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Prof. Atilla Yilmaz

Stereotactic and functional neurosurgeon

4 reviews

Istanbul, Turkey

Clinical experience: over 24 years

Languages: Русский

Fotomurcuk

Verified review

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Last week, at the Neurosurgery and Neuromodulation Center under the leadership of Associate Professor Atilla Yılmaz, we successfully performed a brain stimulator implantation surgery. I say “successfully” because the procedure was carried out with the patient awake, and we had a pleasant conversation while working as a perfectly coordinated team 🙂

First of all, I was impressed by Atilla Yılmaz’s sincerity and positive energy. It is extremely important for a patient to feel trust in their doctor. After thorough evaluation, openness to new scientific approaches, the right choice of team, and proper timing of the surgery — everything worked together as a single whole. I am grateful to my doctor and his wonderful team.

29/01/2025

Sinem Musa

Verified review

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

First of all, we would like to thank the entire team for their professionalism, care, and dedication. Thank you for making life better. We wish you continued success and the opportunity to help many more people. Special thanks to our doctor, Atilla Yılmaz, and his assistants Uygar and Ali. 🙂

17/06/2024

Nihan

Verified review

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Dear Professor, you generously share your extensive knowledge and experience with your patients while remaining extremely humane and kind. From the very first consultation, your humility and modesty are evident. You create the feeling of an older brother or a close relative — trust comes immediately. After helping restore a patient’s health, there is no one happier than you yourself. Thank God, you have both the desire and the expertise to help. In my 16 years living with multiple sclerosis, the only intervention that truly benefited me was performed by him. May Allah help all patients — if you have met Professor Atilla, help will surely follow.

26/09/2023

Rıza Y.

Verified review

Leg Spasticity due to EMES (Encephalomyelopathy)

I would like to thank my doctor for the successful surgery that relieved me of many years of leg spasms. Despite all the medications, my legs would not relax, but after a minor procedure with the implantation of a pump, they relaxed completely.

16/12/2022

Stereotactic and functional neurosurgeon

Clinical experience: over 24 years

Achievements and awards

Professor Atilla Yılmaz has successfully performed more than 500 neuromodulation surgeries

Award of the Middle Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery

Best Lecture of the Year at the Congress of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society

Certificate of Appreciation (No. 3059-20-04/631, dated 06.04.2004) for providing first emergency medical aid to a serviceman with a severe gunshot wound at Air Force Academy Clinic

About Prof. Atilla Yilmaz

Specialization

Functional neurosurgery (neuromodulation)
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease, tremor, and dystonia
Spinal cord stimulation, sacral stimulation, and vagus nerve stimulation
Implantation and management of an intrathecal baclofen pump
Stereotactic biopsy, pain surgery, and other interventional procedures

Education

1992–2000 — Istanbul University, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine — MD degree
2007–2013 — Mustafa Kemal University (Hatay), Faculty of Medicine — Residency in Neurosurgery
2015 — Koç University and American Hospital (Istanbul), Faculty of Medicine — Fellowship in Spine Surgery
2016–2017 — University of Florida (Gainesville, USA), Movement Disorders Hospital — Fellowship in Functional Neurosurgery
2019 — Koç University and American Hospital (Istanbul), Spine Surgery Center — Fellowship in Spine Surgery

Clinical Experience

2007–2013 — Research Assistant, Department of Neurosurgery, Mustafa Kemal University, Turkey
2013–2014 — Specialist Neurosurgeon, Bayburt State Hospital, Turkey
2014–2019 — Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Mustafa Kemal University
2015 — Clinical Fellowship in Spine Surgery, Koç University
2016–2017 — Observer in Functional Neurosurgery and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), University of Florida, USA
2019–2021 — Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Okan University, Istanbul
Since 2019 — Head of the Neurosurgery Department and the Center for Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation, Istanbul

Research activities and publications

Professor Atilla Yilmaz’s scientific work focuses on functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, neuromodulation, and surgical treatment of movement disorders. A key area of his research is deep brain stimulation (DBS), including clinical applications, mechanisms of action, and optimization of stimulation parameters.

A significant portion of his work is dedicated to Parkinson’s disease and tremor syndromes, including the effectiveness of DBS in treatment-resistant forms, the effects of subthalamic nucleus stimulation on balance, sensation, speech, voice, and quality of life, as well as cerebral hemodynamics and DBS applications in rare clinical conditions. Another focus is the clinical and economic evaluation of neurosurgical technologies, including cost-effectiveness analysis of DBS and shunting systems.

In spinal neurosurgery, Professor Yilmaz studies dynamic spinal stabilization, kyphoplasty for osteoporotic fractures, complications of stabilization systems, and surgical treatment of degenerative spinal disorders. His work also covers neuroimaging (including DTI-MRI), pediatric neurosurgery, neurotraumatology, experimental neurosurgery, and biomarkers in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Professor Atilla Yilmaz’s publications appear in leading international and national journals in neurosurgery, neurology, and rehabilitation, including Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, Neurocirugía, Annals of Medical Research, Somatosensory & Motor Research, Turkish Journal of Neurology, Asian Spine Journal, Medicine (Baltimore), among others.

Editorial and Peer-Review Work:

Professor Atilla Yilmaz actively participates in editorial and peer-review activities: he serves as Associate Editor of Sleep Medicine and Disorders: International Journal, is a member of the editorial boards of leading international neurosurgery and neurology journals, including Journal of Neuroscience and Neurological Disorders and Clinical Neurology and Neuroscience, and is an invited reviewer for journals such as World Neurosurgery and Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. He also serves on scientific advisory boards and article evaluation committees, including Ege Journal of Medicine and Ulutas Medical Journal.

Congress Organization:

Professor Yilmaz has organized and conducted international and regional congresses, symposia, and training courses on stereotactic neurosurgery, deep brain stimulation, neuromodulation, and pain interventions. These include the Congresses of the Middle Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, NETIS Young Neuromodulators Congress, cadaver-based DBS and spinal cord stimulation workshops with programming, and live surgery courses. Events have been held in Turkey (Istanbul, Hatay, Sapanca), Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and online, covering modern neuromodulation technologies, tremor management, movement disorders, and spasticity treatment.

Membership in professional organizations

World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
International Neuromodulation Society
European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Middle Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies
Turkish Neurosurgical Society
Turkish Neurosurgical Academy
Neuromodulation Research and Education Society
Neuromodulation Technologies Research, Development and Patient Education Association
Deep Brain Stimulation and Movement Disorder Surgery Association
Turkish Neurosurgical Society Committee for Education and Training in Stereotactic and Functional Pain and Epilepsy Surgery

Positions in Professional Associations:

President of the Middle Eastern Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
(Continental Chapter of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery)
President of the Neuromodulation Research and Education Association
(Turkish Chapter of the International Neuromodulation Society)
Member of the Board of Directors of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Member of the Board of Directors of the International Neuromodulation Society
Member of the Executive Committee of the European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Member of the International Board of the Southeast European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Member of the Board of Directors of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies
(Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Committee)
Member of the Board of Directors of the Deep Brain Stimulation and Movement Disorder Surgery Association
Vice President of the Neuromodulation Technologies Research, Development and Patient Education Association
Member of the Board of Directors of the Stereotactic and Functional Pain and Epilepsy Surgery Group
(Turkish Neurosurgical Association)
Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Turkish Neurosurgical Association

The clinic where the doctor practices

Medicana Ataşehir

4.2

22 reviews

Turkey, Istanbul

Published 31.01.2026