Donald Scholten Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Scholten seemed like a very nice, intelligent and very confident surgeon. I really trust him and believe he will do a great job.

I went to my consultation on April 27, 2000 with Dr. Scholten. He is AWESOME!!! He is very laid back and explains this procedure in great detail. Tells you what to expect after surgery and what you need to do to succeed. He is only one part of the whole picture. Everyone should do their part to help in the insurance process. Like a list of all the diets, medical problems such as hypertension. I also went on my own behalf and had a sleep study done and now I have to use a CPAP machine. Sleep apnea is very serious. If it's not taken care of you could cause yourself to have a stroke. So by doing these things and getting documentation it helps your Dr. to get the approval. So help your Dr. help yourself. If you don't have a Dr. yet, I suggest you see Dr. Scholten. You'll be please.

Cosmetic Surgery in your future? I recommend Dr. Lee Colony of Michigan Plastic Surgeons in Lansing, MI. He is by far the most talented plastic surgeon in the field. Wonderful, personable individual to work with. Contact him, you'll be pleased.

I have not met with Dr. Scholten yet, but his office staff our wonderful. Very knowledgeable and professional. I am impressed so far.

9/12/02. Had my first meeting with Dr. Scholten today. I was very impressed with his friendliness, how much time he took with me and how thorough his explanation of the surgery was. His office staff are also competent and informative. The only negative today was the hour-plus wait to actually see the doctor.

Had my meeting on 8/21/02. The impression I had of him was that he was thorough, direct, informative and easy to speak with. The office staff appeared organized and were very pleasant. My questions were answered and I did not feel as if they had heard them a million times-they were attentive and smiling all the time. So far I have only positive things to say about my encounter with the doctor and his staff. I find out my surgery date the first week of Sept.

I met Dr. Scholten for the first time today (5/29/02). I do believe he was very pleasant. He thoroughly described the procedure. He went on and on about the four tools - the last of which is the surgery. He explained that there's the lifelong nutrition program, exercise, and "head" that come first. Then, the surgery. I realize he wants us to understand and appreciate the lifelong effects and lifestyle changes that come with the surgery. I recognize that eating and digestion will be "different". I totally respect his knowledge of the procedure, and expected equal respect for what I didn't know. So, when it came time to ask questions and I inquired about my potential to have the procedure done laproscopically, I was surprised by the reaction. I thought it was a very appropriate question to ask the surgeon. Indeed, he did agree that I was a "candidate". But he started in on the four "tools" again, and said I wasn't ready for the surgery if I was just thinking about what way it's going to be performed. I told him it wasn't my only concern, and that I understood these other tools. He said, "I don't think so - just because you have a sister who had the surgery and you have accessed the internet doesn't mean you're ready...it's just "TMI" Too Much Information". I'm still not sure what that was all about. Regardless, I didn't feel comfortable asking questions after that.

But, in the end, he said that the staff will arrange all the other appointments, and he said he'd take good care of me. (I still don't know about whether it will be 'open' or 'lap').

I like him, but I was a little surprised. With all the comments I found on the internet, I was expecting such a nice, warm, friendly person (one of the reasons I decided to contact him). Instead, I felt as if he were a bit condescending. It was the morning...maybe he's not a morning person??

His staff is excellent and I don't have a negative word to say about any of them.

P.S. He needs to invest in a new videotape.

8/2002...My surgery is scheduled for 9/13/02. It will be laparoscopic.

What I thought about Dr. Scholten is that is a very thouroh Dr. When he first visited with you about the surgry he explained the whole prosess to you, which took a fair amount of time. I did not except that but it made me feel better. He is a very fair Dr. He tells you like it is and that is that. You can see from his past patients that he very caring about them and how they are doing. Dr. Scholten is a great Dr. and really feel safe about being under his care.

Dr. Scholten was and is a genuinely caring person. He cared about me as a person, and seemed eager to help me achieve my weight loss goals. He was not judgemental in the least.

Office staff very accomodating and helpful.

Nothing.

I would definitely recommend him as a surgeon.

AFtercare is emphasized and this is made clear before surgery. I live 2 hours from his office, but it was well worth the trip.
He has a structured aftercare program of regularly scheduled visits, diet advancement,etc.
He addressed the surgical risks very matter of factly.
I would rate him excellent, both surgical competance and bedside manner.

I was really nervous when I first seen Dr. S but he made me feel like he was my friend and cared about me.He had a good sense of humor very caring to his patient and making sure they know what they are in for.He went into high details of the surgery and what his part was and what my part is.His staff is friendly and know what has to be done. I cannot say there was anything that I didnt care for about Dr. Scholten,he was very straight forward and wants to make sure you understand the surgery and make sure you are right for it. Dr.Scholten is very confident and knows he is good at what he does,I have no doubts in my mind that I can go into surgery and know that I am in good hands.I have done alot of study on different surgeons and alot of research on the surgery and I feel I have made the right choices,and choice the right surgeon to do the job.
I would rate my visit with him with a high 10 when you walk out of his office you know what you are in for. JoAnn

I have been to the orientation, which costs 95.00 not that happy about that.
That was in the begining of December. I have all my paper work in and my insurance has approved everything.
I got a call today from Ann at Dr. Scholten's office, and she said my date to meet the Doctor is March 27, 2002.
I am on the cancelation list and hope to get a call soon.
Ann is very nice and she goes to the support group meetings. I think that is very kind and sweet about her. I am sure she lives in Grand Rapids and I went to the support group meeting in Bath, MI.
I think at the orientation they went through alot of the pro's and con's of the surgery and it was quite informative. Of course I got most of the same info on the web page itself. but not everyone has the opportunity to go to the web pages.
I MET THE SURGEON!!!!
Well after lots of time and waiting, I finally got to the appointment to meet him and discuss the surgery and see if I qualify by his standards. He sent a letter to me I recived yesterday saying that yes I do qualify and so we are on our way. However I have the appointment for the phone interview next Tuesday, when they will officially give me a surgery date. My husband surprised me and went to the appointment to meet the Doctor, it was very sweet of him. Dr. Scholten, was very nice, he was kind and gave us lots of information. He told me that preoperative I need to lose 15-20 pounds. My husband got on the scales at the office and freaked out and said I will do this with you! So now I have a little helper. The staff at the office seemed pretty nice, I really like the girls at the front desk, but you spend the least amount of time with them. (hehehehe)
He will not do surgery unless you show ahead of time you can change your eating habits. He wants you to basically live like you will be living once surgery is done. He has his patients using carnation instant breakfast sugar free. It is more reasonably priced, and you get everything you need.
I liked him, but it was just a first impression.
Now to get the 15-20 pounds off.
I guess what I did not like was the wait for surgery. They are setting people up for September and it is May!
I will be on a cancelation list, but I am sure everyone does that as well!

I will try to update on weight loss as it comes!
Thanks,
Stephanie
Oh new e-mail address... [email protected].

I've only seen him once so far, but he was wonderful. He took the time in explaining everything to me and what i need to do in order to be successfully in my weight loss. So far I think he is the greatest!

4/28/02
i just want to let everyone out there who's thinking about having dr scholten do there surgery, do it. i think that he's the most sweetest doc there is. his bedside manners where the greatest. he came and checked on me everyday while i was in the hospital and i knew what time he was coming cause he came the same time everyday. you dont know to many docs that's like that(well at least i don't).