Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Israel, Tel Aviv
Ofer Merimsky
41 years of experience
accreditations :
Clinic is certified :
From $8,000. In the US, similar procedures cost around $27,500 on average. Patients save around 71% compared to US rates. Standard surgical packages in Israel generally include preoperative diagnostics, the surgeon fee, anesthesia, operating room use, and hospital stay.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Choosing a university hospital like Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) provides access to Nobel-level expertise. These public-access centers offer specialized robotic platforms often found only in premium private clinics. While private hospitals like Assuta allow patients to personally select their surgeon, Israel's state-ranked facilities maintain a 90% success rate in complex oncology treatments. Top hubs include Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem.
Why choose Israel for surgery?
Access advanced surgery solutions in trusted clinics from $8,000.
| Israel | Turkey | Austria | |
| Surgery | from $8,000 | from $3,000 | ≈ $12,000 |
| Umbilical hernia repair | ≈ $4,800 | from $3,700 | ≈ $3,500 |
| Stomach resection | ≈ $22,500 | from $3,100 | ≈ $22,000 |
| Rectal Prolapse Surgery | ≈ $9,500 | from $3,300 | ≈ $10,000 |
| Rectal Bleeding Surgery | ≈ $4,200 | from $1,300 | ≈ $5,000 |
No hidden fees – just official clinic prices. Pay at the clinic for Surgery upon arrival and use a flexible installment plan if needed.
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Day 1 - Arrival
Day 2 - Pre-operation
Day 3 - Surgery
Day 4 - Post-operation
Day 5 to Day 7 - Hospitalization
Week 1 to Week 2 - Rehabilitation
Week 3
Week 4
Week 6
Each individual"s recovery process and timeline may vary. Always follow your doctor"s advice.
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Prof. Yossefovitz specializes in robotic and laparoscopic urological surgery at Sourasky Medical Center, with over 32 years of experience.
Dr. Alon Friedlander is a leading orthopedic spine surgeon listed among Israel’s Top Doctors by Forbes. He serves as the Director of the Orthopedic Department at Sheba Medical Center. Dr. Friedlander treats complex spinal disorders in both adult and pediatric patients. He uses both minimally invasive and open surgical techniques for precision care.
Led the National Pancreas Foundation Fellowship in Surgical Oncology
Dr. Ron Greenberg heads the Colorectal Surgery Department at Sourasky Medical Center, specializing in both open and minimally invasive techniques.
When considering Surgery, it’s important to understand the different techniques and which is best suited for you. Here’s a concise comparison of popular options:
The procedure involves surgically excising benign fatty tumors, known as lipomas, from the body to prevent discomfort or for cosmetic reasons.
This procedure involves repairing a hernia in the groin area by pushing the protruding tissue back into the abdomen and strengthening the abdominal wall.
This surgical procedure corrects an umbilical hernia by closing the defect in the abdominal wall near the navel.
This surgical intervention corrects a hiatal hernia by repositioning the stomach and reinforcing the diaphragm.
This surgical procedure involves removing the appendix, typically due to inflammation or infection.
This procedure involves using an endoscope to diagnose and treat conditions of the bile and pancreatic ducts.
Surgeons in Israel are highly qualified, adhering to international standards equivalent to the United States and Europe. Specialists complete rigorous academic training, competitive residencies lasting over 5 years, and often hold fellowships from prestigious institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering or the Starzl Transplantation Institute.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli surgical centers like Sourasky Medical Center report exceptionally high success rates, such as 98% in neurosurgery. This correlates with the high volume of procedures performed, with Assuta Medical Center alone conducting 92,000 operations annually. Patients benefit from surgeons who maintain peak clinical skills through constant exposure to complex robotic and minimally invasive cases.
Patient Consensus: Patients value the speed of the Israeli system, often securing surgical dates within just a few days. The high prevalence of English-speaking staff significantly reduces communication barriers during pre-operative consultations and recovery.
Israel offers a powerful combination of top-tier surgical expertise, JCI-accredited facilities, and innovative technology like the da Vinci robotic system. Patients benefit from specialized multidisciplinary planning and success rates that mirror the best Western institutions, often at 71% lower cost than US averages.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli private medicine excels in complex, life-saving cases rather than standard elective procedures. While Assuta and Sheba offer world-leading outcomes in oncology and transplants, these centers are high-volume hubs. For better value, look for packages at clinics like Sourasky that include free airport transfers and dedicated international coordinators.
