Mustafa Hares Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

Finally, I met Dr. Hares! Right away I knew that all the wonderful things other patients have said about him, were true! I felt very comfortable talkingwith him. He took the extra time to make sure I knew exactly what procedure he used and what exactly to expect. He listened to all of my questions and answered them in detail, so that I would understand. Even the dumb ones (lol)! He talked casually, to other patients that happened to walk by. Wonderful office maner! Exceptional relationship with his staff. Which, By the way, are wonderful in their oun right! He let me know from the get go, that this was going to change my life in so many ways, that I must be ready, and that it will e hard work. He requires every one of his patients to attend group support meetings twice a month. I've already started!Also, he sure that I knew all the risks of this surgery. I am aware of all the risks and am totally committed to making this work for me. I will be happy to comment AFTER my surgery, as to his bedside manner and surgical competence. (which I'm sure will be excellent!)

UPDATE MARCH 3, 2001

After being shut out of North Oakland Medical Center, in Pontiac, MI, Dr. Hares and his program coordinator, Jackie Smiertka, got to work to find another facility that would welcome WLS. It didn't take too long as there have been numerous facilities that have approached Bloomfield Bariatrics. It won't be long now until they start booking srgeries again, thanks to all the HARD work of Dr. Hares and especially, his staff! Talk about dedication. I haven't seen any to compare! Thank you, Dr. Hares. I'm looking forward to seeing you in your scrubs!

Dr. Hares is a very compassionate and sweet man. I was taken back by his bedside manner, as I was expecting someone very different. Our initial consult took a great deal of time, but that was by design. I spent time in his office first, asking questions and reviewing the BPD/DS procedure.

After this, I was sent back out into the waiting room so that I could talk to the various post-op patients that were there for check-ups. This allowed me to get information first hand, see incisions, talk about anything I was curious about. I liked that!

After this, and having met with his clinical coordinator (Jackie) I had my physical exam. I felt this was very thorough and I was pleased with the experience. I have all the confidence in the world of Dr. Hares. He has never lost a patient and is very honest about the complications that could occur.

I didn't feel like I was receiving a sales pitch (as I did with BTC's) and I felt as if I was a partner in this, which I am.

I would recommend Dr. Hares highly!

I am scheduled for a 12/11 surgery date (which is when my semester ends) and I can't wait to be switched and on the other side!

Have met the staff at Bloomfield Bariatrics and found Jackie to be a terrific source of information.
His credentials are definately in order and his references offered great priase. Spoke with a couple of patients and they really liked him too.
They seem to have a good "aftercare" system. and support group seems active.
I have met with the Dr. and he seems very nice. I had done extensive research and he seemed to credit me for that also respected it. I am scheduled for in one month and am happy with his decision to go that soon. Of course.
There is a definate structured aftercare program and they insist that you participate fully. They ask everyone to lose a little before they go in for surgery, to see if they will follow after. It helps them predict your compliance so don't get freeked out over it. Just choose a reasonable legnth of time to get rid of the weight before the surgery.
He was very thorough in his discussion of the risks of surgery. Complete with drawings-his drawings as he discusses the problems that may come up. He was explicit and open in regards to side effects, risks, etc.......

*****THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART TO READ*****
I WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE MY SURGERY ON 5-9-00
AND ON 5-8-00 THE HOSPITAL DECIDED TO CANCEL
IT, DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY INSURANCE DOESN'T
PAY ENOUGH ( YES IT'S WRONG AND ILLEGAL )
TODAY IS 6-23-00 AND I FOUND OUT YESTERDAY
THAT I AM GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MY SURGERY
ON 7-7-00. THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF
NOT FOR DR.HARES, CAROL AND JACKIE,ESPECIALLY
JACKIE. SHE FOUGHT SOME FORM OF THIS FIGHT
EVERY SINGLE DAY. IN MEETINGS,ON THE PHONE
AND IN EVERY WAY YOU CAN IMAGINE. FROM THE
HOSPITAL TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND BEYOND.
SHE WAS FANTASTIC THEY ALL WERE BUT,
I KNOW THIS FOR SURE IF I WERE TO HAVE TO DO
BATTLE FOR ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROCEDURE
THIS OFFICE WITH JACKIE IS WHO I'D WANT TO
HAVE IN MY CORNER.

10-18-00
I HAVE BUT ONE THING TO SAY AND THAT IS THIS...
IF I WAS EVER TO NEED ANY KIND OF SURGERY AGAIN I WOULD DEFINATELY WANT DR. HARES TO BE THE ONE TO DO IT.
I HAD MANY COMPLICATIONS AND HE WAS THERE FOR ME HE WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HIM.

10-5-00 I met with Dr. Hares today. What a sincerely, nice man. He made me feel like I was important and that he cares. He truely is everything that I have read about him. I liked everything about the man. He and Jackie definitely emphasize the aftercare program, and I agree with them that it is necessary. Afterall, they can operate on my stomach, but not on my head. The Support Meetings are for that. Dr. Hares went over all of the risks associated with the surgery very thoroughly. I realize that I can do alot to reduce those risks, by following the instructions and not pushing too fast. I feel very confident putting my life in his hands.

