---
title: "Laser Ablation for Epilepsy at Sutter Health"
description: "Laser ablation is a safer, more accurate and less invasive approach to treating epilepsy."
url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/laser-ablation-for-epilepsy"
---

1.  [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) /
2.  [Health and wellness](https://www.sutterhealth.org/health) /
3.  Laser Ablation for Epilepsy

# Laser Ablation for Epilepsy

* * *

October 9, 2024

Laser ablation, sometimes called laser interstitial thermal therapy, for the treatment of epilepsy is a less invasive and typically safer and more accurate approach than traditional surgery. Doctors use a carefully guided laser to precisely target the damaged areas of the brain that cause epilepsy.

### During the Procedure

During laser ablation, you’ll be asleep and monitored by an anesthesiologist as doctors obtain high-resolution MRI images of your brain. Using specialized software, neurosurgeons are able to locate a pathway to the targeted tissue to conduct treatment.

Through a small incision in the skull, a fiberoptic catheter is placed directly into the targeted tissue. It’s then connected to a laser that ablates – or removes – the area responsible for seizures.

### Recovery

You'll be monitored in the hospital after the procedure. Patients are usually allowed to go home in a day or two if there are no persistent side effects. Recovery is typically brief, requiring only a few days of rest away from work, and most people return to full activity within a few weeks.

### Risks

While laser ablation is a much less invasive option that traditional surgeries, it doesn’t mean it’s without risks. You may experience side effects, such as:

-   Cognitive changes from accidental treatment of functional tissue.
-   Continued symptoms if the treatment missed some of the seizure-creating tissue.
-   Headache, nausea or more serious side effects.

## Chat With a Referral Specialist Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Or call [855-421-2904](tel:855-421-2904).

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","name":"Laser Ablation for Epilepsy at Sutter Health","description":"Laser ablation is a safer, more accurate and less invasive approach to treating epilepsy.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/laser-ablation-for-epilepsy","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/laser-ablation-for-epilepsy#breadcrumblist"}}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","headline":"Laser Ablation for Epilepsy","alternativeHeadline":"Laser Ablation for Epilepsy at Sutter Health","description":"Laser ablation is a safer, more accurate and less invasive approach to treating epilepsy.","datePublished":"2024-10-09T16:17:54Z","dateModified":"2026-10-23T16:01:45Z","publisher":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org"},"@type":"MedicalWebPage","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/laser-ablation-for-epilepsy#breadcrumblist"},"reviewedBy":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org"},"lastReviewed":"2026-10-23T16:01:45Z"}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/laser-ablation-for-epilepsy#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Health and wellness","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/health"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Laser Ablation for Epilepsy"}]}
```