Patient Consensus: Patients value Israel for treating rare conditions that other countries refuse. While the medical care is exceptional, many advise that bureaucratic processes often require professional assistance to navigate efficiently.
Post-operative pain in Israel is managed through multimodal non-opioid protocols to ensure rapid recovery. Surgeons combine scheduled oral analgesics, intraoperative IV buffers, and local nerve blocks. This approach minimizes reliance on narcotics while facilitating early mobilization and reduced inflammation in Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited hospitals.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli surgical centers like Assuta and Sourasky prioritize robotic systems to lower pain levels. Data shows centers performing 92,000 operations annually emphasize early mobilization. Walking every hour after surgery often proves more effective for managing gas pain than extra medication.
Patient Consensus: Many patients find that keeping a strict schedule with non-opioid medications like Optalgin prevents pain from peaking. They highly recommend frequent walking and using ice packs to manage initial swelling effectively.
In Israel, surgeons often hold international fellowships from institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering or Mount Sinai. Ask about their annual procedure volume, specific complication rates, and whether they personally perform the entire surgery. High-volume specialists at JCI-accredited centers typically report superior success rates.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli surgical expertise is highly concentrated. Professor Ido Nachmany and others often manage transplant departments while leading specialized surgical units. Data shows top-tier surgeons here frequently hold multiple international fellowships. This dual-focus ensures they handle complex oncology and reconstructive cases with high precision and lower risk.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize asking for the surgeon’s specific complication rate rather than general hospital averages. They feel more confident when surgeons discuss a clear contingency plan for potential complications.
Choosing a specific surgeon in a public Israeli hospital is generally not possible for standard national insurance cases. Surgeons are assigned based on hospital scheduling. However, patients can select a surgeon through Jerusalem-based private medical services (SHARAP) or by utilizing supplementary health insurance tracks.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While public hospitals assign surgeons, top-tier facilities like Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) perform 34,000 surgeries annually with 2,200 doctors on staff. Patients should focus on hospitals with high volumes in their specific procedure. If you need a specific expert like Professor Yossefovitz Ofer, checking their private practice affiliations is often the fastest route to a direct consultation.
Patient Consensus: Many find success influencing their surgeon choice by consulting with a specific specialist privately first. Patients advise checking health fund affiliations early to avoid long wait times for prestigious doctors.
Recovery depends heavily on the procedure type, ranging from same-day mobility for laparoscopic techniques to several months for complex organ transplants. Most patients return to light activities within 7 days, while full tissue healing and strength maturation typically require 6 to 12 months.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israel excels in robotic-assisted recovery. While traditional open surgeries may require 5 to 7 days in the hospital, clinics like Sourasky and Assuta use the da Vinci system to often reduce hospital stays to just 1 or 2 nights. This precision significantly lowers post-operative discomfort and speeds up the return to work.
Patient Consensus: Many find the first 4 days the most tiring due to general exhaustion. Successfully navigating recovery often requires following wound care instructions precisely and using supportive items like wedge pillows for comfort.
Preparing for surgery in Israel requires organizing medical documentation, securing financial guarantees or private payments, and completing pre-operative tests. Patients must coordinate with specialists like Professor Yossefovitz Ofer at Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) to review medical history, medications, and fasting protocols before undergoing advanced procedures.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers like Assuta and Sourasky (Ichilov) perform over 126,000 operations annually, often utilizing the da Vinci robotic system. Our data shows that private pathways significantly reduce wait times, which can otherwise stretch into months in the public system. Choosing private care also grants direct access to world-renowned department heads who previously led major public oncological units.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize hiring a Hebrew-speaking professional for public referrals or preparing translated medical cards to ensure clear communication with hospital staff. Maintaining a strong local support system is vital for a smooth recovery period.
