Steven Hendrick

Bariatric Surgeon
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 with 39 ratings

Steven Hendrick Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

12 yr Experience

8 yr in Bariatrics

12 yr in Laparoscopic Surgery

7 yr in Laparoscopic Bariatrics

85% Practice is Bariatrics

Min Age of Patient is 18

Max Age of Patient is 65+


39 Reviews for Steven Hendrick
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I don’t think I have the skills to effectively communicate just how very important Dr. Hendrick and his staff have come to mean to me, but I’ll give it a try. Five months ago when I attended his seminar, I was a broken and damaged person. Now, 3 weeks post Laparoscopic VSG surgery, I have for the first time in many years, hope for a happy future. I still might be a little damaged ;-) but feel really good about where this journey is taking me.

I’ve never met a Dr. quite like him. I feel his approach is a perfect mix of educating his patients, thorough and careful review of medical history with a pinch of tough love. Not to mention his skillful hand for surgery. He exudes a genuine quality that shows that he truly cares about his patients, which is rare to find these days. I don’t think I could have found a surgeon who was a better fit for me and my needs. I’m so grateful that God had guided me to Dr. Hendricks care. I highly recommend him and can say with certainty he will be my surgeon (since he is also a General Surgeon) for life.

His staff is just as AMAZING!!! They are all so helpful, knowledgeable and kind. They provide lots of support and encouragement while maintaining a high degree of professionalism. Whether I’m going in for a follow-up appointment, support group or to purchase protein & supplements I always look forward to my visits.

If you’re in the market for a highly skilled, dedicated and compassionate surgeon, look no further.

1 person found this helpful

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I had the pleasure of Dr. Steven Hendricks as my physician for Laproscopic Gastric Bypass. I felt he was very thorough in his explanation of the surgery processes. He took the time to actually talk to me and get my perspective on how I wanted the procedure to benefit me in the end and did not try to convince me to choose another procedure over what I wanted. He explained the complications of surgery and genuinely showed he cared about my feelings and well being. His office staff are wonderful, very helpful and informative with any questions that you may have. They don't treat you like you are asking a dumb question and follow up is prompt and thorough as well.
My personal experience was out of the normal surgerical procedures that Dr. Hendricks performs. I happened to be one of his difficult cases, meaning my recovery took longer thatn anticipated due to complications. I had the pleasure of Dr. Hendricks opening me up 4 times. Even though I had this unfortunate experience Dr. Hendricks was there for me and my family all the way through. He checked on me all throughout the day and even called after hours for updates on my progress via the nurses. Dr. Hendricks even called while he was on his vacation to check on my status at least 2 times a day. It was funny on the day of his return from vacation he made sure his first stop was at the hospital to check on me and we joked about this at my first post-op appointment. He tells me I should have worned him upfront I was going to be a difficult patient.
I would recommend Dr. Hendricks to anyone considering to have weight loss surgery. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself.

