What to expect during surgery
The surgical procedure, the details of which may vary slightly from one hospital to another, takes several hours and comprises two stages. The first stage of surgery involves the placement of the leads in the brain. In some cases, your doctor may suggest the procedure only on one side of the brain. Although the placement of the leads is not painful (the brain itself has no pain receptors), you may be given general anesthesia to minimize discomfort during the procedure. In the second stage of the procedure, which may occur on a different day, the neurosurgeon will put the neurostimulator and extensions in place. The leads and extensions are then connected to the neurostimulator.
What to expect after the surgery
Your doctor will decide when to turn on your neurostimulator. It may be turned on immediately or after healing is complete (about four weeks).
