What surgery did Dana White have? A breakdown of his inner ear procedure and later health transformation

September 30, 2025 •

3 min read

In 2012, UFC President Dana White was forced to miss his first live event in over a decade due to a debilitating inner ear disorder. This health scare led many to question what surgery did Dana White have?, prompting a public journey through conventional surgical treatments and later, a major lifestyle-based health overhaul.

Quick Summary

Dana White underwent an unsuccessful inner ear surgery in 2013 for Meniere's disease, but later found relief through an experimental blood-spinning procedure. This was followed by a dramatic, non-surgical health transformation in 2022 guided by human biologist Gary Brecka, targeting metabolic issues.

Key Points

Meniere's Disease Surgery: Dana White had an inner ear surgical procedure in Los Angeles in 2013 to treat his Meniere's disease, involving fluid buildup and causing debilitating vertigo.
Unsuccessful Initial Outcome: The 2013 surgery, involving inserting a drainage tube, did not provide lasting relief from his symptoms.
Orthokine Treatment: Following the failed surgery, White underwent an experimental blood-spinning treatment called Orthokine in Germany, which he credited for effectively curing his Meniere's symptoms.
2022 Health Transformation: White's later, highly visible health turnaround was a non-surgical process driven by a ketogenic diet, supplements, and biohacking therapies, overseen by human biologist Gary Brecka.
Metabolic Syndrome Diagnosis: Brecka diagnosed White with severe metabolic dysfunction in 2022, revealing life-threatening levels of triglycerides and a short life expectancy if he did not change his lifestyle.
Lifestyle Changes, Not Surgery: While surgery addressed his ear condition, White's more recent dramatic health improvement stemmed entirely from diet and lifestyle modifications, not a new surgical procedure.

Dana White's Battle with Meniere's Disease

For years, UFC president Dana White suffered from Ménière's disease, a chronic inner ear disorder causing debilitating episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The condition significantly impacted his ability to work and travel. The issue peaked in 2012, forcing him to miss a live event for the first time in 11 years and leading him to consider more aggressive treatments. Although doctors suggested severe options, White opted for a less invasive surgical procedure.

The Inner Ear Surgery of 2013

In January 2013, Dana White had surgery at the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles for Meniere's disease. The procedure involved inserting a drainage tube to relieve pressure from fluid buildup in his inner ear. While the operation was initially considered successful, it did not provide the long-term cure for his symptoms.

Post-Surgery Experience and Outcome

White recovered quickly but continued experiencing Meniere's symptoms. The surgery did not prevent further attacks as hoped, leading him to seek alternative therapies.

A Shift to Alternative Treatment: The Orthokine Procedure

Following the unsuccessful surgery, Dana White learned about an experimental blood-spinning treatment in Germany through Alex Rodriguez in 2013. This therapy, known as Orthokine, involves processing a patient's blood to create a solution rich in anti-inflammatory proteins, which is then re-injected.

Dana White's German Treatment Experience

Referred by Alex Rodriguez: A-Rod recommended the German clinic.
Procedure: White's blood was drawn, processed, and injected.
Results: White reported feeling a dramatic reduction in Meniere's symptoms after the treatment.
Long-Term Effect: The Orthokine treatment effectively managed White's Meniere's disease symptoms.

The 2022 Health Transformation (Not a Surgery)

Years after managing his Meniere's, Dana White underwent a significant health transformation in 2022, unrelated to surgery. After testing, human biologist Gary Brecka informed White that severe metabolic issues indicated a limited lifespan. Brecka identified high triglyceride levels, pre-diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

The Brecka Protocol and Dana's Recovery

White followed a non-surgical protocol focused on lifestyle changes.

Diet: He adopted a strict ketogenic diet.
Supplements: A customized regimen addressed metabolic deficiencies.
Biohacking Therapies: He incorporated cold plunging, red light therapy, and PEMF therapy.

Within five months, White lost over 40 pounds, normalized his blood markers, and reversed metabolic syndrome. He credited this approach with improving his health, energy, and eliminating sleep apnea.

Comparison of Dana White's Health Interventions


Feature	2013 Meniere's Treatment	2022 Metabolic Transformation
Problem Addressed	Meniere's disease (inner ear fluid issues)	Metabolic syndrome (high triglycerides, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure)
Primary Intervention	Surgical procedure (inner ear drainage) and later, Orthokine therapy	Lifestyle changes (ketogenic diet, supplements, biohacking therapies)
Effectiveness of Surgery	Limited success; did not provide a permanent cure	Not applicable; was not a surgical procedure
Key Figures	Surgeons in Los Angeles, Alex Rodriguez, Dr. Peter Wehling	Gary Brecka, Kerri Kasem
Outcome	Long-term symptom relief achieved via Orthokine treatment	Drastic reversal of metabolic issues, weight loss, and renewed energy
Motivation	Debilitating vertigo attacks	Alarming prognosis from bloodwork

Conclusion

When asking what surgery did Dana White have?, the answer refers to his 2013 inner ear surgery for Meniere's disease, which was not ultimately successful. His Meniere's symptoms were later managed with an experimental German blood-spinning therapy. His significant health transformation in 2022 was a non-surgical lifestyle change prompted by a metabolic health diagnosis from Gary Brecka. This journey highlights White's pursuit of various methods to address his health challenges.

For more information on Meniere's disease and its treatment options, you can visit the Mayo Clinic website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dana White underwent an inner ear surgery in January 2013 to treat Meniere's disease. The procedure involved inserting a drainage tube to alleviate fluid buildup and pressure.

No, the inner ear surgery was ultimately not effective in the long run. White continued to suffer from the symptoms of Meniere's disease following the procedure.

Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder characterized by symptoms such as spontaneous episodes of vertigo (severe dizziness), hearing loss, a ringing sound in the ear (tinnitus), and a feeling of fullness or pressure.

After the unsuccessful surgery, Dana White received an experimental blood-spinning treatment called Orthokine in Germany. He credits this treatment with significantly reducing or eliminating his Meniere's symptoms.

No, Dana White's well-documented health transformation in 2022 was not the result of surgery. It was a non-surgical process based on a strict ketogenic diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes.

In 2022, biologist Gary Brecka diagnosed Dana White with severe metabolic syndrome, including extremely high triglycerides, pre-diabetes, and high blood pressure, and warned him of a limited life expectancy without changes.

Gary Brecka is a human biologist who conducted blood tests on Dana White in 2022. Based on the results, he developed a personalized protocol involving a ketogenic diet and supplements that led to White's dramatic health recovery.