2 people found this helpful

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I had been researching WLS for a very long time and was always afraid to do it, although I was a bit afraid of having surgery. I went to seminars at other hospitals and never had a good feeling about it, until I went to a seminar at Wyandotte Hospital with Dr. Hendrick. After that, my husband and I were both convinced he was the right surgeon for me. I immediately made an appt with his office and went a week later to meet with the dietician to start the process. I did everything that they specifically told me was required...I even went to a support meeting at his office prior. . Finally I had a surgery date of 5/11/11 for a vertical sleeve gastrectomy and I was soooo excited!!!!. I prepared with vitamins, protein shakes, diet, and set up my house for post op. My husband took a week off work to be with me post op and off we went on the morning of 5/11 to the hospital for surgery. I was weighed first, then prepped with two IV's, which were super painful because my nurse was having a hard time getting them right, but thankfully the CRNA came in and saved me and got them right in with no problem. I was given a heparin shot in my belly, the special socks put on my calves, spoke to the anestheisiologist who didn't have ANY questions and said I was a very healthy person! ( oh yea, BTW, I have no co-morbidities!!!) I was all ready to go into the OR and then Dr. Hendrick came in and looked at my chart and told me that I hadn't lost enough weight... that I had only lost 2 lbs and that I didn't listen to him and that I wasn't committed etc and that he didn't know if he was going to do the operation now!!!! He was very abrupt and rude and every time I tried to speak, he would cut me off. I had officially lost 6 lbs since I started at his office the very first day and the whole thing of this is THEY DID NOT TELL ME I HAD TO LOSE A SPECIFIC AMT OF WEIGHT OR HE WOULD NOT OPERATE!!!!!!! He had said in his first seminar that if you came on the morning of surgery and had gained weight - even 7 lbs - he would not operate that day. Or if you said you quit smoking and he didn't believe you that he would make you pee in a cup and if you were indeed still smoking, he would canc the surgery. He did say in the all day orientation/seminar to a group of us that you should be able to lose 15-20 lbs before surgery. BUT HE NEVER SAID YOU ABSOULUTELY HAD TOO. I did try to lose weight and had a few setbacks about a month before surgery, which then I ended up gaining a few pounds... but during the last week before surgery I totally and faithfully stuck to the full liquid and liquid diet and had lost 12 lbs. I tried to tell him this.. but he was just all mad and saying I didn't listen and at that point I just shut down and didn't want him operating on me. Even if I could talk him into it, how was I supposed to go in to surgery with him being mad and me being very upset??!. So I took that as a sign that I was not supposed to have the surgery. I just basically sat there shell shocked and my husband and daughter tried to talk to him and he was just acting so unbelieveably unprofessional, that I told them to nevermind trying. I told my husband in front of Dr. Hendrick that I wasn't going to BEG him to operate on me. Dr. Hendrick went out of our curtained area a couple times.. and came back once saying "if I don't do this today, are you saying you aren't going to have the surgery at all? Because you need this surgery!" I told him I wasn't saying that and I didn't know.... He said not doing the surgery that day was for my safety, but he never really gave me a medical reason why that was. So he left again, then came back and told me to go home and lose 6-8 lbs, that this was just a pot-hole in the road and come to his office on Friday to see him and he would re-schedule the surgery for 5-23 and he turned around and left. The nurse took out the IV's, handed me my clothes and I got dressed and we left. My husband and I were very, very upset over this, and the next day he called Dr. Hendricks office and told him I would not be returning and that we did not want to be billed ( nor should the insurance be) for the day before and the gal at the office just said talk to the hospital about that. Their office, nor Dr. Hendrick ever called me to discuss this. I guess they just wrote me off and do not want to take any responsibility for this at all. Another very disturbing thing was that he had ordered a sleep study and I do have sleep apnea and a week or so after the scheduled surgery, I met with the rep at Sleep Solutions called to say that there was a problem with getting me a different sleep mask, because they had called Dr. Hendrick's office and he would not change the prescription because he said I canc'd the surgery. So it would seem that he must not care enough about me in general, to write a new script so I could get a different mask so I can wear it for the sleep apnea. One simple change from a nasal mask to full facial mask.
This has been a totally traumatic experience that I don't think I will ever get over and still cannot believe happened. After coming home, I immediately looked though my binder that they gave me from his office and there was nothing anywhere that said you HAD to lose a speciific amount of weight. On the very LAST page is an Induction Diet and it says "Induction Diet to lose _____ lbs. IT IS BLANK!!!! IT DOES NOT SAY TO LOSE SPECIFIC LBS!!!! . There were a lot of people there with me that day and maybe they THNIK they told me that specifically, but they did not. I went in to see my primary doc a few days after that and she pulled out the letter that Dr. Hendrick wrote to her prior to surgery and it DID NOT say anywhere about me losing weight prior to surgery and she said she does often see that written by him for some of her patients and that he did not require that. I am still trying to recover over this unbelieveable experience.
Here's the main thing about this... IF losing a specific amount is MANDATORY, then there should be some protocol for making sure the patient is totally aware of the expectation - possibly signing a paper saying you understand this. And the patient should be REQUIRED to come into his office the day before surgery to be weighed to MAKE SURE. I have talked with other people who did have to lose weight prior to WLS, but I truly thought maybe this was because I didn't have any co-morbidities and they did. This should have not been handled like it was on the morning of surgery. My insurance company had to pay for a lot of tests etc, and I too had to pay many co -pays, also spent a lot of money on protein shakes and other things needed for my new lifestyle after surgery. . I really believed that I would finally lose this weight once and for all with the help of the surgery and I was totally committed, no matter if he thinks so or not. And now I sit here at square one, scared to death to even try again with another surgeon. It is really devastating.
This statement is strictly my personal experience and opinion and I am not saying that these things will happen with other people. I have previously read many good things about Dr. Hendrick, which is why I chose him. I am personally very sad that it turned out like this. I believe there was a mis-comminication error and unfortunately it was at my expense.

3 of 5 people found this helpful

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he is a great dr good bed side manner loved him

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I can not thank Dr. Hendrick enough for telling me about the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. He told me I will do great with it. He is right I enjoy loosing weight and exercise now. I thank god ever day for giving my surgeon the gift to help others live longer. He is a very caring doctor and he will also tell you if your doing good or bad and he will not take any excuse from you if your not doing right. As he tells me he will check you and he sure does. He gives you the tool and tells you he expects you to do right by it. He has a great after care program. I like having him on my side of this obeasity fight.

The office staff is great. They are so nice and help so much with any kind of question you have. I like going to the support group meetings everyone there helps each other out so much. If you need questions answered by people that know what your going threw than the group is the place to be.

