Over 150,000 patients with tremor have returned control over their lives, thanks to DBS. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure aimed at fast and effective treatment of movement disorders as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and several other neurological diseases.
Scroll down, to compare prices in the countries, find out the lowest costs in the best hospitals, learn about top-choice places, and skillful experts, get answers on essential questions you are afraid to ask.
The cost of deep brain stimulation
The deep brain stimulation cost varies between $16,000 and $100,000 from country to country and we’ll explain why.
Learn more about prices in:
What is a deep brain stimulation surgery cost in Turkey?
The average price for the operation in Turkey is $36,300.
Turkish hospitals offer cost-effective programs due to healthcare tourism development within the Turkish Strategic Vision 2023 Plan. It stipulates keeping affordable prices, only advanced hospital equipping, and defensive medicine practice.
This means you will get high-quality medical service with the best technologies at a reasonable price with minimum risks.
Medipol University Hospital
Best neurosurgeon Medipol University Hospital is a top-choice of Bookimed patients who are looking for DBS in Turkey.
85% of Bookimed patients choose Medipol among other hospitals because of Dr. Ali Zırh.
- The best deep brain stimulation neurosurgeon. Dr. Ali Zırh has over 30 years of experience and has provided over 850 successful deep brain stimulation surgeries. In 2018, he gathered 329 patients with brain stimulator from all around the world. This event was named in the 2018 Guinness Book of World Records when the largest number of DBS patients appeared in one place.
- Dr. Zirh provides DBS for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor and other movement disorders.
- A top choice among Bookimed patients. 85% of Bookimed users request a procedure at Medipol.
- The price includes the surgery, neurostimulator + 3 weeks of its programming, and up to 1-year follow-up examination, and extra services.
Hospital certificates and accreditation of quality
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Patients from the UAE, USA, Europe, and Azerbaijan come to Medipol to be operated by Dr. Ali Zırh.
Medipol University Hospital is the largest private medical facility in Turkey. The hospital has the Joint Commission International (JCI) Certificate — the US accreditation that ensures the high quality of healthcare services provided.
The deep brain stimulation price at Medipol is around $36,160.
The price includes:
- 1-year follow-up examination
- 10 nights in the hospital before the surgery
- 25 nights in hotel after the surgery
- Transfer between an airport, a hospital, and a hotel.
Pay attention that the price is approximate. It will be estimated to every particular patient individually by the hospital team. Submit a request to get your price. It's free.
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How much does deep brain stimulation surgery cost in India?
The average cost of DBS in India is $23,700.
India attracts patients from all over the world with high-quality healthcare at low prices. Indian economic development defines expenditures as low-cost for foreigners making medical services much more affordable than in Europe, the USA, Canada.
Hospitals serving international tourists have global certificates as JCI and local as National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH). Their neurosurgery units have state-of-the-art technologies. Local medical teams consist of experienced overseas trained neurosurgeons, neurologists, and experts in other neuroscience branches.
❗️Indian medicine is affordable. But is it safe?
You should not worry about Indian healthcare providers presented on Bookimed. We cooperate only with certified medical institutions with high success rates and world-renowned names. As for now, India is a top destination for medical tourists from all over the world whose inflow shows the 22-25% growth.
The price are those low in comparison with other countries because of the general difference in pricing between the states. For example, the cost of living in India is 65.78% lower than in the USA and 61.48% lower than in the UK.
According to Bookimed specialist opinion, the best place for DBS in India is Apollo Indraprastha.
Indraprastha Apollo
Lowest price The Apollo is the first hospital in India where DBS was provided. The Department of the Neurosurgery is one of the most experienced in the country. Neurosurgeries have been performed here since 1960.
After a complete examination, doctors decide whether a patient requires the DBS operation.
DBS is the most efficient treatment for Parkinson’s patients in case medicines are not effective. The procedure is conducted in two steps. The first step includes insertion of electrodes into the brain and temporary neurostimulator into the patient’s chest/abdomen. The second step of the DBS procedure is setting-up the device for correct impulses transmission and changing it into the constant one.
Hospital certificates and accreditation of quality
| Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery | $21000 - $24300 |
Indraprastha belongs to Apollo Hospital Group, the largest medical network in South Asia. The Neurosciences Unit is recognized as the Center of Excellence — which means it is a place of leadership and best practices.
Indraprastha team provides DBS for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor, dystonia, advanced Parkinsonism.
The cost of DBS at Apollo starts from $21,000.
To find out the treatment program details, and get your personal cost estimate, submit a request. It's free and non-binding.
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How much does deep brain stimulation cost in Spain?
The average cost of DBS in Spain is $65,400.
According to the WHO, the Spanish healthcare system has been in the first line in Europe for years. Local university and hospitals offer excellent education from the top world doctors, for instance, Dr. Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Nobel Prize winner in neurosurgery.
Treatment in Spain allows saving 30-70% for Americans, Britons, and Canadians.