Israel is a premier neurosurgery hub due to its fusion of high-density medical innovation and elite surgical expertise. Top facilities like Sheba Medical Center integrate AI-guided navigation and real-time intraoperative MRI. Specialized centers report 98% success rates for complex procedures including awake craniotomy and movement disorder treatments.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows a clear divide between public and private options in Israel. Private centers like Assuta Medical Center perform over 92,000 operations annually and allow patients to select their specific lead surgeon. This is a vital advantage for complex cases where a specific expert like Dr. Eli Ashkenazi is preferred for his 1,000+ spine surgery record.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize bringing original imaging on a USB for local review to streamline the surgical plan. They also note that private packages often include hotel coordination and airport transfers, making the logistics much smoother.
Israeli neurosurgeons treat a full spectrum of conditions ranging from brain and spinal tumors to complex functional disorders. Specialized centers utilize advanced technologies like Gamma Knife, deep brain stimulation, and intraoperative MRI to manage epilepsy, Parkinson disease, and cerebrovascular pathologies with high precision.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli hospitals often combine specialties to handle complex cases. At Sourasky Medical Center, neurosurgeons like Dr. Zvi Lidar bridge neurosurgery and orthopedics for spinal care. This multidisciplinary approach allows clinics to perform 34,000+ operations annually. Choosing a facility with this crossover expertise often leads to more comprehensive treatment plans for degenerative diseases.
Patient Consensus: Patients value the ability to access specialized treatments like fluorescence-guided surgery for tumors which are often unavailable elsewhere. Many note that the staff is fluent in English and provides clear communication through teleconsultations before traveling.
Israel is home to world-renowned neurosurgery centers like Sourasky Medical Center, Sheba Medical Center, and Hadassah Medical Center. These facilities are globally ranked for treating complex brain tumors, spinal disorders, and movement diseases. They utilize advanced technologies like Gamma Knife, robotic systems, and intra-operative MRI.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that while most patients focus on Tel Aviv, Rambam Medical Center in Haifa offers unique expertise in neuro-trauma. It operates a specialized neuro-ICU and serves nearly 1 million patients annually. This makes it an essential choice for complex post-trauma brain surgeries that requires intensive recovery support.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to start consultations early. They often highlight that the precision and follow-up care for complex brain tumors exceeded their expectations. One patient emphasized how quickly they could connect with top professors for second opinions during critical neurosurgical cases.
Israel's leading neurosurgeons include Prof. Zvi Ram, Prof. Shlomi Constantini, and Prof. Itzhak Fried at Sourasky Medical Center. These specialists hold leadership roles in the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN). They utilize advanced intraoperative mapping and robotic systems.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from Sourasky and Sheba indicates a strong correlation between high surgical volumes and patient safety. For example, Sourasky performs 34,000+ operations annually with a 90% oncology success rate. Patients seeking complex tumor removals should prioritize centers like these where surgeons perform hundreds of specific cases each year.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the importance of finding a surgeon who specializes specifically in your condition rather than a generalist. Many note that high-volume centers provide better access to English-speaking staff and coordinated care for international visitors.
International neurosurgery patients in Israel must provide comprehensive medical records including recent MRI or CT scans translated into English. Admission requires a clinical review by specialists to confirm treatment feasibility. Hospitals often mandate full advance payment or a significant deposit before confirming surgery dates or issuing visa support letters.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that top Israeli facilities like Sheba Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center handle massive patient volumes, exceeding 1,000,000 people annually. This high demand means clinics prioritize complex or rare cases over routine procedures. Patients with unique or high-risk conditions often receive faster admission approval than those seeking standard treatments available elsewhere.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that having all imaging results ready in English is essential for quick scheduling. Many emphasize that while the medical care is excellent, coordinating around Shabbat closures is necessary to avoid unexpected diagnostic delays.
A standard stay for neurosurgery in Israel ranges from 10 to 14 days for uncomplicated cases. Patients undergoing complex procedures like brain tumor removal or deep brain stimulation often require 4 to 6 weeks. This timeline covers pre-operative diagnostics, the surgical procedure, and essential post-operative monitoring.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from Sourasky Medical Center shows they treat over 400,000 patients annually with high success rates. Clinics with such high volumes, like Hadassah or Assuta, often have streamlined discharge protocols. This helps international patients transition to hotel-based recovery faster while maintaining access to top specialists.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is vital not to rush home too early. Some travelers extended their stay to 3 weeks due to swelling or to ensure they received final surgeon clearance before flying.
