If tremors make it difficult to eat, write, or get dressed, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to live that way.

Essential tremor can affect daily life and confidence. MR-guided focused ultrasound — a proven, incisionless treatment — can help.

In 2025, our team at Regional One Health celebrated two major milestones: the fifth anniversary of becoming the first hospital in Tennessee to offer this treatment and the treatment of our 300th patient. These achievements make us one of the most experienced MR-guided focused ultrasound teams in the region.

We’d like to share that experience by answering the main questions we hear from patients.

Is MR-guided focused ultrasound a surgery?
It is an outpatient procedure that does not require an incision, general anesthesia, or an overnight hospital stay.

Using MRI guidance, your physician precisely targets the small area of the brain responsible for tremor. Concentrated sound waves create a tiny, controlled lesion that interrupts the abnormal signals causing the shaking.

You are awake throughout the procedure, and most patients go home within about three hours.

How do I find out if I’m eligible?
We determine eligibility during your consultation. You may qualify if you:

  • Are 22 years or older with a confirmed diagnosis of essential tremor
  • Have tried at least two medications without enough relief, or have experienced unwanted side effects
  • Complete a CT scan of your skull to make sure the bone density and shape allow the ultrasound energy to safely and effectively reach the target

Why do I have to shave my head before the procedure?
Ultrasound energy travels best through water, not air.

A smooth scalp and a silicone cap ensure consistent contact, allowing ultrasound waves to reach the target safely and effectively. Hair can trap air bubbles, which may block or reflect energy, so shaving is important for accuracy and safety.

Am I in the MRI the whole time?
Your treatment table moves in and out of the MRI, and you will only be inside the scanner from your head to your mid-torso.

The longest you will be in the scanner at once is up to 15 minutes to obtain imaging before the procedure begins.

During energy delivery, you are typically in the scanner for 60-120 seconds at a time.

Is it possible that the ultrasound waves will miss the target?
This is extremely rare. MRI guidance provides a real-time view of the brain, allowing us to target the treatment area with precision.

Throughout the procedure, we test you to confirm that tremor improvement is occurring. That lets us fine-tune the treatment as needed.

What if I have a tremor in both hands?
Focused ultrasound is FDA-approved to treat both sides of the brain, one side at a time. If your first treatment is successful and you do not experience significant side effects, we can perform the second treatment after at least nine months.

Does insurance cover the procedure?
Medicare covers focused ultrasound under Part B in all 50 states. Most private insurance plans also provide coverage. Our team will help review your benefits, and you can contact your insurance provider for coverage details.

The MR-guided focused ultrasound program at Regional One Health is led by neurosurgeons (L to R) Benjamin Carroll, MD; Jonathan Pomeraniec, MD; and Doug Taylor, MD. To find out if you may be a candidate for treatment, visit Regionalonehealth.org/fus or call 901.515.3635.