was honest with me and the best at his craft. I wasn’t looking for hugs or a best friend. I sincerely appreciate his professionalism and straight forwardness.

The approval process was overall short. I had been on top of going to my general Dr. frequently for weight related appointments, knowing that is part of the deal for insurance to cover it. I met with my general Dr. before even going to Dr. Pleatman’s office and she was supportive of my decision to have surgery. Being organized and on top of your medical past and history was most definitely helpful in the approval process. Once you decide you want this surgery, waiting is hard. But, within a few months, I had my approval and surgery scheduled.

Before surgery I attended a mandatory nutrition class at the office. There I was with 4 others getting surgery that week as well. The nutrition and information booklet they provided was like a bible to me! It had everything laid out perfectly with what we could eat at every stage following surgery. They even provided samples for us to try. They also gave us Dr. Pleatman’s personal cell number and we had access to him 24 hours a day after surgery in the event we needed him or had questions. Amazing!! They also have a private Facebook group for surgery patients for support. I actually still keep in touch with one of the other patients.

The surgery itself was as expected. He uses the hospital in Pontiac. My pre-surgery morning was perfect. Everyone was so nice and pleasant during the anxiety filled morning (my own nerves!) The Dr. went out to let my husband know the surgery went well. He showed my husband the part of my stomach that was removed, which was cool! He visited me in recovery and I was placed in a personal room to recover.

The room was nice and the staff was nice but the nurses I had were filling in and not regulars for that unit. Hence, they had not worked with a bariatric patient before. They did not have all my meds for me that I should have had. Pain relief was not regular and they asked if I wanted soda. My research had informed me that I should not have carbonation at all. I declined of course. I had a difficult time getting assistance in getting up to go to the bathroom and no-one offered to help me walk. I knew that walking as much as possible after would help relieve air that had been pumped into my stomach area. I have family that work as nurses so I know that covering on floors happens a lot and that they are extremely busy. Regardless, the staff were friendly which was nice.

Dr. Pleatman came in to check on me and said everything looked great. I went home the next day. This is major surgery. I was in pain and that is to be expected. But it was overall a good experience!

My follow-up appointments were made and have gone well. I’m currently 6 months post-op and down 88 pounds. I have my life back thanks to Dr. Pleatman and his staff. At my most recent appointment he indicated I was doing great and exceeding his original goals for my weight loss.

Without a doubt, this is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I have my health and life back. I recommend, highly, seeing Dr. Pleatman if you are considering bariatric surgery.

I originally heard about Dr. Pleatman through the forums right here at ObesityHelp. As I continued to research Dr. Pleatman, I was very impressed with both his patient reviews as well as the convenience and simplicity of the self-pay program that he has arranged with a local hospital. I sent off an email introducing myself and giving the details of my situation and was quite pleased to see that Dr. Pleatman himself called me within 24 hours to discuss my options.

I was understandably nervous about going out of state for surgery, but after talking to Dr. Pleatman I felt confident that I was making the right decision. He was very no-nonsense and straight-to-the-point, which was refreshing after I'd had to wade through a bunch of fluff and nonsense when dealing with other potential bariatric surgeons. I appreciated his candor and could tell he was very knowledgeable about the various weight-loss procedures, I had originally planned to have the Roux en-Y procedure done, but after discussing the various pros and cons of the different surgeries, I decided that the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy would be a better fit for me and my lifestyle.

Before getting off the phone with Dr. Pleatman, he gave me the number to his office in Bloomfield Hills, MI and explained that his secretary would be more than happy to set up a date for my surgery within the coming weeks. I was also told to drop by his website and advised that there were several forms that needed to be filled out, as well as important information about the self-pay program and coming in from out of state. Of course, I was so excited that I called his office right away, where his sweet secretary assisted me. She was able to set up my surgery date for a little less than 4 weeks in the future. I was thrilled with the efficiency that Dr. Pleatman's staff was able to get everything scheduled and ready to go and best of all, I felt certain that I had chosen the right surgeon.

