Get Back to Your Life with Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery in Naples, Florida
Board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Frenkel — inventor of CemLIF™ and Castle Connolly Top Doctor 2024–2026 — uses the most advanced minimally invasive techniques to relieve your pain with less risk, less scarring, and faster recovery than traditional open surgery.
Professional photo of Dr. Frenkel
Board-Certified Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon
Neuroscience and Spine Associates · Naples, FL
Precision, Innovation, and Personalized Care — Not Cookie-Cutter Surgery
When you’re facing spine surgery, you deserve more than a standard protocol. Dr. Frenkel offers the training, technology, and individualized attention that complex spinal cases require.
Unmatched Training & Academic Excellence
Dr. Frenkel trained at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine — affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic — graduating with Honors and Distinction in Research. He completed a rigorous 7-year neurosurgery residency at Wake Forest University under a pioneer in spinal surgery, and was appointed Chief Resident for two consecutive years — a distinction rarely awarded.
Inventor of CemLIF™ — A New Way to Fuse the Spine
Dr. Frenkel invented CemLIF™, a patented rod-less, screw-less lumbar fusion technique representing a paradigm shift in spinal surgery. He was also the first surgeon in the world to use augmented reality intraoperatively for navigation. When you choose Dr. Frenkel, you’re choosing the surgeon other surgeons send their most complex cases to. Learn more at cemlif.com →
Trusted by Other Surgeons for Complex Cases
Dr. Frenkel regularly receives referrals from other spine and orthopedic surgeons for complex revision surgeries and spinal deformity cases. If your condition has been turned down elsewhere, or you’re seeking a second opinion after a failed procedure, Dr. Frenkel has the training and technology to help when others cannot.
Personalized Care — Not One-Size-Fits-All
Every patient receives a thorough consultation, a detailed review of your MRI, X-rays, or CT scans, and a treatment strategy built around your specific anatomy, lifestyle, and goals. There are no generic protocols here. You’ll leave with a clear, honest plan — not a sales pitch.
Concierge Program for Patients Nationwide
Distance is no obstacle to world-class spine care. Dr. Frenkel’s Concierge Spinal Surgery Program provides telehealth consultations, full logistical support, travel assistance, VIP clinic access, and transparent pricing for patients from across the country and around the world.
Or call Dr. Frenkel’s office: (239) 649-1662
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery — What You Need to Know
What Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) uses small incisions and specialized instruments — rather than large openings — to access, diagnose, and repair spinal problems. Instead of cutting through muscles, surgeons use tubular retractors that gently spread soft tissue aside, protecting surrounding structures and dramatically reducing trauma to the body.
The result: the same surgical goals as traditional open spine surgery, but with significantly less post-operative pain, reduced blood loss, lower infection risk, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery — so you can return to your life sooner.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
MISS is appropriate for many patients with spinal conditions that have not responded to conservative treatments such as physical therapy, injections, or medications. You may benefit from MISS if you have:
- Herniated disc causing radiating arm or leg pain
- Lumbar or cervical spinal stenosis compressing nerves
- Spondylolisthesis — a vertebra that has slipped out of alignment
- Degenerative disc disease causing chronic instability
- Spinal deformity, scoliosis, or complex revision needs
- Failed prior surgery with continued pain
Dr. Frenkel conducts a thorough imaging review and consultation before any surgical recommendation is made. Patient selection is paramount to a successful outcome.
What Makes Dr. Frenkel’s Approach Different?
Most surgeons perform MISS with conventional instruments. Dr. Frenkel goes further — integrating robotic assistance, computer navigation, and augmented reality intraoperatively to ensure unprecedented precision in every case. For lumbar fusion patients, he also offers CemLIF™, his own patented rod-less, screw-less fusion technique that delivers a highly stable result without traditional hardware bulk.
Dr. Frenkel also holds multiple pending patents for next-generation minimally invasive retractors and implants — devices he designed himself after years of identifying limitations in what was commercially available.
What to Expect
Your journey begins with a consultation at Dr. Frenkel’s Naples office, where he and his team will review your imaging and discuss your symptoms in depth. If surgery is recommended, it will be performed with the goal of maximum precision and minimum disruption. Most MISS procedures are performed with same-day or next-day discharge. Recovery timelines vary by procedure and individual, but most patients experience significantly faster healing than with open surgery.
Post-operative care is a priority. Dr. Frenkel’s skilled Nurse Practitioners are available for all follow-up questions, and Concierge patients have direct email access throughout recovery.