Africans, Arabs, and some Europeans who can't find appropriate treatment at home go here for better medical care.
Teknon Hospital
The most advanced equipment Centro Médico Teknon is a private medical facility in Barcelona, Spain that provides world-class diagnostics and treatments for a variety of medical needs. Offering cutting-edge medical equipment and technologies, the hospital is a top choice for celebrities, sportsmen, and politicians. In addition, the hospital offers Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery in Spain with renowned neurologist Bartolome Oliver, MD, PhD. Highly qualified and experienced, Dr. Oliver has completed residency training and has worked in some of the largest hospitals in Spain. He has authored over 150 publications and 350 reports and is a member of the international medical community. The hospital provides patients with comprehensive care and a staff that is friendly and helpful.
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The Neurosurgery Department team at Teknon conducts the DBS surgery with neuromate® robotic system. The robot makes movements of a surgeon as precise as possible. The effectiveness of the procedure with the robot and experienced neurosurgeon is up to 100%.
The surgery is provided by Dr. Bartolomé Oliver.
Dr. Oliver is a neurosurgeon with 35 years of practical experience, the President of the Catalan Neurosurgical Society. He carries out the operation in patients with Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and epilepsy, which requires surgical intervention.
The cost of DBS at Teknon starts from $77,900.
Pay attention that the cost is calculated in Euro and changes according to the currency rate and patient's diagnosis. To find our a price for your case, submit a request. It's free and non-binding.
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How much does DBS cost in Israel?
The average DBS cost in Israel is $51,000.
Israel is one of the top medical destinations. Patients who are looking for high success rates, latest developments, and doctors with world names, visit Israel for the treatment.
Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center is among 5 best Israeli hospitals according to Newsweek, an authoritative US edition.
Sourasky Medical Center
Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center is one of the world's top 10 most popular clinics for medical tourists, due to its high success rate of 90% in oncology treatment and its highly experienced team of over 400,000 patients annually. It offers a Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery procedure in Israel, operated by Dr. Strauss Ido, with a first working year of 1999. This procedure includes post-op medications, preoperative tests, general and local anesthesia, consultation with the doctor, transfer to the hospital, and an individual chamber.
Hospital certificates and accreditation of quality
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Its Neurosurgery Department is one of the strongest in the country which has been treating patients for over 50 years. Annually, the neuro team performs 2,500 neurosurgical interventions.
Deep brain stimulation here is provided to treat Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia. There is a particular epilepsy program which counts 19 years of deep brain stimulation application for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Deep brain stimulation surgery doctors at Ichilov:
- Professor Zvi Ram, a neurosurgeon with over 25 years of experience, Head of the Neurosurgery Department, winner of numerous awards, incl. the Goldhirsh Foundation Award for innovative neurology treatment methods.
- Professor Itzhak Fried, a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist with over 30 years of epilepsy treatment practice, Professor at Yale University, winner of numerous prizes, incl. Tsubokawa Award for achievements in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery.
The cost for deep brain stimulation surgery at Sourasky starts from $42,000.
To find out what the price includes, submit a request. Our medical coordinator will contact you shortly to answer all your questions regarding the procedure, operating surgeon, and medical travel. Bookimed consultation is free and non-binding.
2019 DBS surgery costs around the world
Country | Prices in ascending order ↓ |
$16,000-32,000 | |
$24,000-47,900 | |
$42,000-61,000 | |
$47,900-77,900 | |
$56,000-65,000 | |
$65,000-77,900 |
Why are the prices so different?
The price formation is based on the following factors:
- A country. The economic development of countries, level of citizens income, investments in healthcare affect the general price policy within the state and the hospital. Thus, Indian and Turkish centers provide brain stimulation with much more affordable prices than in Spain, Israel, Germany, South Korea. At the same time, Spanish and Israeli prices for neurosurgery are 1.5-2 times lower than in the USA, UK, Canada.
- The neurosurgeon's fee. A doctor who has a lot of experience, numerous awards, a busy schedule with patients and research, can have a higher cost of consultation and procedure.
- A deep brain stimulator model. The deep brain stimulator can be rechargeable and non-rechargeable. This characteristic of DBS battery affects the brain pacemaker cost and deep brain stimulation price correspondingly. The prices also vary between manufacturers. Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Abbott Laboratories, Beijing Pins Medical Co offer different ranges of deep brain stimulation device costs.
- A type of procedure. Bilateral (for both sides of the brain) DBS is more expensive than one-sided.
- The program. Centers offer programs with or without diagnostic tests and additional services as transfer, language assistance, accommodation. Ask Bookimed manager about the program which matches you the best. It's totally free and doesn't oblige you to have a medical trip.
Is deep brain stimulation surgery covered by insurance?
Some insurance companies pay for the procedure in case of Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. However, each case is studied individually, and it takes time. In other cases, patients choose self pay deep brain treatment.
