Frequently Asked Questions & Suitability

Unlike psychiatric medications, TMS has no systemic side effects — meaning zero weight gain, no sexual dysfunction, no gastrointestinal upset, no nausea, and no sedation. The most commonly reported side effect is a mild, transient scalp tenderness or mild headache during the first few sessions, which typically dissipates quickly or responds to over-the-counter paracetamol.

While ECT remains an inpatient psychiatric intervention requiring general anaesthesia, muscle paralysis, and an induced generalized seizure, TMS is completely non-invasive and outpatient. TMS uses gentle magnetic pulses focused solely on specific cortical targets. You remain fully awake, experience zero memory loss, and can drive home or return to work immediately following treatment.

Yes. South African medical schemes — including Discovery Health, GEMS, Medscheme, Bonitas, and Momentum — increasingly recognize the clinical validity and cost-effectiveness of TMS. Most schemes review applications submitted with a formal clinical motivation from our medical director confirming treatment resistance. Our administrative team assists patients closely through this pre-authorization process.

You may self-refer or be referred by your general practitioner, psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist. If you self-refer, our Medical Director Dr. Suntheren Pillay conducts a comprehensive clinical evaluation at UPPS Wellness to confirm your diagnosis, establish motor thresholds, and map your treatment plan.

During the session, you will recline comfortably in an ergonomic medical armchair. The treatment coil rests gently against your scalp. When the pulses activate, you will hear a rapid clicking sound (earplugs are provided) and feel a tapping sensation on your scalp, often compared to the gentle tapping of a woodpecker or fingernail. It is not painful, and you can converse, read, or listen to music throughout.

TMS cannot be safely performed if you have non-removable magnetic or electronic metal implants situated within 30cm of the coil (such as metallic aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, or deep brain stimulators). Dental fillings, dental implants, braces, and orthopedic metal implants below the neck are completely safe.

Clinical studies demonstrate that the majority of patients maintain their clinical improvement for 12 months or longer after completing a course. Because TMS promotes long-term synaptic neuroplasticity, the brain learns to sustain healthy rhythmic communication. Maintenance or booster sessions are available if symptoms ever re-emerge during stressful life periods.