Many people know about the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic as a popular and effective injectable for relaxing and smoothing frown lines on the forehead But, did you know that BOTOX is also an effective treatment to prevent and control migraines?
At Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Greg Chernoff offers BOTOX for men and women who suffer with intense headache pain and other debilitating symptoms of migraines. BOTOX was FDA-approved for Chronic Migraine in 2010.
What Is a Migraine?
A migraine is a very prevalent neurological disease, affecting 39 million men, women, and children in the United States. Migraines disproportionally affect women as eighty-five percent of chronic migraine sufferers are women. Migraines may also be a chronic condition. A chronic migraine is 15 or more headache days each month, with migraines on at least 8 of those days that each last 4 hours or more.
It is important to note that a migraine is different than a headache. Typical migraine symptoms include:
- Severe throbbing and recurring pain on one or both sides of the head.
- Visual disturbances
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to sound, light, and smell
How Do BOTOX Treatments Work to Prevent Migraine Headaches?
BOTOX treatment involves the careful injection of diluted BOTOX in proven sites around your head and neck where your migraine affects you by an expert injector. BOTOX works by preventing headaches before they start. While doctors are not certain why BOTOX for migraines works, but doctors theorize that BOTOX works by blocking nerves that carry pain messages to the brain. Another theory is that BOTOX blocks certain chemicals that contribute to migraines.
The BOTOX injections are done in the comfortable offices of Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery and you can go home directly following your treatment. Dr. Chernoff recommends that migraine sufferers start with 2 treatments spaced 12 weeks apart. Four treatments of BOTOX are recommended in a year.*
Prior to any treatment or procedure, Dr. Chernoff or one of our trained and certified Health Care Providers determine if you are a candidate, review the risks and benefits, and provide all possible treatment alternatives.
What Are the Results?
Dr. Chernoff advises chronic headache and migraine sufferers that BOTOX is not effective for all patients. About half of patients who try it, report that it prevents up to nine headache days per month.* BOTOX is often prescribed when other medications and treatments are ineffective. Talk with Dr. Chernoff to determine if BOTOX will help you.