What is Botox?

While Botox can be used for cosmetic reasons such as reducing wrinkles, it can also be used to help patients who suffer from chronic, sometimes debilitating headache disorders. In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of onabotulinumtoxin-A (Botox-A) injection therapy to effectively help reduce chronic migraines and headaches in patients.

 

Botox is essentially a neurotoxin released by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This neurotoxin can block signals from your nerves and cause muscle paralysis. However, with the wonders of modern medicine, the dose in a Botox injection is exponentially smaller than anything that would or could cause serious harm and is remarkably safe. As a migraine treatment option, Botox helps reduce muscle spasms and contractions that cause migraines and headaches, and can be an effective preventative measure that helps you have more headache-free days.

 

There are still side effects to consider, but we walk each and every one of our patients here at Carolinas Center for Surgery through everything they need to know before proceeding.

How Do I Know if Botox Treatment is Right for My Migraines?

As situations can vary, we recommend speaking to one of our highly experienced and trained Botox doctors to see if you are a candidate. Not everyone who experiences migraines may be eligible, but below are some general guidelines:

 

  1. You experience at least 15 days of headaches in one month with at least 8 of those days featuring migraines that last four or more hours each. “The more frequent the headaches, the better the patient does with Botox,” says Dr. Andrew Blumenfeld, Director of The Headache Center of Southern California. 
  2. You experience these regular headaches and migraines for at least 3 months. 
  3. You are 18+ years old.

 

A few additional matters to note before you consider this kind of headache therapy:

  • Make sure your insurance covers Botox therapy.
  • Multiple treatments may be necessary. Botox provides temporary relief, working for about 3 months before you may need to come back.
  • The treatment is not for everyone. You may not be a good candidate for Botox if you have cluster headaches. Cluster headaches typically occur on one side of the head, behind the eye, and the frequency of the headaches may occur in clusters. That is, multiple headaches occurring around the same time every day for 6-12 weeks. 

Schedule Your Botox Consultation Appointment for Your Migraine Today

Botox treatments can last anywhere between 15-30 minutes, and you can resume your day right afterwards. We will walk you through your options and let you know if Botox therapy is right for you. If you’re seeking Botox treatment for migraines and are in the Jacksonville, NC area, schedule an appointment today or call us at 252.247.2101 to learn more.