On February 28 Dr Hendrick took out my gallbladder things went fine. But 2 weeks after he did this i had a sharp pain in my side. I Called his office to ask if this was normal and they told me they will have him call me back which he did. He told me to go to Er so i did. I told the Er doctor what was going on with me and he said well we call your doctor when we find out something that is how it works he told me. I was sent for an ultra sound than a hida scan. i was in the hida scan and look over there was Dr Hendrick check on me. He came over to me and had to check my area i was hurting in. Than told me things look fine to come to see him next week. The tech in the scan room said wow a doctor that cares enough to make sure his patient was OK is very rare than I went back to the ER the doctor was there with a nurse and Dr Hendrick walked around the corner to see me again. He told me he checked on my blood work and all other testing and things were great. The ER doctor was so shocked to see him there. The Er doctor said well you come with your own doctor you do not need us lol. I told him that is what makes a good doctor great. I felt so at ease in the ER room once Dr Hendrick told me i was fine and he was checking in on me. I now know what an awesome doctor he is. For a doctor to do this is amazing to me. I had no idea he would come to the hospital and make sure i was OK. What other doctor does this?. I was told by that ER doctor most doctors just call and see what is wrong with there patient but he said I guess your doctor cares more than others. I told him yes I guess he does and i am very happy he does.

Thank you Dr. Hendrick words can not thank you enough.

1 person found this helpful

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I thank God every day that I met this man and that he chose to do what he is doing for a living as he has helped save my life.

I keep typing and deleting because words can simply not express what I think of this surgeon. He is 1000% on top of his game and his knowledge and genuine personality show every time I meet with him no matter if it was the first consult, follow-up appointments or, emergency weekend pages.

He is honest and doesn't hold back on tough love when needed and again I can ramble for days about him and at times I do, I'd be the president of his fan club if I could and one existed.

The office staff is AWESOME!!!! Always helpful and kind, I love going there!! They listen, encourage, share knowledge and so many other things that I am so appreciative of. Just amazing, every single one of them.

If your a future patient join the fan club you won't be disappointed he is that awesome!

Anything negative to say....I do not like this disclaimer below and have nothing negative to say besides that I wish I had done this 10 years ago and that he was my surgeon.

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Dr. Steven Hendricks is a highly recommended surgeon within Michigan. Every single medical professional I have encontured throughout this process (even the Director of Nephrology) rave about his compassion and abilities!

I was referred to Dr. Hendricks by a very good friend (he also is a general surgeon). Thank you Shelle!

I attended a seminar that Dr. Hendricks was hosting regarding Weight Loss surgery. He was very informative, very "down to earth", one of the gentlemen that had the surgery referred to him as "like a big brother". I felt very at ease and very informed!

Next, I met the office staff. They are such wonderful ladies! They make you feel so comfortable and offer so much encouragement and support.

At my consultation he made me feel at ease. He actually reads through your medical history and MAKES SURE you are healthy enough for surgery.

He does require a 7 day liquid diet prior to surgery.

At this point in my journey I feel 100 percent confident in my surgeon.

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Dr. Hendrick and his staff are an amazing team! They are very holistic in their approach to weight loss. He is very up front about what is required of you and his no-nonsense yet kind approach made me feel 100% safe to put my life in his hands. He always calculates the risk/benefit ratio and will never do something unless certain of the outcome. He is a great surgeon!

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He is very straight forward and honest. I would definitely, definitely recommend him. Dr. Hendrick does not issue rose colored glasses. He deals in facts and choices. I like that. I love his office manager Robbie, personable and friendly, but professional and got me the answers I needed. As a former patient, Robbie always has a great wealth of knowledge and personal experience to pull from. rnrnWhat did I like least? Hmmm, maybe would have like to had another meeting with him before surgery and have had him come to check daily, instead of his students (I know they are doctors, but still... I hired him!) This is just me, I know the important thing is that he was getting the info he needed and my care was exceptional at the hospital.rnrnSo far I see his aftercare as very well planned out and methodical. Dr. Hendrick is completely upfront about your surgical risk; but does explain that obese people are living a real, daily risk of increased stress on your organs, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. I walked away feeling like he gave me a good \"big picture\" of both my surgical risk and present/future risk of continued obesity; it was my job to make the decisions using that information. rnrnI would rate him a 10++ for surgical knowledge and expertise. He is not a \"warm fuzzy\", but no-nonsense and friendly. Serious and compassionate. I would highly recommend him a bariatric surgeon.rn

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Dr. Hendrick is awesome! I like his no nonsense attitude. He wants you to succeed. Has a great personality.rnHis office staff are the best I been around. He fills in on everything and answers any questions you have. He has a very structured after program and I am glad he will be my doctor for life! He has it all very skilled at his surgery, great bedside manner which all around make him a great doctor! I recommend any one to him, I don't think I could have found a better doctor!rnKat L.

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