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.
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.
Surgery may be considered for patients who:
A comprehensive evaluation, including EEG, MRI, PET scans, neuropsychological testing, and sometimes intracranial monitoring, helps determine eligibility.
Common types include:
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.
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.
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.
Success rates depend on the type of epilepsy and surgery:
Success is higher when seizures come from one identifiable brain area.
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.