Tim Farrell Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

Dr.Tim Farrell is a very caring doctor. He cares a lot about his patients. He talks to his patients on the patients level so they undstand what's going to take place. If you call with a question Dr Farrell or his staff will call you back and try to help answer your question. Other patients should know that he has a lot of patients to see and it might take a while to see him so don't be in a hurry when you go for your appointment. He takes time with each patient. Dr Farrell is very serious about his patients he is very clear about surgery. Tells his patients what to expect and what to do to keep the weight off. It's up to the patient as to how well they do in weight loss and keeping it off. He does his job. It's up to the patient to keep the weight off. I highly recommend Dr.Farrell to anyone! I'm so glad I was sent to him. He knows what he's doing and is very caring to his patients while they're in the hospital and after they leave. I've never seen him rude to a patient or staff member. He's an excellent doctor!

I had my surgery done at UNC Hospitals. You have 2 surgeons there - the faculty member and the teaching fellow. Dr. Farrell is the faculty member and Dr. John Morton is the teaching fellow who was there at the time of my surgery. He's already a laparascopic GI surgeon who is at UNC for 2 years to learn the RNY procedure. I based my decision on which surgeon to use primarily on the information I read on this site, so I will try to be as specific as possible here. STRENGTHS: They were able to perform my surgery laproscopically even though I was 323 lbs., carried most of my weight in my stomach, and had an enlarged liver. I recovered from surgery very quickly and had no complications. They transect the stomach to avoid future staple disruptions. I've been quite successful at losing weight so far and am honestly rarely ever hungry. They do not do group appointments - you can spend quite a long time speaking individually with the doctor when you see him. They do not pressure you into the surgery AT ALL - you don't feel like they are trying to "sell" it to you like some of the surgeons I've met who do nothing but RNYs. They did quite a few pre-op tests including EKG, electrocardiogram, blood gases, pulmonary function, chest x-ray, and a slew of bloodwork. Also, they are based out of a very large hospital, so if something goes wrong with the surgery, you are probably in the right place! WEAKNESSES: Staff is not very helpful with getting insurance approval. Most of hospital staff was slow and many hospital services (such as dietary and housekeeping) were disappointing. Surgeon did not remove gallbladder during surgery or order pre-op abdominal ultrasound to see if there was already a problem with it. You cannot speak directly with the doctor post-op if you have problems - must go through the nurse coordinator (aside from when you see the doctor in person at appointments). They believe it is impossible to have any stomach acid problems after this surgery. My research into marginal ulcers and the huge number of post-ops taking Prilosec, Prevacid, etc. in addition to my own experience makes me think they may be wrong there. The post-op labs they ordered were less comprehensive than those I've seen from other surgeons. Overall, I am very, very happy that I made it through the initial surgery without problems and am losing weight, but am somewhat disappointed with aftercare.

Hi I actually have 2 surgeons who will be performing the surgery. Their names are Dr. Tim Farrell and Dr. T Lucktong. I have met with both of them and they are very soft spoken and were very willing to answer all my questions with no hesitations. I did not feel overwhelmed by the two of them at all. They sat down at my level and looked me in the eye and drew illustrations and took their time with me. I was very impressed with their knowlege and kind hearts. I feel very at ease with them as my surgeons and would recommend them to anyone looking for one in the Chapel HIll area. Hey, you know they even asked me if, my date would be good for me or should we look at another one!!! Also, all the staff that I have come in contact with were great and friendly also. No one looking down on me for doing this lol!

Well, I am 10 months out now and have lost 116lbs and well over 100 inches. Dr Farrell and Dr Lucktong are wonderful surgeons. There hospital care and bedside manners were amazing. They were very good at after care and really wanted to be there for me, if any questions arose. At my last appt, I only saw Dr Farrell and he came into the lobby and did not even recognize me. My insurance wouldn't cover my visit that day due to some sort of mix up, so he came looking for me in the lobby and sat down with me and talked to me there. That was really reaching out, in my books :) He gave me advice, listened to me and also, recommended 2 plastic surgeons for down the road. Dr Farrell & Dr Lucktong are certainly in the right profession for caring for people and I would do it all over again, in a minute (especially with them)!

FIRST IMPRESSION WAS I WAS WORRING WAS HE GOING 2 HELP ME ARE NOT,BUT WHEN I MEET HIM DR. FARRELL I WAS GLAD 2 HAVE MEET HIM.I FEEL SAVE IN HIS CARE. I NEVER HAD ANY WORRYS FROM THE STARTED I FELT REAL GOOD TO KNOW THAT HE WOULD HELP ME FRENDLY NOTHING IF HE CAN HELP U ,I KNOW HE WOULD HE KNOWS WHATS GOOD 4 U AN HE WILL EXPLAN THE CHANCES THAT COME WITH THE SUREGY

I first met his asso. Dr. Tananchai Lucktong, he was great in explaining every detail, drawing pictures, answering many questions I had. Upon meeting Dr. Farrell he was wonderful as well, very detailed, very caring.
The office staff have been a god send, I call with questions regularly and Karen always return my calls, Karen was at the Hospital the day before surgery--very helpful. She visited me the day I left the Hospital as well.
I didn't see Dr. Farrell only 2 times, once before surgery and he visited me in the hospital 1 time.
I would recommend the team Lucktong and Ferrell to others. I go for my first follow up Monday 01/07/01, Farrell and Lucktong insist I go to Chapel for at least one year before I can have my local physician do the follow ups. ( I am 4 hours from Chapel Hill). This to me means they care.
After care is still new to me, however they have covered it many times before surgery. Risk was the #1 factor with them. On a scale 1 - 10 I would rate them a 10. Surgical competence is a must, your life is in there hands.

Dr. Farrel and Dr. Lucktong are both wonderful docters. They both explained the proedure and the rick of complications answering my questions and my parents. I couldn't have asked for more compassionate doctors to do the procedure. Unlike some doctors that treat you like a number these two treat you as if you are the only patient they have, giving you there full attention.

Dr. Farrell is wonderful. He is very meticulous and great with follow-up. My primary care physician now makes all her referals to him she was so impressed with his follow-up. He kept her updated every step of the way. He was very compassionate. As UNC is a teaching hospital I had visits from residents and interns visiting for the six days I was hospitalized. Yes, Dr. Farrell wants to make sure his patients are on a liquid diet for a long as possible. I believe if I could have, and if insurance would have allowed, he would have kept me in there two weeks. Every resident, intern and student I had to deal with were just as nice and friendly as Dr. Farrell. I believe Dr. Farrell sets the example and they follow. The nursing staff at UNC is not too great. They, like lots of hospitals are dealing with the nursing shortage. But,I would recommend, and have, anyone to Dr. Farrell. As a matter of fact,I was the first person they did WLS on, as they just started their WLS program. Since then, Dr. Farrell has given my name to several patients considering surgery or scheduled for surgery and I have had nothing but good things to say about the procedure and Dr. Farrell.

Dr. Ferrell was very professional and compassionate. He treated me with dignity and repsect and addressed any concerns that I have. He really put my mind at ease, assuring me that while he does not perform the procedure the fastest in the medical industry he performs a safe procedure taking all procautionary measures. I am very confident that I will have a favorable outcome. And Ilook forward to getting my life back.