Dr. Pleatman's offers a comprehensive self-pay option for the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy that includes the following: preoperative consultation, preoperative testing, operating room charges, recovery in a private hospital room until you are ready for discharge, anesthesia charges, surgeon’s fee (includes surgery preparation class with Registered Dietitian and Patient Support Coordinator, private consultations with dietitian, surgeon’s fee, postoperative follow-up visits for 2 years, and support group meetings). All of this is $11,200.00 with no hidden fees! The hospital nearest me had quoted me a self-pay price of $35,000.00, so needless to say I was absolutely thrilled to receive such quality care for such a reasonable price. Dr, Pleatman has many patients that come from out of state, so he also has also arranged for his patients to receive a discounted rate at a local Residence Inn Hotel that's near the hospital and his office. Wonderful and so convenient!

The day before my surgery my husband and I met with Dr. Pleatman and his staff, as well as attended a pre-op surgery prep class and a private nutrition consultation. I was given a book put together by Dr. Pleatman's staff that has proven invaluable. It is full of information about all aspects of the weight-loss surgery process and contains tips, helpful suggestions, and helpful resources. I was given Dr. Pleatman's personal cell phone number and email address and was assured that he would be happy to answer any questions before and/or after surgery that I might have. My visit wrapped up with a check of my vitals, a review of my weight history and goals, and pictures taken for my patient file to document my appearance before undergoing surgery.

The day of surgery I was nervous, but still very certain that I had made the right decision to undergo weight-loss surgery and to travel the 8 hours to Michigan to have it done by Dr. Pleatman. The pre-op preparation went very smoothly and I was pleased to find myself ready to be rolled into the operating room earlier than I had expected. The last thing I remember is being rolled through a set of double doors and down a bright hallway.

The next thing I knew I heard a voice calling my name and telling me that I was out of surgery and that it had gone well. What a wonderful thing to hear! My husband was allowed to come see me and I was assigned a private room, where I was to stay overnight. I will be honest here and say that I was less than impressed with the hospital staff that were tasked with caring for me following surgery. Several times my pain medicine was allowed to wear off completely and a fairly long span of time passed before they got around to giving me another dose. Thank goodness my husband was with me and quickly learned how to hook and unhook me, as he was the one that helped me to the restroom until I was discharged the next day. If I had waited for a nurse to take me, I'm not sure I would've been able to wait that long without having an accident. The bed was very uncomfortable and the entire floor was very loud, which made it difficult to sleep.

Having said all of that, when Dr. Pleatman dropped by to check on me the following day, he was quite unhappy about the lack of quality care by the hospital staff and went about rectifying the situation. He asked me how I was doing and informed me that there hadn't been any problems during my procedure, but that my heart rate was measuring a little high now that I was out of surgery. He arranged for me to undergo a leak test just in case that might be the cause of my elevated heart rate. Luckily, the test showed no leakage and I was given the all clear to be discharged that afternoon. It was comforting to know that Dr. Pleatman didn't hesitate to have an additional test done to make sure there wasn't anything unexpected going on inside of me. I appreciated the extra caution and was able to leave the hospital knowing that I was doing very well and was on the road to recovery.

That night in my hotel room, my husband and I noticed that my main incision had a red area around it. It didn't look to be anything serious, but just in case it was, my husband emailed Dr. Pleatman and sent him a picture of the reddened area. Dr. Pleatman called right away and advised us to draw a circle around the edges of the reddened area and to keep our eyes open in case the redness expanded. I was very grateful that Dr, Pleatman responded to my husband's email so quickly. Luckily, the area looked much better by the next morning and that was a huge relief!

The rest of our stay was pretty uneventful. Before we left to go back to Illinois, we met with Dr. Pleatman and his staff one last time to determine that everything was as it should be and that I was doing okay with the somewhat complicated eating schedule that has to be followed right after surgery. I was encouraged to keep in touch with Dr. Pleatman and his staff and assured that I should call immediately if I should ever have any complications or concerns that they could assist me with. Overall, I could not be more impressed with Dr. Pleatman and his staff. They were professional, courteous, friendly, and very accommodating. I felt like I made the right choice when I chose to travel out of state for my surgery. I appreciated the simple structure of the self-pay plan offered and the price was very, very fair. In addition, even though I live 8 hours away from Dr. Pleatman's office, I am confident that coordinating care with a local doctor would not be a problem.

