Best Neurosurgeons and Hospitals in Chennai

Dr. M. Anbuselvam is a highly experienced Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon currently practicing at Rela Hospital, Chennai. With over three decades of clinical experience spanning across India and Brunei Darussalam, he brings a wealth of expertise in the diagnosis and surgical management of complex neurological conditions. His training at the prestigious Institute of Neurology, Madras Medical College — where he was awarded the Prof. S. Kalyanaraman's Gold Medal — reflects his academic excellence and dedication to the field of neurosurgery. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Anbuselvam has held key leadership positions, including serving as Senior Medical Officer and Deputy Administrative Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at RIPAS Hospital in Brunei. He has also contributed significantly to academic medicine as a visiting lecturer, OSCE examiner, and teaching faculty for postgraduate neurosurgery programs. His extensive publication record and numerous national and international conference presentations underscore his commitment to advancing neurosurgical knowledge. Dr. Anbuselvam's clinical interests encompass a broad spectrum of neurosurgical procedures, including brain tumor surgery, stereotactic biopsy, cerebrovascular malformation management, spinal surgery, and craniofacial surgery. International patients seeking expert neurosurgical care can be confident in his proven track record and compassionate, patient-centered approach.Read more

Dr. Ari G Chacko is a distinguished neurosurgeon with over 30+ years of experience in clinical neurosurgery, currently practicing at the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai, India. He holds an MCh in Neurosurgery and an MBBS, and has built a remarkable career spanning prestigious institutions across India, the United States, and Bangladesh. Dr. Chacko is widely recognized as a pioneer in awake surgeries for gliomas, microsurgical excision of intramedullary spinal cord tumors, vestibular schwannoma surgery for facial nerve preservation, and the maximal safe resection of craniopharyngiomas. His clinical focus encompasses microsurgical removal of brain and spinal cord tumors, endoscopic removal of skull base tumors including pituitary adenomas, and surgery for intractable epilepsy, including disconnection procedures such as hemispherotomy. Dr. Chacko is known for his patient-centric approach, emphasizing individualized care and empowering patients to play active roles in their treatment decisions. International patients can feel confident in his multidisciplinary expertise, as he works closely with specialists in radiation oncology, neuropathology, neuroradiology, neurophysiology, and endocrinology to deliver comprehensive care.Read more

Dr. M Balamurugan is a distinguished neurosurgeon based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, with an impressive 30+ years of extensive experience in the field. Renowned for his expertise in neurosurgical procedures, he specializes in treating complex conditions such as brain tumors, spine tumors, cervical disc prolapse, and hydrocephalus, alongside managing cerebral clots and bleeding in the brain. His surgical proficiency extends to treating slipped discs and performing intricate spinal surgeries for both children and adults. Over his illustrious career, Dr. Balamurugan has successfully conducted more than 15,000 neurosurgical operations, achieving a remarkable success rate of over 95%. His technical skills encompass a wide range of procedures including craniotomy, laminectomy, spinal stabilization, and stereotactic procedures, such as biopsies and deep brain stimulation electrode implantation. His case volumes are truly exceptional — over 12,000 oncology cases, more than 10,000 cervical spine cases, over 2,500 hydrocephalus cases, more than 2,000 cerebrovascular cases, and over 200 craniovertebral junction cases. A prolific contributor to the medical community, Dr. Balamurugan has authored numerous research papers and is a respected member of various prestigious medical organizations. He is a Life Member of the Neurological Society of India and is dedicated to mentoring young neurosurgeons.Read more

Dr. Arul K is a highly accomplished Neurosurgeon currently serving as an Associate Consultant at Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai. With an overall experience of 27 years in the field of medicine and neurosurgery, he brings extensive expertise in managing both trauma and non-trauma neurosurgical patients. A proficient and skilled surgeon, Dr. Arul has performed numerous neurosurgical operations across a wide spectrum of complex conditions, including CP angle tumours, skull base tumours, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and neuro-endoscopic procedures. Dr. Arul has been actively involved in epilepsy surgery programs for over a decade, encompassing pre-surgical evaluation, major epilepsy surgical procedures, and Stereo EEG planning and execution. His dedication to advancing neurosurgical care is reflected in his participation in various national and international seminars, training courses, and workshops. He is an esteemed member of the Neurological Society of India Life, the Indian Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and the Neurological Association of Sri Lanka. With qualifications including MBBS, MS, FRCS, and Neuro Surgery Board Certification, and international experience spanning India and Sri Lanka, Dr. Arul K offers patients world-class neurosurgical care grounded in deep clinical knowledge and compassionate practice.Read more

Dr. V. R. Roopesh Kumar is one of the leading neurosurgeons in Chennai, India, with over 20 years of experience in advanced brain and spine surgery. He specializes in complex neurosurgical procedures, including brain tumor surgery, skull base surgery, cerebrovascular surgery, and minimally invasive spine surgery. His expertise covers a wide range of conditions such as meningioma, glioma, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and spinal disorders, utilizing cutting-edge microscopic and endoscopic techniques. Trained at premier institutions including NIMHANS (Bangalore) and JIPMER (Pondicherry), Dr. Roopesh Kumar has published over 50 research articles and actively contributes to leading neurosurgical societies. He serves as Founder Secretary of the Society for Intraoperative Neurophysiology and holds leadership roles in multiple professional organizations, including the Skullbase Surgery Society of India and the Neuro Oncology Society of India. Dr. Roopesh Kumar is recognized for delivering precise, safe, and patient-centered neurosurgical care. His numerous awards — including Best Neurosurgeon in Tamil Nadu (2022) and Outstanding Neuro-Oncologist of the Year (2022–23) — reflect his dedication to clinical excellence and his standing as a trusted specialist for patients seeking world-class neurosurgical treatment in India.Read more