Israeli neurosurgery uses robotic guidance, real-time 3D imaging, and incisionless technologies to minimize physical trauma. Systems like Mazor Robotics provide sub-millimeter precision for spine implants. MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treats tremors without incisions. These advanced tools ensure high accuracy and reduce recovery times.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli clinics like Sourasky or Hadassah integrate proprietary Israeli-born technologies like Surgical Theater before they hit global markets. Our data shows these centers often use VR flight-through models for pre-surgical planning. This allows surgeons to rehearse complex cases, which is a key factor in their 90% success rates.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that technologies like the Gamma Knife allowed them to return home in days rather than weeks. Many move from traditional 10cm incisions to cuts under 2cm when using robotic-assisted systems.
Israel is a global leader in neurosurgery due to its integration of proprietary medical innovations and internationally trained specialists. High-capacity centers like Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) perform over 34,000 annual surgeries. Patients access advanced techniques like awake craniotomy and MR-guided focused ultrasound.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgery stands out because of the high concentration of dually certified experts. Many top surgeons, such as Dr. Zvi Lidar, are certified to practice in both Israel and the USA. This ensures that patients receive American-standard surgical care while staying in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Our data shows that private centers like Assuta offer significantly faster access to these specific specialists compared to the public system.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to confirm a surgeon's specific volume of cases for your exact condition. They also value the ability to get expert second opinions quickly through online consultations with world-renowned professors.
Sheba Medical Center and Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) are among the best neurosurgery hospitals in Israel. These JCI-accredited facilities perform thousands of operations annually. They utilize advanced technologies like CyberKnife and intraoperative MRI to treat complex brain tumors and cerebrovascular lesions.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that top Israeli centers like Sourasky and Hadassah perform over 40,000 total operations yearly. This high volume allows surgeons to maintain a 90% success rate even in complex oncology cases. Patients seeking robotic spine surgery or deep brain stimulation should focus on these high-capacity municipal centers for the most experienced teams.
Patient Consensus: Patients appreciate that some hospitals quickly coordinate consultations even during regional strikes. Families of pediatric patients especially value surgeons trained at prestigious international institutions.
Israel's leading neurosurgeons include Professor Zvi Ram, Professor Shlomi Constantini, and Professor Itzhak Fried at Sourasky Medical Center. These experts specialize in awake craniotomy, pediatric brain tumors, and functional mapping. Most hold JCI accreditation and international fellowships from institutions like Johns Hopkins and Yale.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that top-tier Israeli neurosurgeons, such as those at Sourasky Medical Center, often hold dual board certifications in Israel and the US. This unique crossover ensures patients receive American-standard protocols. These specialists typically manage over 34,000 annual operations, providing high-volume clinical experience that smaller private clinics cannot match.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that highly qualified doctors like Professor Shlomo Constantini provide satisfactory answers quickly. People emphasize that outcomes often depend on the hospital’s integrated resources rather than just a doctor's prestige.
Israel is a global leader in neurosurgery, treating complex brain and spinal conditions using robotic-assisted and minimally invasive techniques. Highly specialized units at JCI-accredited centers like Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) and Hadassah Medical Center focus on neuro-oncology, pediatric neurosurgery, and functional procedures.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgical departments often function as rapid-response hubs for international patients. Data shows that large centers like Sourasky, which serves 1,800,000 patients annually, can organize expert video consultations in a very short time. This speed is critical for neuro-oncology cases where starting treatment a few days earlier significantly impacts outcomes.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Israeli teams often accept high-risk cases that other hospitals decline. They emphasize the importance of using local coordinators to manage travel logistics or potential local disruptions during their two-week stay.
International patients traveling to Israel for neurosurgery require a valid passport, an entry permit or medical visa, and a formal hospital invitation. You must provide recent MRI or CT scans in DICOM format and detailed medical summaries. Proof of private health insurance and financial stability are also mandatory for border entry.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that top neurosurgeons at Hadassah Medical Center and Sourasky often request records 4–6 weeks before arrival. Submitting these early prevents appointment shifts. High-volume centers with over 30,000 annual operations have dedicated portals for secure DICOM file uploads. Using these ensures your surgeon reviews high-quality images before you land in Tel Aviv.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize bringing physical copies and digital backups of all scans on a USB drive. They also note that private insurance needs pre-authorization specifically for neurosurgery to avoid payment delays at the clinic.