The article traces the professional path of Professor Lev Yakovlevich Livshits, assesses his scientific contribution to the development of national neurosurgery. The concept of minimally invasive surgical treatment of trigeminal nerve neuralgia, developed by L. Ya. Livshits, allowed developing an original method of puncture surgical treatment of pain syndrome by directed hydrothermal destruction of the sensitive trigeminal root. The concept of "growing radicalism" created by Professor L. Ya. Livshits allowed his students elaborating algorithms for treating severe chronic pain syndromes of any localization and etiology.</p