It has been 7 weeks since my surgery and I feel incredible! I cannot recommend Dr. Pleatman highly enough!

UPDATE: 7/22/15
I'm now 6 months out from my surgery and I've lost 75 pounds and counting.

I have debated on weight loss surgery for a few years. After recently being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I finally decided on the Vertical Sleeve. I researched several doctors. I found Dr. Pleatman through a weight loss surgery forum. I was amazed by his ratings & reviews. The only negative comments that I saw, were pertaining to his "bedside manner/personality" and the receptionist's personality. I scheduled my initial consultation. While waiting to be seen, the receptionist, Rebecca, was very friendly. She told me about her experience with VSG, & even offered to go over my insurance coverage while I wait for my appointment. I then met with Dr. Pleatman. He immediately started the consultation off with a joke, which broke the ice. By the end of my consultation, I was completely comfortable with him & ready to schedule my surgery. The office provided nutritional training, which was very informative & allowed me the opportunity to meet other VSG pateients. Dr. Pleatman performed my surgery on 07/24/14. He came to my hospital room & checked on me. He even called me (on his day off) to check on me. I'm not sure why some people had a problem with his personality. He is reserved and quiet. But what's wrong with that? I am a highly sensitive person & I get offended very easily. Dr. Pleatman was great! I had no problem with his "bedside manner/personality" at all! Dr. Pleatman is amazing, knowledgeable and precise! I have told all of my friends/family about him. And I will be posting my review of my experience on any/every site that I can! BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE AND I HAD THE BEST DOCTOR POSSIBLE!!!

I'd been worried about doing the VSG surgery but I'd been researching it online for quite some time. I stumbled upon Dr. Pleatman on another site and sent him a message, to which he responded surprisingly really promptly. I was shocked. I further researched him and came across good reviews so I decided to go in for a consultation. Dr. Pleatman's personality is very straight forward. He's honest, blunt and tells it how it is. I really like that about him. He doesn't beat around the bush or try to sway you into doing anything. He just puts it out there and leaves the decision up to you. I felt super comfortable with him and signed up for a surgery soon after.

As with all surgery, it's not all roses and flowers. Your body will be sore. I'm a bit of a whiner so I was complaining a lot the first couple days but everything was normal, gas pains, etc. Within a week I was able to go out and socialize (without the food aspect of course).

Long story short -- Dr. Pleatman knows what he is doing. He is experienced. I read on here people talking about bedside manner, and I'm not sure what that refers to. Yes... he won't be by your side when you wake up from surgery or hold your hand and ask if you're ok. He does his job efficiently, and that's what the nurses are for. I loved the hospital and the room I was staying in because it was my own private room, and the nurses were kind and always there for me.

I'm less than 2 weeks out, down 15.5 pounds and hope this review helps you make your decision.

Had a successful Bariatric Sleeve procedure in 2008. Weight went from 423 to 215. Kept the weight off for three years but have gained back 50 pounds in last couple years. Great doctor and procedure.

Not knowing if this is what I wanted to do, I was more confident after meeting Dr. Pleatman. He explained everything to my husband and I and we both felt very comfortable with him.
I am very pleased and would recommend Dr. Pleatman to all who wanted to have this surgery. He was outstanding, caring and very helpful before and after surgery.

I am 2 1/2 months post op and to date have lost 46.3 punds and have never felt better!

What an amazing Dr.
He made me feel safe ! I knew everything will be ok.

After the surgery he even showed my husband there was no leaking from my removed part. (I know it might seem weird but that is how we knew i will have no issues).

He gives you a book of what to eat , read it. Read it again. And just follow it. Very easy, stay focused and don't eat and drink.

I have lost a total of 130 pounds and have kept it off for 5 years now !

