Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, Chennai – India
About Dr. K. Visvanathan
Dr. K. Visvanathan is a highly distinguished neurosurgeon and a leading authority in the field of Functional Neurosurgery in India. With over 20 years of extensive experience, including advanced fellowship training in the UK at world-renowned institutions like King’s College Hospital, London, he brings a global standard of care to his patients. Dr. Visvanathan is one of the top functional neurosurgeons in India, specialising in life-changing procedures like Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease, tremors, and dystonia. His expertise also encompasses complex epilepsy surgery, surgery for intractable pain and spasticity, and advanced neuro-oncology. His international qualifications, including the prestigious FRCSEd (Neuro Surgery), and his leadership role as the Head of Neurosurgery underscore his commitment to excellence.
Qualifications & Credentials
Medical Degrees
- DNB (Neurosurgery)
- DNB (General Surgery)
- MBBS
- Fellowship in Functional Neurosurgery: King's College Hospital, London, UK
- Fellowship in Functional Neurosurgery: The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, UK
- FRCSEd (Neuro Surgery): Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK
- MRCS(Ed): Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK
- MNAMS: Member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, India
Areas of Expertise
Major Conditions Treated
- Movement Disorders: Parkinson's Disease, Essential Tremors, Dystonia (Adult & Paediatric)
- Epilepsy (Medically Refractory)
- Chronic & Intractable Pain
- Spasticity
- Brain Tumours (Neuro-Oncology)
- Spinal Conditions: Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Tumours
- Neurotrauma
- Functional & Stereotactic Neurosurgery
- Epilepsy Surgery
- Neuro-Oncology
- Spinal Surgery
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
- Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS)
- Epilepsy Surgery: Resective Surgery, Intracranial Monitoring
- Surgery for Intractable Pain and Spasticity (e.g., Baclofen Pumps)
- Awake Craniotomy for Brain Tumours
- Surgery using advanced techniques like ALA and Gliadel wafers
- Artificial Cervical Disc Replacement
List of Disease and Treatment for which Dr. K. Visvanathan can be consulted
Professional Experience
Current & Past Hospital Affiliations
- Current Affiliations:
- Senior Consultant & HOD, Neurosurgery - Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai
- Visiting Consultant, Functional Neurosurgery - Paras Hospitals, Gurgaon
- Past Affiliations:
- Consultant Neurosurgeon - MIOT International, Chennai
- Consultant Neurosurgeon - SRM Institute for Medical Sciences, Chennai
- Clinical Fellow in Functional Neurosurgery - The Walton Centre, Liverpool, UK
- Fellow in Functional Neurosurgery - King's College Hospital, London, UK
- Clinical Fellow (Registrar) in Neurosurgery - James Cook University Hospital, UK
- Senior Resident in Neurosurgery - Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bengaluru
Awards & Recognitions
Recognitions & Honors
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS Ed) in Neurosurgery, a benchmark of excellence in the surgical field.
- Member of numerous prestigious international societies, including the Movement Disorders Society and the World Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery.
Research & Publications
Research
- Near-infrared spectroscopy in the detection of intracranial haematomas (A joint project with Anna University, Chennai).
- Part of the research team in the Diabetic foot collaborative project (Sundaram Medical Foundation and IIT, Chennai).
- Thesis on "Tension free myofascial slide repair for incisional hernias" submitted for the DNB in General Surgery.
Patient Success Stories & Testimonials
Patient Testimonials
- "My husband suffered from severe tremors due to Parkinson's disease, making simple tasks impossible. Dr. Visvanathan performed the DBS surgery, and the result has been nothing short of a miracle. His tremors are now controlled, and he has regained his independence. Dr. Visvanathan is the best DBS surgeon we could have ever found." - Mrs. Lakshmi Iyer
- "Our son had been suffering from uncontrolled seizures since childhood. We were referred to Dr. Visvanathan for epilepsy surgery. His compassionate approach and brilliant surgical skills have given our son a new, seizure-free life. We are eternally grateful to him." - R. Sharma
Treatment Approach & Philosophy
Patient-Centred Care
- Dr. Visvanathan employs a deeply patient-centric philosophy, creating personalised and comprehensive treatment plans. He believes in a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating closely with neurologists, radiologists, and other specialists to ensure each patient receives the most effective and holistic care for their unique condition.
- With his extensive training in the UK, Dr. Visvanathan is proficient in the most advanced neurosurgical techniques and technologies. He has vast experience with Awake Craniotomies, Vagal Nerve Stimulators (VNS), and state-of-the-art neuro-oncology tools like ALA and Gliadel wafers, ensuring his patients receive world-class care that enhances precision and improves outcomes.
Treatment Costs
Below is an estimated range for some of the key procedures performed by Dr. K. Visvanathan.
Disclaimer: These costs are estimates and can vary based on the patient's specific condition, type of implant used, hospital stay, and other medical requirements. For a detailed cost estimate, please connect with the Cancer Rounds team.
| Treatment/Procedure | Cost in INR (Approx.) | Cost in USD (Approx.) |
| Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Surgery | ₹12,00,000 - ₹20,00,000 | $14,400 - $24,000 |
| Epilepsy Surgery (Resective) | ₹5,00,000 - ₹9,00,000 | $6,000 - $10,800 |
| Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Implantation | ₹10,00,000 - ₹16,00,000 | $12,000 - $19,200 |
| Brain Tumour Surgery (Craniotomy) | ₹4,00,000 - ₹8,00,000 | $4,800 - $9,600 |
International Patient Assistance
Cancer Rounds is dedicated to providing a seamless experience for international patients. Our comprehensive support includes:
- Language Support: Access to translators to ensure clear communication.
- Visa & Travel Assistance: Help with medical visa invitations, airport transfers, and arranging accommodation.
- Pre-treatment Virtual Consultations: We can arrange online consultations with Dr. Visvanathan for an initial opinion and treatment discussion before you travel to India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. K. Visvanathan is a senior Neurosurgeon whose super-speciality is Functional Neurosurgery. This includes advanced surgical treatments for movement disorders (like Parkinson's), epilepsy, chronic pain, and spasticity.
Yes, he is one of the leading experts in DBS surgery in India. He completed two years of intensive fellowship training in Functional Neurosurgery at top hospitals in the UK (King's College, London and The Walton Centre, Liverpool), making him exceptionally skilled in this procedure.
DBS is highly effective for movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremors, and dystonia. It is also an emerging treatment for certain types of epilepsy and chronic pain, all of which fall under Dr. Visvanathan's expertise.
Yes, he has extensive experience working in the UK's NHS for several years. He holds the prestigious FRCS(Ed) in Neurosurgery, which is the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, a globally recognised benchmark of surgical excellence.
Choosing Dr. Visvanathan means being treated by one of India's foremost experts in Functional Neurosurgery, with extensive international training from the UK. His expertise in highly specialised procedures like DBS and epilepsy surgery offers hope for conditions that are difficult to manage with medication alone.
An awake craniotomy is a brain surgery performed while the patient is awake to allow the surgeon to test brain functions (like speech and movement) and safely remove tumours from critical areas. Dr. Visvanathan has significant experience with this advanced technique.
You can easily schedule a consultation with Dr. K. Visvanathan by contacting the Cancer Rounds. The team will assist you with booking an in-person appointment in Chennai or a virtual consultation from anywhere in the world.
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai - India
Brain Tumors
