Neuromodulation treats neurological problems by changing how a circuit behaves, using a small implanted device, rather than by removing or destroying tissue. The treatment is adjustable and, in almost all cases, reversible — if it does not help, or stops helping, settings can be changed or the system removed. Prof. Atilla YILMAZ, MD performs the full range of implanted neuromodulation procedures, with deep brain stimulation as the centre of the practice.
Procedures performed
Also performed
- Stereotactic biopsy — frame-based or frameless sampling of deep brain lesions when a tissue diagnosis is required and open surgery is not appropriate.
- Lesioning procedures — radiofrequency thalamotomy and pallidotomy, in selected patients who cannot accept or maintain an implanted system.
- Pain surgery — selected procedures for intractable pain not controlled by stimulation.
The principle common to all of them
Every one of these operations shares the same logic: place an electrode or a catheter precisely, then spend the following months adjusting what it delivers. The implant is the beginning of treatment, not the end of it. Centres that treat programming as an afterthought get worse results with identical hardware, which is why this practice keeps programming in house and continues it by video call after international patients return home.
Frequently asked questions
Is neuromodulation reversible?
Stimulation-based neuromodulation is adjustable and, in almost all cases, reversible — settings can be changed and the system can be switched off or explanted. Lesioning procedures are the exception: they are permanent.
Which procedure is right for which problem?
Broadly: DBS for movement disorders and selected psychiatric indications; spinal cord stimulation for neuropathic pain; sacral neuromodulation for bladder, bowel and pelvic problems; intrathecal baclofen for severe spasticity; vagus nerve stimulation for drug-resistant epilepsy. The decision always follows individual assessment.