Understanding the Treatment Timeline

What Happens Before, During, and After the Procedure?

Before the procedure, patients who have been evaluated as candidates for focused ultrasound will work with their medical team to understand their treatment timeline. There is little preparation required; however, patients will need a cleanly shaven head to minimize the interference of sound waves. A local numbing medication will then be applied to the areas involved. You may also be given additional medication to improve your comfort.

Along with an MRI, your doctor will begin by first applying light doses of ultrasound energy to identify the precise spot in the brain for treatment. After each application of energy, called a sonication, you will be asked to perform specific tasks such as touching your nose to evaluate your tremor improvement. The treating physician will then gradually increase the energy to create a small lesion, usually resulting in improvement of hand tremors. Many patients report immediate improvements during the treatment itself. Your heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels will be monitored throughout the treatment which typically lasts 2.5 hours.

After treatment, you will move to the recovery room. The physician will let you know when you can go home and when you will need to return for a follow-up visit. Within days, you should be able to return to normal activities.