How much does DBS update service cost?
The DBS battery replacement cost, as well as its update or new settings, is discussed individually. For instance, Medipol University Hospital in Turkey provides patients with free 1-year after surgical follow-up.
Get an individual DBS cost
Deep Brain Stimulation — FAQs
What is the prognosis after DBS?
Remember, that DBS is not a cure for Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders. It aims to reduce symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life. Most of the patients still need to take medications after DBS procedure, however in much smaller quantity.
Significantly reduced doses lower the drug side effects (incl. dyskinesis — not willed movement caused by long-standing medication taking). More than 70% of PD patients feel a compelling improvement of tremor, movement slowness, rigidity, walking, and balance problems as well.
Will DBS allow me returning to work?
The effect of deep brain stimulation varies in every patient. The success rate depends on the patient's age, diagnosis, and its severity.
The DBS success rates:
- 72.5% of patients reduce tremor and can get their lives back.
- 50% of patients have an improvement in dystonic symptoms.
- 60% of patients show an improvement in myoclonus.
According to the research, patient satisfaction of DBS is:
- 92.5% operated patients are happy with DBS
- 95% would recommend DBS to other patients.
Can I go for sports after DBS?
Patients underwent surgery can return to easy physical activity in 4-6 weeks. As a neurostimulator helps with tremors and body control, patients are allowed to practice yoga, pilates, walking, dancing, swimming. Consult your doctor on the best low-impact exercise and load appropriate for your body.
Can I have DBS if I am younger than 70 years old?
DBS is prescribed for patients of any age if it can help relieve the symptoms. In recent years, FDA approved the surgery for patients with PD at an early stage which can manifest even at 30 years old. DBS is approved for children with dystonia and applied for kids with Tourette syndrome. The world's youngest patient who had DBS was only 2 years old.
Deep Brain Stimulation FDA approval
Does DBS mean craniotomy?
No, DBS doesn't mean craniotomy. Your surgeon will make small orifices (the size of the hole depends on the neurostimulator device, qualifications, and experience of neurosurgeon) and implant a thin lead to the area of the brain identified before with MRI.
How long does it take to recover from deep brain stimulation?
It takes from 1 to 3 hours to recover from the surgery in the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit. Afterward, you return to your ward. It's expected you come back home in 1-2 days after DBS.
Do I need DBS operation on one side or both sides of the brain?
Deep brain surgery on one side is required to help symptoms on the opposite side of the body. DBS on two sides is recommended to provide improvement in motor function, especially if a patient has significant symptoms on both sides of the body.
Some experts firstly implant DBS lead on one side, adjust the setting, and in a follow-up measure whether a patient needs a second DBS lead or not.
Only a deep brain surgeon identifies if a patient needs one-sided or bilateral stimulations.
Do I need to take medications after DBS procedure?
DBS reduces total medication dose by 30-50% and spread the intervals, but does not substitute medication therapy.
What complications could appear during and after the surgery?
Some possible complications could arise during and after the stimulation procedure: brain hemorrhage, infection, reaction to anesthesia. However, these conditions are rare and make up less than 1%.
Is it possible to have an ischemic stroke during or after surgery?
There is a possibility to have an acute ischemic stroke during DBS of globus pallidus internus (GPi) area. However, this complication is very rare.
What is the battery's service life?
The battery lasts about 3 to 9 years depending on its type. It's recommended to monitor the battery condition regularly, and when the battery life is somewhere 10%, it should be replaced.
What to do if a battery of a deep brain stimulator runs out?
A neurostimulator which is located in the chest is replaced surgically, leads and extensions of the system implanted in the head stay in place.
Can I remove the DBS system if new medicines appear?
Yes, deep brain stimulation operation is reversible. In case you don't need it anymore, your neurosurgical team will remove it.
Can DBS not work?
This option is possible and can happen because of programming failure, disease progression, incorrect target areas, or if initially, you were not a candidate for DBS. To avoid unnecessary risks, it's crucial to choose a center with a team experienced in DBS.
Should I avoid electrical devices?
DBS patients should be careful with MRI. Some manufacturers, as Medtronic state that some of their models allow having a safe MRI scanning if to follow specific instructions.
Basic electrical appliances in your everyday use as laptops, microwaves, radios — are safe.
Speak out all the possible restrictions and ask any questions on matters concerning with your DBS doctor.
❗️ Pay attention that heat therapy is strictly forbidden because it can damage the DBS system and affect your health.
Summary
Deep brain stimulation is considering the most efficient treatment method for Parkinson's disease, and it shows high success rates.
If you are prescribed to have the procedure, it's ok that you have doubts and fears because brain surgery itself sounds scary.
If you decide to have DBS and are afraid to come through this alone, contact Bookimed medical coordinator. Our services are free for patients. We will help you to study various options, learn more on leading doctor's specialist, find affordable brain stimulation, and answers for all questions.