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Overview

Epilepsy surgery is a treatment option for patients whose seizures are not controlled by medications. The surgery involves removing or altering the area of the brain where seizures begin, or interrupting abnormal brain activity that causes seizures. With proper evaluation and surgical planning, many patients experience a significant reduction in seizures, and some may even become seizure-free.

What is epilepsy surgery?

Epilepsy surgery is a specialized neurosurgical procedure performed to control seizures in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. It may involve removing the seizure focus (part of the brain where seizures start), disconnecting abnormal pathways, or implanting devices that regulate brain activity.

Who is a candidate for epilepsy surgery?

Surgery may be considered for patients who:

  • Continue to have seizures despite trying at least two anti-seizure medications
  • Have seizures starting from a specific brain area, identifiable by tests
  • Do not have surgical risks that outweigh potential benefits

A comprehensive evaluation, including EEG, MRI, PET scans, neuropsychological testing, and sometimes intracranial monitoring, helps determine eligibility.

What are the types of epilepsy surgery?

Common types include:

  • Resective surgery (temporal lobectomy, lesionectomy): Removes the brain tissue where seizures start
  • Corpus callosotomy: Disconnects nerve fibers between the two brain hemispheres to reduce seizure spread
  • Hemispherectomy: Removes or disconnects one half of the brain (rare, used in severe childhood epilepsy)
  • Neurostimulation therapies: Such as Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS), or Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to regulate abnormal activity
Is epilepsy surgery safe?

Yes. Epilepsy surgery is performed by experienced neurosurgical teams with advanced brain mapping and monitoring. Like all brain surgeries, it carries risks such as infection, bleeding, memory or speech changes, or neurological deficits, but careful planning minimizes these risks.

What is recovery like after epilepsy surgery?

Hospital stay is usually about 3–7 days ,depending on the type of surgery. Patients may feel tired, have headaches, or mild cognitive changes initially. Rehabilitation, follow-up visits, and sometimes continued medication are needed. Many patients notice significant seizure reduction within months.

Does epilepsy surgery cure seizures permanently?

For some patients, especially those with temporal lobe epilepsy, surgery may result in long-term seizure freedom. Others may still have seizures but with reduced frequency and severity, improving the quality of life.

How successful is epilepsy surgery?

Success rates depend on the type of epilepsy and surgery:

  • Temporal lobe surgery: Up to 70–80% seizure freedom
  • Other types: Variable, but many patients achieve significant improvement

Success is higher when seizures come from one identifiable brain area.

Call to Action

If you or a loved one has drug-resistant epilepsy, our Comprehensive Epilepsy Program offers advanced evaluation and surgical options to help achieve seizure control.

📞 Call us or book an Appointment Online to explore epilepsy surgery as a treatment option.

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