Israeli doctors perform groundbreaking deep brain surgery using hypnosis instead of anesthesia

Doctors at the Galilee Medical Center in northern Israel have performed a groundbreaking deep-brain stimulation surgery with the assistance of a psychologist’s hypnotic voice rather than the use of traditional anesthesia.

Ali Abu-Ria (71), who has Parkinson’s Disease, remained fully conscious, calm, and at ease during his recent surgery thanks to hypnosis. In his mind, he wasn’t in a hospital at all, but on vacation in Thailand.

“It was like magic,” Abu-Ria recalled following the successful surgery.

“I could hear his voice the whole time, even while the drill was boring into my skull. I was awake, I heard everything around me, but nothing bothered me. He took me on a trip to Thailand, and I told him what I saw there at every moment. He really created a wonderful experience for me, like a dream.”

“Now I just have to make sure I actually go,” he added.

Dr. Udi Bonshtein, chief psychologist at the Galilee Medical Center, guided the procedure, while senior neurosurgeon Yuval Gruber led the complex five-hour operation. He emphasized the difficulty of the undertaking, noting, “It’s a very long and very unpleasant surgery.”

“The brain itself doesn’t have pain receptors, but drilling through the skull and scalp does, and the entire process feels like dental treatment on steroids. For Parkinson’s patients, it’s even harder – they arrive at the surgery without medication, their muscles are extremely rigid, and their bodies are in pain,” he explained.

Bonshtein underscored the importance of hypnosis for the patient in surgery.

“It allows them a much more comfortable and pleasant experience. The sense of pain is greatly reduced – at one point, we were even able to remove the local anesthetic altogether. It’s incredible. And when the patient is relaxed, the surgical team can work much more easily,” he said.

The groundbreaking operation is the result of Bonshtein’s two decades of work to integrate clinical hypnosis into complex medical procedures. Although the approach has now proven successful, he acknowledged that until recently it was met with widespread skepticism.

“Most people are very skeptical about this tool and its potential,” Bonshtein said, stressing that the reality of medical hypnosis is far removed from the stereotypical image portrayed in popular culture.

“In reality, it’s very different from the swinging pendulums you see in movies. I help patients focus their attention inward, toward me, not the noises or sensations around them, and create a separation between function and feeling. Together, we plan the pleasant place they want to be, and during the procedure, I guide them there, like in a dream. I don’t do magic. These are the patients’ own abilities,” he explained.

Since the groundbreaking brain surgery, demand for Bonshtein’s hypnosis expertise has grown. “As a result, I’m now called into the ER to help with painful interventions when no anesthesiologist is available,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Abu-Ria, who lives in the Arab Israeli town Sakhnin, expressed deep gratitude to the doctors for transforming his quality of life.

“I’ve had Parkinson’s for more than seven years. I couldn’t sleep at all because of the tremors. It’s a very difficult disease,” he explained. “Now I put my head on the pillow, and within seconds I’m dreaming. It’s amazing. I feel like a new person.”