Recognized as One of the Nation’s Leading Spine Surgeons
Dr. Frenkel’s credentials are not generic claims — they are specific, verifiable distinctions earned through extraordinary academic performance, surgical innovation, and exceptional patient outcomes.
Education & Training
- MD, MA — Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Cleveland Clinic-affiliated), Graduated with Honors and Distinction in Research
- 7-Year Neurosurgery Residency at Wake Forest University — under Dr. Charles Branch, pioneer in spinal surgery
- Chief Resident for two consecutive years — a rare distinction at a premier academic training program
- Mentors trained at Harvard and Johns Hopkins
- One of the highest Neurosurgery Board scores in the country
Awards & Recognition
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors: 2024, 2025, 2026
- Healthgrades 99th Percentile — Top-Rated Spine Surgeon in Naples, Florida
- Naples Illustrated Top Doctor — multiple consecutive years
- 2018 CNS SANS Challenge Winner — annual national neurosurgical knowledge competition
- Featured on WINK News for the CemLIF™ breakthrough
Research & Innovation
- Inventor of CemLIF™ — patented rod-less, screw-less lumbar fusion
- First surgeon to use augmented reality intraoperatively for spinal navigation
- Multiple patents pending for surgical instruments and implants
- Peer-reviewed publications: Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, World Neurosurgery, Scientific Reports
- Textbook chapters published by Elsevier and Springer Science
Certifications & Affiliations
- MD, MA, FAANS (Fellow, American Association of Neurological Surgeons), FCNS (Fellow, Congress of Neurological Surgeons)
- Member, Neuroscience and Spine Associates (NASA) — one of the premier neuroscience practices in the country
- Regularly consulted by medical device companies to develop next-generation surgical instruments
- Peer-reviewed author and textbook contributor in major academic medical publications
What Patients Are Saying
All testimonials are from verified patients who posted on Google or Healthgrades and are completely uncensored and unedited.
“The most skilled, caring, and compassionate doctor you will ever meet.”
“The best surgeon by far. You won’t go wrong choosing Dr. Frenkel.”
“The Absolute BEST Neck & Back Surgeon!”
Your information is private and secure. We will never share your personal details.
How It Works — 4 Clear Steps
Getting started is simpler than you may think. Here’s how Dr. Frenkel’s team will guide you from first contact to full recovery.
Schedule Your Consultation
Contact Dr. Frenkel’s office online at frenkelmd.com/contact/ or call (239) 649-1662. Out-of-town and international patients can inquire about the Concierge Program at frenkelmd.com/concierge-contact-form/. Telehealth options are available.
Imaging Review & Personalized Plan
Dr. Frenkel will conduct a thorough review of your MRI, X-rays, or CT scans and perform an in-depth consultation. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of your condition and a customized treatment strategy — no generic recommendations.
Surgery or Treatment
Whether your case calls for minimally invasive techniques, a complex spinal reconstruction, or Dr. Frenkel’s CemLIF™ procedure, every surgery is performed with precision — enhanced by robotic assistance, computer navigation, and augmented reality technology.
Recovery & Long-Term Support
Dr. Frenkel personally follows up with patients and families after surgery. His Nurse Practitioners are available for all post-operative questions. Concierge patients have direct email access throughout their recovery.
Common Questions About Dr. Frenkel & Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Or call Dr. Frenkel’s office directly: (239) 649-1662
Visit Dr. Frenkel in Naples, Florida
Located inside Physicians Regional Medical Center, Dr. Frenkel’s office serves Naples, Southwest Florida, and patients nationwide.
Office Address
Inside Physicians Regional Medical Center6101 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, Florida 34119
Phone & Fax
Phone: (239) 649-1662
Fax: (239) 649-7053
Schedule & Contact
Schedule Online (Local Patients) →
Concierge Program Inquiry →
Areas Served
Naples · Bonita Springs · Marco Island · Fort Myers · Estero · Southwest Florida · Collier County
Out-of-state and international patients served nationwide through the Concierge Spinal Surgery Program.
Recommended Accommodations for Out-of-Town Patients
- The Ritz-Carlton Naples — oceanfront luxury
- Inn on Fifth — downtown Naples
- Innovation Hotel — adjacent to the Surgery Center of Naples
6101 Pine Ridge Road, Naples FL 34119
Inside Physicians Regional Medical Center
Your Path to Relief Starts with a Single Conversation
Whether you’re managing chronic back or neck pain, facing a complex revision surgery, or seeking a second opinion, Dr. Frenkel’s team is ready to review your case and give you a clear, honest plan. A consultation is a conversation — not a commitment to surgery. Dr. Frenkel’s schedule fills quickly; complex cases benefit from early planning.