DBS on one side only

[dboobar]

I was approved and recently had DBS. The doctors at this facility insisted that only one side of my brain was completed per surgery. Now the doctor wants to wait for the other side until next year. He claims the asymmetry will not be a problem with adverse symptoms and that maybe we don't do the other side. Is this ok? Has anyone else experienced this?

[eschneid]

I've heard of only one side, but only vaguely remember how often it's done. How are your symptoms on the other side. Maybe talk to a different neurosurgeon to get their opinion. Sorry, not much help.

[Grey_Area]

I'd get a second opinion to be sure.

[dboobar in reply to Grey_Area]

I did some research, and this is not a common practice, however my hospital is very reputable, and they said that it's much easier on the brain to recover from surgery if only one side is completed at a time. They also said that if something else needs attention, it can be handled during a second surgery.

[Payparky]

my friend who convinced me to have DBS only did one side initially. A few years later he did the second side. There were not enough symptoms until that time. No problems