He was/is GREAT! Very involved, very concerned. The Best bed side manner I've seen in a Dr. in a LONG time!

I highly recommend him. His staff is wonderful and always there for you. They will all make you smile.

After care is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!!!! and there is a structured aftercare program.

I would rate him on a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being the best, an 11 :)

Both

Dr. Hares is such a compassionate and caring person as well as an excellent surgeon!! I sensed this before I even met him. I had sent an email to his email address with my profile, insurance info and phone #. At the most, I was hoping for an email from someone on his staff so imagine my surprise when the next evening I received a phone call from Dr. Hares himself responding to my email. We spoke briefly and he invited me to an upcoming support group meeting..... My first meeting with Dr. Hares was 6/12/00. He gave me all of the time I needed and even encouraged more questions. The physical exam was very thorough and my visit with the DR. and Jackie his R.N. was not rushed at all.... Dr. Hares has a fantastic and caring staff--Jackie his R.N. (I also consider her very much a patient advocate) and Carol their secretary.... I was scheduled for surgery on Wed. 7/5/00. Received approval from the insurance company in 1 day.... My surgery went very well, but I was in ICU 2 days instead of 1 because of very bad nausea and vomiting from anesthesia and pain meds. Got better after 2 days and was moved to a regular room on Fri.... Thanks to Jackie, my mom was able to stay with me around the clock once I got to a regular room. I had a couple of excellent nurses but I also had some lazy ones, and that was when having my mom with me was so important. My mom and I are so grateful to Jackie's intervention that made it possible for my mom to be with me day and "night".... Another special note to show how devoted and caring Dr. Hares is. Once I got to a regular room on Fri., he said he was ordering physical therapy to have me up and walking at least 3 times that day. By Sat. morning they had never come, so the only exercise I had had was going from the bed to the chair. Dr. Hares was quite upset Sat. morning but instead of ordering phy. therapy again, he asked if I would like to take a walk with my doctor. I still had a Foley catherter in place, a drain in my abdomen and the I.V. in my arm. He got me all situated, then gave me his arm for support, and off we went up and down the hallway outside my room. My mom and my nurse were so shocked. This is how caring this man is.... Am now just over 3 weeks post-op and I have done really well. I have experienced very little pain which has been a wonderful surprise. Looking forward to something besides oatmeal, pureed fruit, jello and mashed potatoes. Another week and I will start on fish and poultry. I have gone through too much up to now not to be compliant with my food and post-op instructions.... I cannot emphasize how wonderful Dr. Hares is. And his nurse Jackie is just the greatest. She has done so much to calm my fears and answer my endless questions. I feel very blessed to have had such wonderful "all around" care and support from everyone at Bloomfield Bariatrics--in my personal opinion, Dr. Hares and his staff are the best I could have had.

Met with Dr. Hares today for the first time and was very impressed. He has studied extensively with Dr. Hess in Calif. He is very soft spoken and very caring. I was his only focus during our meeting, nothing interrupted that. I feel like he knows me, I was not just another person coming to set up surgery. Date for surgery is June 20th if all goes well with the insurance.

Update, 7/24/00
I had my surgery on June 21st, everything went well, I was very impressed with Dr. Hares and his bedside manor. Everytime he came into see me I felt his professionalism as well as his kind heart, this surgeon trully cares about his patients as people. The surgery went well, some complications which made the procedure longer than expected, but Dr. Hares was up for the task, no problem. After returning home I was encouraged to keep in contact with Jackie his
nurse coordinator, which I have done. She has provided me with phone numbers for others who have recently had the surgery so I might discuss my feelings and concerns with someone who has just gone through it. This has been invaluable to me as has Jackie's support.
I am attending regular support group meetings which are also very helpful and essential as far as I am concerned. Even when I am down I go, it picks me up and there are others there who have been through the same thing and can reassure as well as give advice on how they handled it.
Depression and nausea are my worst enemy right now, but it is getting a little better now at almost 5 weeks post-op.
I would highly recommend Dr. Hares and his staff if you have decided to have Bariatric surgery, they are trully a caring bunch.

I found Dr Hares very approachable, friendly and compassionate. HIs staff is the same way I haven't found anything to dislike about any of them.
The Dr. and staff are very pro aftercare and have a structured program for after the surgery. The regular meetings help deal with the adjustments mentally and physically during and after the weight loss. The risks have be pointed out and explained throughly. So far I am very impressed with the way they handle everything! With a smile but a no-nonsense approach to following the program after the surgery.