After repeated suggestions, over the years, from my General Practitioner to consider gastric bypass surgery to deal with my weight issues, I relented in 2012 and decided to explore surgical options. I had gradually gained weight over my lifetime to the point at age 60, I weighed 380 lbs. My GP recommended Dr. Mark Pleatman. I reviewed his website materials and decided to pursue a gastric sleeve bypass procedure. Being a retired public school teacher, I have high quality insurance. I did, however, have no idea on how to move forward. Dr. Pleatman's website materials, office staff and Dr. Pleatman himself assisted me in understanding how to approach my insurance carrier as an informed participant in the process. This was most helpful! After the insurance hurdle was cleared, I had a consultation with the Doctor. He was very professional, businesslike and informative. I really appreciated the fact that he was very forthright about the possibilities and potential limitations of the surgery. He emphasized how my preparation prior to the surgery and my follow-up afterwards were crucial to my success. This brought me down to earth a bit, but it was crucial in helping me realize the surgery was a second chance at controlling my weight issue. The important question was, how was I going to use the chance. I think I initially suffered from the common misconception that surgery was going to solve my weight problem overnight with little effort on my part. I found out, of course, this was not to be the case. At the end of the consultation, Doctor Pleatman informed me that prior to the operation I would need to lose twenty pounds. That was the last thing I wanted to hear, but I certainly understood his reasoning. Within a month I had lost thirty pounds. That, I think, was the most difficult part of the whole ordeal. It now started to dawn on me the devotion, effort and energy I would need to dedicate to this venture for it come out the way I had envisioned. We then set the date for the procedure, Feb. 15th of 2013. The surgery went off without a hitch! The post surgical diet was a little bland and boring, but necessary. The follow-up appointments with the doctor helped in monitoring my progress and encouraging me to persevere. Once I became acclimated to the new diet and it's regimen, I began losing weight consistently. My weekly average loss has been a little under 4 pounds. After a year I've now lost 197 pounds, I weigh 183 (I've lost over half of my body weight). My waist has dropped from 59' to 34'. My BMI has gone from 52 to 25. I'm no longer pre-diabetic, use a CPAP machine, or required to take the many medications as I had to take prior to my weight loss. To say the procedure has changed my life would be an understatement!
Dr. Pleatman is a skilled surgical technician, but he's also a plain speaking, medical professional, who helped me understand my role in the entire process of surgical weight loss. I couldn't be more grateful to the good doctor for his expertise and guidance! I don't like speaking in cliche's, but I truly believe he helped save my life. I was a 'walking coronary waiting to happen' with a self-image that couldn't have been lower. I would have never believed that at my age, I could so dramatically change my life for the better! I credit Dr. Pleatman (along with a lot of hours on the elliptical machine and gallons of protein drinks) in helping me achieve the kind of healthy benefits that continue to be a very pleasant surprise on a daily basis, with no end in sight!

I had such a wonderful experience with Dr. Pleatman! I can't recommend him enough. I had my gastric sleeve procedure 3 weeks ago and I feel so amazing. Two days after the surgery I was up and about, even went to a movie! I haven't had any problems at all and am down almost 20 pounds (including pre-op diet). The hospital was great and Dr. Pleatman took such great care of me. I am so, so happy that I did this and can't thank him and his staff enough. He made it so easy, I was an out-of-town patient and I came in the day before, was checked out, and had my surgery the next day. I am still in absolute shock of how easy it has been. I am a low BMI patient, so I don't know if everyones experience will be the same, but mine has been fantastic.

My experience with Dr. Pleatman and his staff was nothing short of amazing. I was a self pay patient from Canada and it was a huge leap of faith to fly all the way there without having met the Doctor but my faith was well placed. I was given a ton of information in advance so I felt prepared and once I got there I felt at ease with my decision.

The day of my surgery I was incredibly nervous but it went off without a hitch. The hospital (st. Joseph's) and the nurses were all incredible and made my short stay there very comfortable. My surgery was finished within about an hour and i stayed in the hospital over night and was released the next day after seeing Dr. Pleatman in my hospital room.

The next few days I stayed in a hotel close by and I won't lie it was tough, I think I was so nervous about the actual surgery I wasn't totally prepared for how poorly I'd feel afterwards. My stomach muscles were very sore but my incisions began healing quickly and are barely visible now. I'm one week post-op now and down 13 pounds from my surgery weight. I'm so thrilled with my decision to do the surgery and specifically for the surgeon I chose. Now I have a new lease on life, and I just wish I did it sooner!