Dr. Nigel Symss is an accomplished Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon with 16 years of experience in cranial and spinal surgery. An Indian-trained and internationally educated neurosurgeon, he holds multiple fellowships from prestigious institutions in Japan and Australia, bringing a wealth of global expertise to his practice at Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai. He has successfully performed over 5,000 neurosurgical procedures — both cranial and spinal — in adults and children. Dr. Symss specializes in transcallosal approaches to colloid cysts and ventricular tumours, functional neurosurgery, micro neurosurgery, skull base surgery, cerebrovascular surgery, and complex spinal surgery. He is a member of the Hydrocephalus Research World Record Ranking Committee and serves on the continental editorial board of the International Journal of Hydrocephalus and the Journal of Neuro Endoscopy. With 24 publications in Indian and international journals and contributions to three textbooks of neurosurgery, Dr. Symss is deeply committed to advancing the field while providing patients with the best possible outcomes through state-of-the-art neurosurgical skills and technologies.Read more

Dr. Natesan Damodaran is a highly skilled neurosurgeon specializing in epilepsy and functional neurosurgery, trained at the prestigious Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore. With over a decade of advanced experience and more than 300 epilepsy procedures performed, he represents a new generation of neurosurgeons advancing precision-based, minimally invasive care for drug-resistant epilepsy. He currently serves as the Clinical Lead for Epilepsy and Functional Neurosurgery at Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre, Chennai. A strong advocate of technology-enabled neurosurgery, Dr. Damodaran incorporates rs-fMRI/DTI connectomics and AI-assisted lesion detection to enhance surgical precision and functional preservation. He is currently establishing a Level-4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Program that integrates pediatric and adult care pathways, advanced presurgical evaluation, and long-term neurorehabilitation. Dr. Damodaran's research has been published in leading journals including the Journal of Neurosurgery, American Journal of Neuroradiology, Neurology India, and IEEE. Invited to teach at national and international forums, he actively supports the expansion of epilepsy care across India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Egypt, reflecting his deep commitment to equitable access and patient-centric outcomes.Read more

Dr. Vijay Sundar Ilangovan is a distinguished Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon with over 15 years of experience in the field of neurosurgery. He specializes in the management of adult and pediatric brain tumors, complex spine surgeries, and the treatment of metastases to the brain and spine arising from systemic cancers. His extensive expertise in neurosurgical oncology makes him a trusted choice for patients seeking advanced neurosurgical care. Dr. Ilangovan previously established the Department of Neurosurgical Oncology at the renowned Cancer Institute (W.I.A), Adyar, where he successfully operated on more than 1,000 patients. He has completed observerships in Neurosurgical Oncology at two of the world's most prestigious cancer centers — Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Mumbai, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA. He is also a member of the steering committee of the Global Alliance for Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, headed by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, USA. With numerous scientific publications and a reputation as an invited speaker at several state and national conferences, Dr. Vijay Sundar Ilangovan brings extensive surgical expertise, academic excellence, and patient-focused care to the field of neurosurgical oncology. International patients can feel confident in his hands, knowing they are receiving care from a surgeon with world-class training and a deep commitment to clinical outcomes.Read more

Dr. Muralidharan Vetrivel is a highly skilled Neurosurgeon with specialized expertise in cerebrovascular diseases and complex brain and spinal tumor management. With advanced training from premier institutions across India and Europe — including Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, the University of Catania in Italy, and leading medical centers in Austria and the Netherlands — he brings a unique combination of surgical precision and international clinical exposure to his practice at Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre (RIMC), Chennai. With over 1,600 surgeries performed, including 1,051 neurosurgical procedures (841 cranial, 210 spinal) and 433 endovascular procedures (stroke thrombectomy, aneurysm coiling, embolization), Dr. Vetrivel delivers comprehensive care for patients with brain tumors, stroke, aneurysms, and other complex neurological conditions. He has extensive experience in leading multidisciplinary neurosurgical teams, establishing neurovascular and stroke care systems, and standardizing clinical protocols. Dr. Vetrivel is also a recognized academic contributor and speaker, having been invited as faculty at prestigious national and international platforms, including TEDx (2023), the World Neurosciences Summit (2024), and the Neurological Society of India (2024). His published research spans peer-reviewed journals in neurosurgery, neurology, and cerebrovascular sciences.Read more

Dr. Venkatesan Sanjeevi is a highly experienced and passionate neurosurgeon with over 10 years of expertise in Neuro-oncology, Skull Base Surgery, Neurovascular and Neuroendovascular procedures, and Endoscopic Brain & Spine Surgery. He is committed to delivering comprehensive, patient-centric care by working closely with patients, families, and multidisciplinary medical teams. A distinguished academic achiever — having earned a Gold Medal and University Rank during his MCh in Neurosurgery from Madras Medical College, Chennai — Dr. Venkatesan brings both clinical excellence and scholarly depth to his practice. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed national and international publications and is the author of the book "Clinical Handbook of Neurosurgery," now in its second edition (2025). His career spans prestigious institutions across India, with advanced fellowship training in Neuroendovascular Surgery and Stroke Intervention from Kameda Medical Center, Japan. Currently practicing at Gleneagles Hospital, Chennai (Perumbakkam), Dr. Venkatesan offers consultations in Tamil and English, making him an excellent choice for international patients seeking world-class neurosurgical care in India.Read more