I KNEW HE WAS VERY DEVOTED AND WAS DOING THIS SURGERY BECAUSE HE CARED ABOUT PEOPLE. MY IMPRESSION ONLY BECAME STRONGER THAT I WAS RIGHT ABOUT HIM FROM THE BEGINNING. HIS OFFICE STAFF IS ALSO VERY DEVOTED. I CANNOT IMAGINE GOING THROUGH THIS WITH OUT JACKIE SMIERTKA R.N. SHE WAS WITH ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY BEFORE AND AFTER SURGERY. TRUELY THERE IS NOTHING I DISLIKED ABOUT THEM. FUTURE PATIENTS SHOULD KNOW THEY ARE IN THE BEST OF HANDS WITH PEOPLE THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT YOU. AFTER CARE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. JACKIE HAS MEETINGS EVERY OTHER WEEK AND INSISTS WE ATTEND. HER AFTER CARE PROGRAMS ARE VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT I WONDER HOW SHE FINDS THE TIME TO PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER. SHE IS AVAILABLE ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT AND ALWAYS CALLED ME BACK IMMEDIATELY. IF SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE ANSWER SHE HAD THE DOCTOR CALL ME IMMEDIATELY TOO. AS FAR AS ADDRESSING THE RISK OF SURGERY I HAD A FULL EXAMINATION PRIOR TO SURGERY. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY AGE AND MY HEART. MY EKG SHOWED SOMETHING THAT REQUIRED MY SURGERY TO BE CANCELLED UNTIL I HAD A FULL EXAMINATION WITH A HEART SURGEON AND THAT WAS IMMEDIATE. I WAS SCHEDULED FOR 2/22, MY 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, AND IT GOT CHANGED TO MARCH 7TH. MY RATING OF DR HARES IS OVER THE TOP, THE ONLY ONE I WOULD EVER WANT TO DO MY SURGERY. BEDSIDE MANNER AND SURGICAL COMPETENCE ARE TOP NOTCH. LET ME ADD THESE ARE MY EXPERIENCES WITH MY SURGERY. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE RIGHT DOCTOR AND THE RIGHT PLACE FOR ME. EVERYONE MUST DO THAT BEFORE MAKING THIS DECISION. HAVING SURGERY IS A BIG DECISION ESPECIALLY IF IT IS ELECTIVE SURGERY. I WORRIED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT GO WRONG AND MAYBE I WOULD DIE OR HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER SURGERY. THOSE THOUGHTS ARE NORMAL TO HAVE. THAT IS WHY LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT DOCTOR FOR YOU IS SO IMPORTANT. THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE. WE DON'T ALL LOOK FOR THE SAME THINGS IN PEOPLE. IF I WERE TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT MY SURGERY IT WOULD HAVE TO BE MY ANESTHEIST WAS NOT THE MOST GENTLY PERSON WHEN SHE WAS GETTING ME READY FOR SURGERY. ALSO, SOME OF THE NURSING STAFF WERE TERRIBLE AND ONE NIGHT I HAD MY HUSBAND SPEND THE NIGHT WITH ME BECAUSE I HAD THE NURSE FROM HELL ON DUTY. BUT JACKIE MADE SURE THE HOSPITAL STAFF WAS MADE AWARE OF THAT. IF YOU ASKED ME IF I WOULD DO IT AGAIN, I HONESTLY WOULD SAY I NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK IF YOU ASKED ME THAT A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW MY ANSWER WOULD BE DIFFERENT. WE WILL HAVE TO SEE. THIS ISN'T A PIECE OF CAKE, AND THE FEELINGS AFTER TAKE SOME GETTING USE TO. I CAN'T BE SURE WHEN I EAT IF I'M FULL OR NOT. I NEED TO GET UP AND WALK AFTER I EAT. EATING TO MUCH IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. I HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFUL AND HAVE FOLLOWED MY INSTRUCTIONS. THE FIRST 4 WEEKS ALL YOU CAN EAT ARE SOUPS POTATOES JELLO AND PUDDING, THINGS LIKE THAT. I NVER THOUGHT I'D GET TIRED OF MASHED POTATOES! NOW I SEEM TO BE ABLE TO EAT ALMOST ANYTHING I WANT. I HAVEN'T TRIED TOSSED SALAD YET. BUT IT IS STRANGE TO HAVE SOMETING THAT YOU LIKE AND WANT YET YOU CAN NOT EAT IT ALL. YO HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOUR BODY TELLS YOU. I NEVER THOUGHT I USED FOOD AS A REWARD, YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE WILL ASK THAT QUESTION. I ALWAYS THOUGH I DIDN'T. NOW I CAN SEE I DID. AFTER WORK I WOULD GO HOME AND FIX A LARGE TOSSED SALAD AND EAT A BIG PLATE OF IT WHILE I WAS WATCHING TV. IT WAS LIKE BEING IN A TRANCE. FOOD WAS COMFORTING TO ME. BUT I DIDN'T THINK SO AT THE TIME. NOW I SEE PEOPLE EAT LARGE PLATES OF FOOD AND I WANT TO GO UP TO THEM AND SHOW THEM MY SCARE AND SAY YOU DONT REALLY NEED ALL THAT FOOD. ESPECIALLY HIGH FAT FOODS. HAVEN'T HAD PIZZA YET EITHER. DON'T THINK I CARE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. I LOVE FROZEN YOGURT AND COLD THINGS IN MY THROAT. STILL CAN EAT FROZEN YOGURT. YA HOO..